Comprehension exercises

I. Reread the text and answer the following questions.

1) Why do you think that religion is a cultural universal? 2) What are the world's principal religions? 3) What are the basic forms of organized religious behavior? What is the difference between them? 4) Why do you think sociologists have recognized the critical importance of religion in human societies? 5) What are the major functions of religion, if viewed from the sociological perspective? 6) How are these

functions fulfilled by religion? 7) In what perspective did Karl Marx and other conflict theorists look upon religion? 8) What diminishes the role and influence of religion within the contemporary society? 9) How can you prove that religion will survive and remain an important aspect of life in modern industrial societies?

II. Define the following key terms and memorize the definitions:
religion, ecclesia, denomination, sect, cult, secularization.

III. Speak on the following topics:

1) The world's principal religions. 2) Basic forms of religious behavior. 3) Functions of religion as a social institution. 4) Different sociological approaches to religion. Which of them do you share and why? 5) Secularization of modern society. 6) The increasing influence of religion within the contemporary Russian society.