1. Explain the following quotation, "Religion has a different significance to the various strata in a society, and different religious ideas will probably appeal to different groups in society's stratification system." What is the implication of this statement for the impact of religion on social change?
2. Compare and contrast Marx and Weber's interest theories of religion's influence upon social change and the status quo. In your answer address the concepts of "alienation" and "theodicies".
3. How an religious meanings both legitimate societies norms and suppress dissent? How does religious socialization reinforce societal conformity? What is the role of religion for social control? What social means are used by religious groups to sanction non-conformity and social deviance?
4. Differentiate between internal social control and external social control? Which is a more effective agent of social control? Which has the greatest effect of limiting social change?
5. What is meant by the statement, "religion is merely an epiphenomena?" Critique this statement by giving examples which would disprove this conclusion.
6. Analyze the article on Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church as it relates to the topic of the impact of religion on social change. How would Marx and Weber view Youngdahl and his staff?
7. Using the following series of questions provided by McGuire, analyze the African-American Religion as an Agent of Social Change:

Beliefs

• Does the belief system contain a critical standard against which the established social system and existing patterns of interaction can be measured?
• How does the belief system define the social situation?
• How does the belief system define the relationship of the individual to the social world?

Culture

• Is the religious mode of action central to the culture?
• Are religious roles and identification significant modes of individual action in the culture?

Social

• Is religion relatively undifferentiated from other important elements of the society?
• Do strong ties exist between religious institutions and other structures--especially political and economic ones?
• Do other modes effectively compete with religion for the expression of human needs, the development of leadership, and organization of effort toward social changes?
• What is the social location of religious leaders?


8. Neil Smelser cites the following variables as the necessary determinants of collective behavior: Structural Conduciveness, Structural Strain, Spread of Generalized Beliefs, The Mobilization of a Movement, and the Ability to Withstand and Deal With Counter Forces. Apply this model to the African American "Religious-Political" Movement.

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