1.

Based on the sociological approaches to religion, how do you think religion contributes to
social cohesiveness and yet it is seen as contributing to social stratification?  
1. I think that based on the sociological approach’s religion contributes to social
cohesiveness by being one of the functions of religion. Social stratification is a
subcategory of social cohesion that can then be broken down further into issues
around power, gender, racial discrimination. As much as we do not want to see
these aspects as being present in our day-to-day life they are and for the most part
they were a problem that was faced in most religions in history at one point or
another.

2. What advantages and disadvantages you see in re-defining religious diversity in the US
by the level of engagement in religious practices? (Keep in mind the numbers of people
self-identifying with Christianism, with other religious denominations, and with no
religious denominations at all). 
1. I think that one advantage to redefining religious diversity in the US by the level
of engagement in religious practices would be that it would provide a more
accurate depiction of the numbers of people actually practicing that religion on a
regular basis. This is because a lot of people will identify with a certain religion,
but they do not actually practice that religion or believe in what that religion
teaches. This is often seen with teenagers who do not know what they think about
religion, but their parents tell them they are Christian so when asked what religion
they are they respond that they are a Christian.

3. Define religious liberty with your own words - bring an example.

1. I think that Religious liberty applies to what our families should be like what our
home life should be what our faith gives us as guidelines in a sense to who we
should live out our faith every day. One example of religious freedom that comes
to mind is for teachers to have the ability to talk to their students about the faith in
the classroom. I think that this ability especially for children to hear adults talking
to them about what they believe in and how they all can grow closer to God as a
community is something that is truly amazing.

4. Pick one of the threats presented by the USCCB in the document: Current Threats to
Religious Freedom. Do a little more research on your choice, and briefly present it,
including an example.
1. One of the threats presented by the USCCB was the threat posed to catholic foster
care and adoption services. Upon some further research of this I found that in
certain states the government was trying to revoke catholic charities licenses in
these two specific areas so that they would not be able to legally help families in
the foster care or adoption systems. An example of this that I found was in
Chicago the 50 plus year ties between catholic charities and the local government
were severed leaving at least 3 families in a state of limbo and not knowing what
could happen to the children that had been placed in their care.
 5. Check the attached document about legal protection of religious freedom in the U.S.
Which of these instruments and/or recommendations called your attention the most?
Why?
1. I think the instrument that called my attention most was the U.S. Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission. I think that this one struck me the most
because as being a catholic and working in a job at a chapel I do not have to
endure any of these types of discrimination based on my religion. I think that
when I read about these it made me stop and think about all the different aspects
of discrimination that could be as small as the uniform for the job to as big as
segregation into a different department in the company based only on the religion
that one practices.

I really liked what you mentioned about redefining religious diversity and not having it be bound
by religious affiliations. Like you mentioned I also thought that this re defining could help to
provide a more accurate picture of those who are practicing rather than those who just claim to
be a part of a specific religion on paper. I think what you mentioned about the California college
that denied the Christian student organization access was very eye opening of just some of the
discrimination that Christians face on college campuses. For us attending Franciscan we do not
experience that religious discrimination since one of the reasons most students come here is
because of the faith life present on campus.