[6.1] Explaining the growth of religious movements

Question 1

What are the three reasons that sociologists offer for the growth of the number of sects and cults?

Answer 1

Marginality, relative deprivation and social change.

Question 2

What does Weber (1922) say sects offer?

Answer 2

A theodicy of disprivilege, an explanation for the poor’s suffering.

Question 3

What are two reasons for the growth of world-rejecting new religious movements?

Answer 3

1. Social change in the 1960s.

2. The growth of radical political movements.

Question 4

What are two reasons for the growth of world-affirming new religious movements?

Answer 4

1. They provide a sense of identity.

2. Helps people to return to a conventional way of life.

Question 5

How long do sects usually last?

Answer 5

A generation, it dies out as it’s members do so.

Question 6

What does Niebuhr (1929) argue about sects?

Answer 6

They are short lived and either die out, compromise or abandon their extreme ideas.

Question 7

What are the three reasons for the death of sects?

Answer 7

1. The second generation who lack commitment.
2. The Protestant ethic effect, members of ascetic sects begin to see the world in a new way.
3. Death of the leader.

Question 8

How do Stark and Bainbridge see sects?

Answer 8

As moving through the sectarian cycle.

Question 9

What is the sectarian cycle?

Answer 9

1. Schism - tension between the deprived and privileged members of an organisation, the deprived break away.
2. Initial fervour - tension between sect’s and society’s views.
3. Denominationalism - the fervour disappears.
4. Establishment - the sect becomes more world-accepting.
5. Further schism - less privileged members again break away.

Question 10

What does Wilson argue about sects?

Answer 10

They don’t all follow the sectarian cycle, their survival depends on how they answer the question ‘what shall we do to be saved?’.

Question 11

What do conversionist sects do?

Answer 11

Aim to convert large numbers and eventually become formalised denominations.

Question 12

What do adventist sects do?

Answer 12

Await the second coming of Christ and separate themselves from the world around them.

Question 13

What is an example of a sect that has survived for many generations?

Answer 13

The Amish.

Question 14

What makes it harder for sects to separate themselves from the outside world?

Answer 14

Globalisation.

Question 15

What does the New Age cover?

Answer 15

A range of beliefs and activities which have been widespread since the 1980s.

Question 16

How many New Age movements does Heelas estimate there are in the UK?

Answer 16

2,000.

Question 17

What are the two common themes of the New Age?

Answer 17

Self-spirituality and detraditionalisation.

Question 18

What does Drane (1999) argue the popularity of New Age movements is down to?

Answer 18

It’s shift towards postmodern values.

Question 19

What causes a loss of faith in the ‘experts’ of society?

Answer 19

The fact that science promised to bring progress but instead brought war, genocide and environmental destruction.

Question 20

What are New Age beliefs often softened-down versions of?

Answer 20

Strict Eastern religions such as Buddhism.

Question 21

What are the four ways Heelas identifies in which the New Age and modernity are linked?

Answer 21

• A source of identity
• Consumer culture
• Rapid social change
• Decline of organised religion