Belief

Question 1

What are the characteristics of a church?

Answer 1

Beurocratic and closely linked to politics, conservative in nature, open membership, integrates with other institutions in society and tend to be hegemonic

Question 2

What are the characteristics of a sect?

Answer 2

Small egalitarian with little beuracracy, radical in nature, withdrawn, closed/controlled membership and intolerant of others

Question 3

What are the characteristics of a denomination?

Answer 3

Bureaucratic but are more democratic, generally conservative, integrates with wider society, open membership and tolerant of others

Question 4

What are the characteristics of a cult?

Answer 4

Loose informal structure, emphasise oppotinity and success, epect followers to live normal life, open membership and more tolerant of other and attract higher class members

Question 5

Who created the idea of an NRM?

Answer 5

Wallis, studied the idea of religion after the war and calssified them into groups

Question 6

What is a WR NRM?

Answer 6

Similar to a sect, critical of outside world, demand lifestyle change from followers, require high levels commitment,have control over followers aim to create social change, can conflict with government

Question 7

What is a world accomodating new religious movement?

Answer 7

Similar to a denomination, dont reject society or try to make it better, focus on spirituality, grouos appeal to those dissatisfied with exsiting mainstream religion but dont wish to join a wr nrm

Question 8

What is a world affirming NRM?

Answer 8

Similar to a cult, similar to a self help therapy group, offer success and betterment through spiritual teachings, accept the workd but also try to make it a better place, offer service, often short lived, partcipants are reffered to as clients

Question 9

What is a NAM?

Answer 9

Similar to a cult

Question 10

What are the reasons for rise in NAMs/NRMs?

Answer 10

Marginality of dispriveledge, protest, relative deprivation, pragmatic motives, social change or disruption, secularisation, globalisation and the media.

Question 11

Why is marginakuty and the theodicy of dispriveledge a reason for rise in NRMs/NAMs?

Answer 11

Sects appeal to marginilised groups in society, offer an explanation for suffering through charismatic leader, “better life”, offer support and status.

Question 12

What is a criticism of the theodicy of disprivilege?

Answer 12

Barker when studying moonies found many members joined from happy middle class uni educated backgrounds

Question 13

Why is protest a reason for the rise in NAMs/NRMs?

Answer 13

Glock and stork, sects unite people who struggle in mainstream society, sects become a symbol of rebellion, postmodern life is somehting some people arent used to, some churches have watered down beliefs so people leave them to join NRMS as it no longer applies to them

Question 14

How is pragmatic motives a reason for a rise in NRMs/NAMs?

Answer 14

Heelas suggests NAMs give an escape from reality, focus on success so is inspiring, appear to highly educated

Question 15

How does social change cause an increase in NRMs?

Answer 15

Wilson, during feelings of isolation NRMS offer certainty and structure helps people cope with the unknown. Could have increased during covid as people feel anomie and confused

Question 16

How does secularistion cause an increase in NRMS/NAMS?

Answer 16

Bauman, in a postmodern world there are many conflicting ideologies so people join NRMs to retain normality, eg westboro baptist church

Question 17

How has the globalisation and the media caused an increase in NRMs/NAMs?

Answer 17

Buadrillard, people are more aware and have better access to alternative views “ spiritually shop in a spiritual marketplace” postmodernism

Question 18

Why dont some NRMs last long according to neibuhr?

Answer 18

Neibuhr, Less commitment from second generation, too controlling, death of charismatic leader.

Question 19

Why dont some NRMs last long according to wallis?

Answer 19

NRMs are created due to social change so can end for same reason, people join for personal insecurities so if their personal characteristics change they no longer need a group so leave, membership is influenced by trend.

Question 20

Why dont some NRMs last long according to Wilson?

Answer 20

They develop into denominations, relax their approach and become more appealing

Question 21

What is the sectarian cycle?

Answer 21

Stark and Bainbridge, tension develops between deprived and priveledged members of a church, deprived members break away from church forming a sect led by a charismatic leader, second generation disinterested; death of leader; beliefs less radical; more bureaucratic, increase of followers leads sect to develop into a denomination of the church from where it started.

Question 22

What are the characteristics of a fundamentalist group?

Answer 22

Davie, need to return to traditional values, literal translation, intolerant of other beliefs, monopoly of truth, promote conservative beliefs, activism, reinforces nationalism

Question 23

What has lead to a rise in fundamentalism?

Answer 23

Secularisation, racism, protest

Question 24

What is the functionalist view of religion?

Answer 24

Acts as secondary socialisation, collective conscience, prevents anomie and helps deal with life changing events, value consensus, social solidarity.

Question 25

What is durkhiems view of religion?

Answer 25

Not interested wether it is real but belives it performs a positive necessary role in society, tells us how to think and behave, reinforces unity.

Question 26

What is parsons view of religion?

Answer 26

Form of social control, encourages appropriate behaviour, gives people identity, shared values.

Question 27

What is Malinowskis view of religion?

Answer 27

Religion acts as a conservative force, brings comfort security, helps people in stressful situations.

Question 28

Criticisms of functionalists view on religion?

Answer 28

Religion cant act for majority when there is a growing atheist population. Many different beliefs so cant unite, Dawkins says religion is diviseive and dangerous, conflict is inevitable, feminists argue its a source of opression for women, neo marxists say it can encourage change so is not a conservative force.

Question 29

What is vicarious religion?

Answer 29

Davie, “belonging without believing”, religion is there if you need it to fall back on. Religious minorty take on “spiritual burden”.

Question 30

What is civil religion?

Answer 30

Bellah, not traditonal, unites society in a way individuals cant for example football or “americanism” ( nationality )

Question 31

What are arguments against secularisation?

Answer 31

Religious thinking and beleif is not in decline (heelas pick n mix), religious practice is not in decline (davie “believing without belonging”) religious institutions are not in decline ( warner, hervieu- leger)

Question 32

What are arguments for secularisation?

Answer 32

Disappearance thesis and differentiation thesis ( woodhead and Heelas), decline in religious thinking and belief (weber, bruce, comte, dawkins) decline in morality, decline in religious practice, decline of power and influence of religious institutions (bruce, herberg, lyon)

Question 33

What is the pattern of class in religiosity?

Answer 33

Working class tend to be more religious than middle class

Question 34

What is the pattern of religioisity in gender?

Answer 34

Women more than men.

Question 35

What is the pattern of religiosity in age?

Answer 35

Very young and over 65 most religious

Question 36

What is the pattern of religiosity in ethnicity?

Answer 36

Ethnic minority more religious

Question 37

What is althussers view on belief?

Answer 37

The ruling class control the working class through the repressive state apparatus and ideological state apparatus, religion is part of that

Question 38

What is marxist view on religion?

Answer 38

Religion is a social construction, based on exploitation religion has been manipulated in history,teaches working class now to think and behave reinforcing state of false class consciousness/wont rebel, afterlife is a reward for salvation and a reason to accept oppression

Question 39

How can religions be a source of oppression ?

Answer 39

Marxist- teaches working class to not rebel. Feminists- religious scriptures and ceremonies control and opress women

Question 40

What did Marx say religion acts like?

Answer 40

Opium Of the people

Question 41

How does religion act as a conservative force?

Answer 41

Functionalist believe the word of god is unchanging and rituals and ceremonies are a constant, religion brings comfort and security

Question 42

What are examples where religion hasn’t acted as a conservative force?

Answer 42

Can be a force for change, American civil rights movement, liberation theology, neo Marxist maduro believes can cause a protest of gods word is being wrongly manipulated

Question 43

What are radical feminists view do religion?

Answer 43

Religion is a patriarchal organisation, reinforced by religious texts buildings and ceremonies they perform. They aim to eradicate patriarchy in religion and invent non-patriarchal belief systems

Question 44

What is El Sadaawi view on religion?

Answer 44

Religious belief systems are not themselves patriarchal, but early societies were patriarchal and therefore men were able dominate the interpretation of the scriptures and therefore misinterprets religious belief systems to improve their power on women

Question 45

How is religion patriarchal?

Answer 45

God is a man, religious texts interpret ate dinner by men, men use religious texts to legitimate womens subordination and preserve their own social advantage, religion discourages change

Question 46

What are criticisms of Marxist view of religion?

Answer 46

Ignores secularisation, ignores positive elements, not always a conservative force