Organisations, movements and members Flashcards
(31 cards)
What are the characteristics of churches
Troelsch-
-Large, inclusive
-Attractive to m/c as tightly linked with state
-Claim to have a monopoly of truth
-Few demands on members
What are the characteristics of sects
Troelsch
-they are small exclusive groups, claim to have a monopoly of truth, hostile to wider society
-Expect high level of commitment
-Mostly have poor and oppressed
-Has a charismatic leader
What are denominations?
Niebuhr argues they are midway between churches and sects
-They are not as exclusive as sects, and mostly accept societys values like churches
-Restrict members in some ways e.g no alchohol but are not that demanding
How can denominations differ from churches and sects
-Do not claim to have a monopoly of truth
-More tolerant of other religious organisation
What are cults
Niebuhr-
loosely organised and often led by a ‘practicioner/ therapist’ who has ‘specialist knowledge’
-Do not demand strong commitment
How does Wallis sum up the differences and similarities between the 4 types of religious organisations?
How they see themselves; Chruches and sects- monopoly of truth
Denomination and cults- accept other interpretations
How they are seen by wider society; Churches and denominations are respectable/ legit whilst sects and cults are deviant
How does Bruce criticise Troelsch’s descriptions of religious organisation
In modern society, using his descriptions churches are no longer churches as they do not have a monopoly of truth due to religious pluralism. So would simply be deonominations.
give some examples of new religious movements
-Moonies
-Scientology
-Jehovah witnesses
-UFO/Alien based religions
What are the three types of new religious movements?
Wallis;
-World accommodating NRMs
-World rejecting NRMs
World affirming NRMs
What are world rejecting NRMs with examples
-Highly critical of the world
-Members must distance themselves from former life to achieve salvation
-Often believe they are being persecuted by society
-Have a clear notion of God
-The peoples temple ( Jim Jones)
What are world accommodating NRM with examples
Often splits from mainstream churches/denomonations e.g neo-pentecostalism
-Believe that current religions have lost their spirtuality so aim to reinstate it
-Neither accept nor reject the world, just focuses on religious matters
-Often lead conventional lives
What are world affirming NRM with examples
-Accept the world and promise its followers access to supernatural powers in the world/ success in this world
-Tolerant of other beliefs/religions
-Often cults meaning few demands and followers can lead normal lives
e.g Scientology
How can Wallis’ three NRM’s be criticised
-Not clear whether he is categorising them according to the organisations teachings or individuals beliefs
-Some NRMS may have features of all three NRMS such as the HEalthy Happy Holy Organisation
How do Stark and Bainbridge distinguish between religious organisation
-By looking at the degree of conflict/tension between the religious group and wider society
-Two types of organisations are in conflict with wider society
According to Stark and Bainbridge what are sects and cults?
Sects- splits from existing organisations such as churches due to disagreements about doctrine, promise other-worldly benefits to those dealing with economic/ethical deprivation
Cults- new religions, offers this-worldly benefits, to provide help to those suffering psychic/ organismic deprivation
How do Stark and Bainbridge subdivide cults?
-Based on their level of organisation
Audience cults- least organised, no formal membership,often through media with limited interaction between members e.g astrology of UFO cults
Client cults- Consultant client relationship with therapies that promise personal fulfilment
Cultic movements- Most organised, most commitment e.g Moonies and cannot be affiliated with other cults
What are the three main explanations for the grwoth of religious movements
-Marginality
-Social change
-Relative deprivation
How can marginalisation explain the growth in RM with an example
Weber; argues that sects offer a ‘theodicy of disprivellege’ that justifys/ explains their suffering e.g as a test of faith / ‘the meek shall inherit the earth’
-promises better rewards in the afterlife
-For example, Nation of Islam provided comfort for disprilleged blacks in 1960’s
How can Relative Deprivation explain the growth of religious movements in m/c
Stark and bainbridge- may have money but are spiritually deprived in todays consumerist and impersonal world and so turn to sects for a sense of community
-They then break away from churches in order to fit into society and join sects
How can Relative Deprivation explain the growth of religious movements in w/c
Stark and Bainbridge- They use world rejecting sects as compensators for lack of economic means in this world
-World rejecting sects usually safeguard original religious messages e.g ‘it is easer a camel to enter… for a rich man to enter the kingdom…. / ‘the meek shall inherit the earth’
These messages are attractive to w/c
How can social change such as the industrial revolution and secularisation explain the recent growth of religious movements?
Wilson; rapid change e.g industrialisation has lead to changes in norms and values e.g industrial revolution creates anomie>
rise in methodism
-NRM provide a sense of certainty in an uncertain world
Bruce; secularisation mean individuals are less attracted to churches and strict sects as they ask for too much commitment so prefer less demanding cults
How can the growth of world rejecting NRM be explained
Wallis- social changes e.g more education free children from adult responsibility more time to think for themselves/ form counter culture
-Rise in radical political movements provide alternate explanations> growth
How can the rise in World affirming NRM be explained?
Bruce- Work used to give religious meaning/ identity to individuals (protestants) but it now doesnt and doesnt promise us success. NRM provide identity and promise success
Why are sects short lived?
Niebuhr- second gen do not have commitment/fervour that parents had as they didnt join voluntarily
-‘Protestant ethic effect’ produces lots of wealth and so indivduals enticed to compromise with world to maximise off wealth
-Death of charismatic leader means it loses footing/ becomes denomination
