Organisations/Movements/Members

Question 1

What are 3 characteristics of a Church? (Troeltsch)

Answer 1

• Bureaucratic (has hierarchy)
• Universalistic
• World affirming

Question 2

What are 3 characteristics of a Sect?
(Troeltsch)

Answer 2

• World rejecting
• Closed membership
• Led by charismatic leader

Question 3

What are 3 characteristics of a Cult? (Niebuhr)

Answer 3

• World affirming
• Led by individuals who claim to have ‘specialist knowledge’
• Tolerant of other beliefs/organisations

Question 4

What are world rejecting NRM’s?
(Wallis)

Answer 4

Movements with restricted contact to the outside world, conservative morals/views, highly critical of outside world

Question 5

What are world-accommodating NRM’s?
(Wallis)

Answer 5

Members lead conventional lives, neither accept or reject the world

Question 6

What are world-affirming NRM’s?
(Wallis)

Answer 6

Accepts the world as it is, doesn’t have clear hierarchy

Question 7

How does Weber explain the growth of NRM’s relating to marginality?

Answer 7

Sects tend to arise in groups who are marginalised in society
Theodicy of Dispirvilege - a religious explanation/justification for suffering

Question 8

How does Stark and Bainbridge explain the growth of NRM’s relating to relative deprivation?

Answer 8

Middle class people may feel spiritually deprived, so turn to sects to gain a sense of community and belonging

Question 9

How does Wilson and Bruce explain the growth of NRM’s relating to social change?

Answer 9

Periods of rapid social change alter norms and values causing anomie, sects offer a sense of community and clear norms and values to counteract this

Question 10

How does Niebuhr explain the dynamics of NRM’s relating to the second generation?

Answer 10

Children who are born into a sect, lack commitment unlike the parents who are a part of them

Question 11

How does Niebuhr explain the dynamics of NRM’s relating to the death of the leader?

Answer 11

Sects usually collapse upon the death of a leader, or a more formal organisation would be made, creating a denomination

Question 12

What does Bruce say about postmodernity and the new age?

Answer 12

Modernity values people being individualistic which is a key feature of New Age religions

Question 13

Which gender is more likely to participate in religion?

Answer 13

Women

Question 14

Which gender usually holds higher positions within religion?

Answer 14

Men

Question 15

What do Miller and Hoffman say about reasons for women participating more in religion?

Answer 15

• Women have been socialised to be more passive/obedient
• Women more likely to have part time careers, have more time for religion

Question 16

What does Bruce say is the reason for women participating in New Age movements more than men?

Answer 16

• women more associated with nature and the nurturing/healing role which correlates to the aim of new age movements

Question 17

Which ethnicities prioritise religion the most?

Answer 17

Muslim, Hindu, Black Christians more than white christian’s

Question 18

What does Bruce say about cultural defence?

Answer 18

Religion offers support, a way of preserving culture, language, and is a way of coping with oppression

Question 19

What does Herberg say about cultural transition?

Answer 19

Religion offers a way of easing transitions in life eg: deaths/marriages/births, through community

Question 20

Which age group is most likely to go to church, and 3 reasons why?

Answer 20

Over 65’s
- Cohort effect: older generations were socialised when religion was more prominent in society
- Ageing effect (Voas and Crockett): people turn to religion as they get closer to death
- Traditionalism: older generations tend to hold more conservative views due to their socialisation therefore may reseonate with religious traditions

Question 21

Which age group is least likely to be able to attend church/religious gatherings?