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Religious organisations Flashcards

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1
Q

who outlined 4 categories of religion? based on what factors? what are the categories?

A

Troelsch
Organisational structure, relationship with wider society, commitment required from members, attitude to different religious groups
church, denomination, sect, cult

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2
Q

key sociologist for churches?

A

Troelsch

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3
Q

Church - organisational structure

A

Organised, bureaucratic hierarchy of paid clergy. Leaders tend to be wealth and have power in society.
Worship is formal and ritualised.

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4
Q

Church - attitude to wider society

A

World-accommodating – conservative and likely to accept dominant societal norms. Often linked to the
state being considered an official/state religion.

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5
Q

Church - membership requirements

A

Universalist and inclusive – relatively low demands of members. Often born into it and are not required to
demonstrate faith regularly. Religious life fits around the secular context.

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6
Q

Church - member demographic

A

Range of social backgrounds but due to conservative nature and links to state Churches are more attractive
to higher incomes who want to preserve society as it is.

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7
Q

Church - attitude to other religions

A

Normally claim monopoly of truth so can be intolerant of other religious groups.

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8
Q

Church - examples

A

Roman Catholic Church, Church of England, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism

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9
Q

Main thinker for denominations

A

Niebhur

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10
Q

Denomination - organisational structure

A

Hierarchy of paid officials and bureaucratic structure but some degree of democratic participation (e.g.
more emphasis on lay preaching/witness). ‘A sect that has cooled down to become an institutionalised body
rather than a protest group’ (Becker, 1950).

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11
Q

denomination - attitude to wider society

A

World-accommodating – broadly accepting society’s values, but are usually not linked to the state.
Concerned more about spiritual behaviour than the mortal realm.

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12
Q

denomination - membership requirements

A

Accept/integrate with secular culture, living conventional lives outside of their religious activities. May be
minor restrictions on members but are not as demanding as sects.

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13
Q

denomination - member demographics

A

Members are recruited by self-selection (conversion) or family tradition and appeal to middle class.

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14
Q

denominations - attitude to other religions

A

Tolerant of other religious organisations and do not claim a monopoly on the truth. They see themselves as
one denomination among many.

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15
Q

denominations - examples

A

Pentecostalism, Methodism, Lutheran Church

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16
Q

key sociologists for sects

A

Wilson, Troeltsch

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17
Q

Sect - organisational structure

A

No hierarchy in terms of paid officials or structure. Egalitarian power structure, often under the control of a
single charismatic leader. However, some sects are short-lived, when the leader dies so does the sect.

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18
Q

sect - attitude to wider society

A

World-rejecting – schismatic so viewed as radical, in opposition of wider world. Dominant norms and
values are replaced with alternative beliefs and practice. Some practices are not understood in wider society
and can face disapproval (e.g. plural marriage).

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19
Q

sect - membership requirements

A

Strict entry criteria and high commitment. Involves lifestyle changes and sometimes insular life away from
society, unless recruiting or fundraising. Tight social control of members with a risk of expulsion .

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20
Q

sect - member demographics

A

Small, elitist, exclusive and close-knit membership, recruited by self-selection (conversion) or family
tradition, usually requiring initiation ceremonies. Appeal to alienated minorities, poor and marginalised
communities - sense of connection in opposition to the state.

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21
Q

sect - attitude to other religions

A

Intolerant of others and non-members as they claim a monopoly of the truth. Only members have access to
the religious knowledge that offers the only true path to salvation.

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22
Q

sect - examples

A

The People’s Temple, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormonism.

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23
Q

cult - key sociologists

A

Stark and Bainbridge

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24
Q

cult - organisaional structure

A

Individualistic, loosely structured, small grouping around some shared themes and interests but often
without a sharply defined belief system. Lack traditional features of religion. Leaders are practitioners –
training members to realise internal truths/power/

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25
cult - attitude to wider society
World-affirming – provide opportunity to be more successful, secure and happy in existing society. No other worldly focus. No opposition or links with the state but some face disapproval or persecution.
26
cult - membership requirements
Followers are like customers or trainees – no strong commitment required. They ‘buy’ services to gain rewards and often leave the cult once the service is acquired. Very little social control over members – free to carry on normal lives.
27
cult - member demographics
Open to all but usually have above average income as services are purchased by followers but not often shared outside of the group. Some appeal to celebrities as relative secrecy increases the desirability of the cult.
28
cult - attitude to other religions
Cults are tolerant of other religious organisations and coexist alongside them. Followers may belong to/support and buy services from other religious organisations or cults.
29
cult - examples
The Human Potential Movement, Transcendental Meditation Movement, Scientology
30
what organisations expect low levels of commitment from members
church / cult
31
which organisation/s is world rejecting
sect
32
which organisation/s places minor restrictions on members?
denomination
33
which organisation/s claims monopoly of truth
sect / church
34
which organisation/s views members as trainee or customers?
cult
35
which organisation/s has a hierarchical structure of paid clergy?
denomination/church
36
which organisation/s appeals to marginalised or oppressed communities?
sect
37
which organisation/s is tolerant of other religious groups
cult / denomination
38
which organisation/s is a world accommodating movement?
denomination / church
39
which organisation/s is world-affirming?
cult
40
who highlights similarities and differences between religious organisations? what are they?
Wallis how they see themselves - churches and sects claim that their understanding of faith is the only true one vs denominations and cults accept that there are many valid interpretations how they are seen by wider society - churches and denominations are seen as respectable and legitimate vs sects and cults are seen as deviant
41
criticisms of Troelstch's typology
- there is a lot of overlap and rigid definitions cause difficulty when categorising organisations e.g scientology contains elements of a denomination, sect and cult - based on Christian organiations - does not work as well for different contexts - outdated in postmodern society - doesn't consider an increase in religious pluralism and the growing disconnect between religion and state in many countries
42
strength of Troelstch's typology
Widely used by sociologists as it is comprehensive and considers a large range of factors.
43
who suggests that the concept of Church is now obsolete? Explain his ideas
Bruce - the concept of 'the church' is outdated - can only be applied when a single religious organisation dominates society e.g Roman Catholicism in medieval Europe, Islam in countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan - low commitment due to religious pluralism + secularization - difficult for states to lend exclusive support to one religion - Churches are a historical phenomena which will fade out of society
44
who talks about world accommodating, world rejecting and world affirming organisations? the growth of what led to this argument?
Wallis growth of new religious movements
45
what are world accommodating groups?
generally accept the dominant norms and values of society, and members will live similar lifestyles to other members of society.
46
what are world affirming groups?
offer individuals the opportunity for self-improvement within society. Members are likely to live similar lives to other members of society, apart from their interest in what many regard as deviant, bizarre, or obscure matters.
47
what are world rejecting groups?
are in opposition to the world and reject many of the dominant norms/values of society, and replace them with alternative beliefs and practices. Members are likely to live their lives in different ways from other members of society.
48
criticisms of Wallis typology
It is not clear whether he is categorising according to the movement’s teaching/doctrine or the attitude of individual believers. Ignores diversity of beliefs within each NRM. Stark and Bainbridge (1986) reject any typology, instead arguing the only useful criterion is the degree of conflict with wider society.
49
who rejects any typology and what criteria do they prefer?
Stark and Bainbridge - the degree of conflict with wider society
50
strength of Wallis typology
Helpful for categorising new religious movements that may share features in Troeltsch’s typology.
51
What are New Religious movements?
- emerged following the end of WW2 particularly since the 1960s - little in common with established churches/denomination but often draw upon traditional faiths - very diverse - often stereotyped and attacked by the media
52
who outlines features of NRMS?
Barker
53
what are the features of NRMs according to Barker?
- concerned with spirituality/supernatural - appeals to young adult converts - high turnover of members - temporary fulfilment of needs - often led by a charismatic leader - claim to hold the only correct truth and that they are the chosen ones - us and them attitude - face suspicion and hostility from wider society particularly the mass media (hostility can be returned) - many are short-lived due to heavy commitment required
54
what are world-accommodating NRMs + examples
- denominations or offshoots of mainstream Christian churches - more concerned with rediscovering a spirituality thought to have been lost - religion is a personal matter - members live conventional lives outside their religious activities - neo-Pentecostalism and the Charismatic movement
55
what are world affirming NRMs?
- mainly cults - lack features associated with traditional religious organisations - more like therapy groups - claim to provide knowledge that will enable individuals to access spiritual powers within themselves
56
what does Giddens say about cults?
- focus on the individual, individual expression and experience are the main features - little discipline or commitment - members act as consumers buying services - embrace a wide range of beliefs
57
who outlined three types of cult? what are they?
Stark and Bainbridge Audience, client and cult movements
58
what are audience cults with examples
provide little other than information, often consumed individually and spread through the media, e.g. horoscopes, UFOs
59
what are client cults + examples
more organisation, often sell therapy and courses by practitioners, e.g. spiritualism
60
what are cult movements + examples
wider range of activities, support and commitment, e.g. Scientology
61
what type of cult is the Transcendental Meditation Movement?
Client cult - organisation with practitioners selling levels of courses for cost spread worldwide + marketing - could be a cultic movement high media presence + branched out e.g schools, unis
62
what features of a NRM does the transcendental meditation movement have according to Barker?
- appeals to younger generations and converts - concerned with some aspects of the supernatural e.g yogic flying - started by an individual charismatic leader
63
what features of a cult does the Transcendental Meditation Movement have according to Troeltsch's typology?
- world-affirming - provides an opportunity to be more happy/successful in existing society - lacks traditional features of religion- leaders are practitioners and followers are customers - no strong commitment required - appeals to higher income due to purchase of events
64
what are world-rejecting NRMs?
- controversial and targeted by 'de-programming groups' - hostile to wider society and receive hostility in return - sometimes committed to millenarianism - involves beliefs that some form of extra-worldly intervention will change the world rapidly / Aldridge calls this an imminent apocalyptic collapse of the existing world order and its replacement by a perfect new dispensation - sometimes referred to as doomsday cults
65
what does Aldridge say about world rejecting NRMs?
' an imminent apocalyptic collapse of the existing world order and its replacement by a perfect new dispensation'
66
what type of organisation are world-rejecting NRMs usually
sects
67
what does Barker say about world-rejecting NRMs?
generally have a small membership and a relatively high turnover of members
68
what does Wilson say about world-rejecting NRMs?
- reject society and its values - entails a sharp break with conventional life and significant lifestyle changes - impose tests of merit on would-be members - members claim elite status due to having access to what they regard as the only route to salvation - exercise stern discipline and and regulate the lifestyles of members using sanctions including expulsion - demand total commitment from members - led by a charismatic leader
69
give an example of a world-rejecting NRM?
The People's Temple
70
Who talked about the cycle of sects?
Stark and Bainbridge
71
What is the cycle of a sect? + sociologists
Stark and Bainbridge 1. formed from a schism in an existing organisation - often due to perceived inequality 2. world-rejecting sect is formed with initial fevour' 3. denominalisation occurs over time as initial enthusiasm cools 4. new denomination is established
72
What did Niebuhr say about the dynamics of sects?
they tend to be short-lived as they turn into denominations or disappear - sects that abandon their world rejecting features can become denominations e.g quakers and methodists - world-rejecting sects can end violently e.g People's Temple and Heaven's Gate
73
Who criticised Niebuhr's argument about the dynamics of sects? What did they say?
Wilson - those are not the only 2 alternatives as some sects have not become denominations e.g Jehovah's witnesses and the Amish
74
what did Wilson say about the dynamics of a sect?
Niebuhr's 2 dynamics are incorrect as some sects are long-lasting e.g Amish the continuation of sects focuses on their views of the outside world - conversionist - engage with the world to convert others - most likely to become denominations whilst maintaining some sect-like features e.g salvation army - introversionist sects - believe that salvation is found by withdrawal from society - tend to remain sects and maintain their unique lifestyle e.g Amish - adventist/revolutionary sects - groups with millenarian/doomsday beliefs are more likely to end as there is no compromise with the outside world e.g People's temple
75
what are Wilson's 3 types of sects
Conversionist sects, introversionist sects and adventist/revolutionary sects
76
why are many sects short lived? (4)
- commitment problems - loss of leader - change of circumstances - religious diversity or postmodernism
77
why do commitment problems cause sects to be short lived?+sociologists
Barker - rules may be too constricting to be sustainable Niebuhr - enthusiasm with which the sect started is difficult to maintain for future generations
78
what does Barker say about commitment problems in sects?
rules may be too constricting to be sustainable
79
what does Niebuhr say about commitment problems in sects?
the enthusiasm with which the sect started is difficult to maintain for the future generations
80
how does the loss of leader cause the sect to be short lived?
- sects that are founded and led by a single charismatic leader may lose support and disappear when the leader dies or is imprisoned - mistrust of new leaders - general lack of motivation and direction
81
how can a change of circumstances cause the sect to be short-lived?
- reasons for joining e.g deprivation/search for meaning may no longer be relevant - Barker - as converts grow older, the reasons that drove them into the sect diminish and they look for more normal lives
82
what does Barker say about change in circumstances causing sects to be short-lived?
- as converts grow older, the reasons that drove them into the sect diminish
83
how does religious diversity cause sects to be short living?
- postmodernism societies are characterized by fragmentation and a wide diversity of religious/spiritual beliefs - beliefs = purely a personal matter and people experiment without lasting commitment (spiritual shopping)

Sociology - Religion (8 decks)

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