Topic 6: organisations movements and members

Question 1

According to Troeltsch, (1912)what is a church?

Answer 1

large organisations, often with millions of members. which claim a monopoly of truth which means that they believe their view is right about the world. More attractive to MC and linked to the state

Question 2

According to Troeltsch,(1912) what is a sect?

Answer 2

small exclusive groups which are hostile to wider society. Have a monopoly of truth. Draw members from poor and oppressed

Question 3

According to Niebuhr (1929), what is a denomination and how does it differ both from a church and from a sect?

Answer 3

lie midway between church and sect. Membership is less exclusive, but they do not appeal to the whole of society. Unlike church and sect they are tolerant of other religious organisations and do not claim a monopoly of truth

Question 4

What is a cult ?

Answer 4

least organised group. Highly individualistic and loose knit based around shared interest and beliefs led by therapists/ practitioners. Tolerant of other organisations

Question 5

How are churches and sects similar in the way they see themselves? (one of wallis characteristics 1984)

Answer 5

churches and sects claim the monopoly of truth.

Question 6

How are denominations and cults similar in the way they see themselves? ( one of Wallis characteristics 1984)

Answer 6

Denominations and cults accept that there can be many valid interpretations

Question 7

How does wider society see churches and denominations?

Answer 7

in wider society churches and denominations are seen as respectable and legitimate

Question 8

How does wider society see sects and cults?

Answer 8

whereas sects and cults are seen as deviant

Question 9

According to Bruce, why do some of the above definitions or religious organisations not fit today’s reality?

Answer 9

Bruce (1996) argues that the troeltsch’s ideas do not fit todays reality for example

• the church does not have a religious monopoly today
• before the 16th cen and the reformation the church did have a religious monopoly symbolised by its massive cathedrals
• now sects and cults flourish
• religious diversity is now the norm
• churches have lost their monopoly

Question 10

Briefly explain and give examples of Wallis’ three categories of NRMs: world-rejecting

Answer 10

highly artificial of the article world. Members must make a sharp break with their former life

Question 11

Briefly explain and give examples of Wallis’ three categories of NRMs: world-accommodating

Answer 11

seek to restore the spiritual purity of the religion

Question 12

Briefly explain and give examples of Wallis’ three categories of NRMs: world-affirming

Answer 12

non exclusive, tolerant of other religion

Question 13

Give three criticisms of Wallis’ classification.

Answer 13

• wallis offers a useful way of classifying the NRM which have developed in recent decades but he ignores the diversity of the beliefs that may exists with NRM
• Wallis himself recognises that real NRMs will rarely fit his neatly into his typology and some such as 3HO (the heathy happy holy organisation) may have features of all three types
• stark and Bainbridge reject the idea of constructing such typologies instead we should use a criterion

Question 14

Briefly explain Stark and Bainbridge’s two kinds of organisation:
a. sects

Answer 14

result from splits in existing organisations - break away from churches because of disagreements about doctrine

Question 15

Briefly explain Stark and Bainbridge’s two kinds of organisation:
cults

Answer 15

are new religions such as scientology or imported new religions to a society such as TM

Question 16

According to Stark and Bainbridge, what benefits do (a) sects and (b) cults offer to their followers?

Answer 16

• sects promise other worldly benefits eg a place in heaven to those suffering economic or ethical deprivation
• cults other this worldly benefits eg good health to richer and more prosperous individuals who are suffering psychic deprivation and organismic deprivation (normlessness and health problems)

Question 17

Briefly explain and give examples of Stark and Bainbridge’s three types of cult.
a. Audience cults

Answer 17

this is the least organised and have no formal membership. participation may be through the media eg astrology

Question 18

Briefly explain and give examples of Stark and Bainbridge’s three types of cult.
b. Client cults

Answer 18

based on a relationship between a consultant and client and other personal fulfilment and self discovery

Question 19

Briefly explain and give examples of Stark and Bainbridge’s three types of cult.
c. Cultic movements

Answer 19

are the most organised and demand a higher level of commitment eg monies

Question 20

AO3 for religious organisations

Answer 20

stark and Bainbridge make some useful distinctions between organisations. eg they use the idea of a degree of conflict with wider society to distinguish between organisations

Question 21

Why are marginal groups in society more likely to join sects?

Answer 21

weber (1922) argues that sects tend to draw members from groups who are marginal in society. These groups feel they are not receiving their just economic rewards or social status.
sects offer a solution by offering members a theodicy of disprivilege

Question 22

Explain what Weber means by a ‘theodicy of disprivilege’

Answer 22

that is a religious explanation and justification for their suffering and disadvantage

Question 23

Define relative deprivation.

Answer 23

this is the subjective sense of being deprived. Someone is quite privileged may feel disadvantaged or deprived in some way when compared with others eg spiritually deprived

Question 24

According to Wilson, why do sects emerge in periods of rapid social change? Give an example.

Answer 24

wilson argues (1970) that periods of rapid social change disrupt and undermine established norm and values, producing anomie

sects may offer a solution from the uncertainty and disruption caused by social change for example Methodism was created in the late 18th cen during the industrial revolution

Question 25

Briefly explain the reasons for the growth in:

a. world rejecting NRMs

Answer 25

wallis - social change from the 1960s impacting on young people and increased time spent in education. young people had freedom from adult responsibility - enabling counter culture

new radical political movements also emerged. NRMs became attractive as they offered young people a more idealistic way of life

Question 26

Briefly explain the reasons for the growth in: world-affirming NRMs.

Answer 26

Bruce - their growth is a response to modernity - especially to the rationalisation of work, In the past the work provided people with a meaning or source of identity (protestant ethic gave work a religious meaning)

Now we are expected to achieve and may lack the opportunities to achieve and succeed. world affirming NRMs provide a sense of identity and purposes and promises of a better success in the world.

Question 27

Define schism.

Answer 27

splitting from a established church because of a disagreement over religious doctrine

Question 28

Briefly explain Neibuhr’s three reasons for sects being short lived:

Answer 28

The second generation born into the sect lack to commitment of their parents​
The ‘Protestant ethic’ effect as sects that practice hard work and saving tend to become prosperous and upwardly mobile (this happened with the Methodists in the 19th century). ​
Death of the charismatic leader means a bureaucratic leadership may take over leading to the sect becoming a denomination.​

Question 29

Draw a diagram of Stark and Bainbridge’s sectarian cycle.

Answer 29

1. Schism in an established religious organisation
2. Deprived members break away to form a world rejecting sect
3. An initial fervour exists and there is a charismatic leader. Great tension between the sect and wider society exists.
4. The second generation are not as committed. The Protestant Ethic also has an impact on the sect. The fervour disappears.
5. The sect becomes more world-accepting and tension with wider society reduces.
6. Further schism results as less privileged and more committed members break away to found a new sect.

Question 30

According to Wilson, what patterns do (a) conversionist and (b) Adventist sects follow:

Answer 30

conversionist - sects such as evangelists who aim to convert large numbers of people, grow rapidly
adventionists- sects such as jehova witness await the second coming of christ. to be saved they believe they must separate themselves from the corrupt world around them

Question 31

Give three examples of established sects.

Answer 31

mormons, Amish, Quakers

Question 32

According to Wilson, why is it becoming more difficult for sects to keep themselves separate?

Answer 32

globalisation will make it harder in future for sects for sects to keep themselves separate from the outside world.

Question 33

What is the positive effect of globalisation for some sects?

Answer 33

will make it easier to recruit in the third world, where there are large numbers of deprived people for whom the message for sects is attractive, as success of pentacostalists has shown

Question 34

Give four examples of New Age beliefs.

Answer 34

• UFOs and aliens
• crystals
• yoga
• magic

Question 35

Briefly outline the two common themes of New Age beliefs identified by Heelas:

a. Self-spirituality
b. Detraditionalisation

Answer 35

Heelas (2008) estimates there are 2,000 New Age activities in UK. Many are client cults or loosely knit audience cults.​
They are diverse and eclectic.​
The two common themes are:​
- Self-spirituality​ = new agers have turned to looking inside themselves to find it
- Detraditionalisation = values personal experience reject spiritual authority

Question 36

what does Drane argue about new age

Answer 36

John Drane (1999) New Age is appealing as it is a part of a shift towards postmodernity.​

One of the features of postmodern society is a loss of faith in meta-narratives or claims to the truth. Science promised a better world but instead has given us war, famine, genocide, environmental destruction and global warming. People have lost faith in science and are disillusioned with churches so turn to New Age ideas and practices.

Question 37

According to Bruce, why is the growth of the New Age a feature of modern society?

Answer 37

New Age is a feature of the latest phase of modern society and not postmodernity. Modern society values individualism which is a key belief and principle of New Age beliefs (e.g. the individual has truth within themselves).

Question 38

Heelas (1996) argues …

Answer 38

sees the new age and modernity as linked in 4 ways:

1. Gives a source of identity an ‘authentic’ identity​
2. Gives satisfaction where the consumer culture creates dissatisfaction​
3. Gives certainty and truth in anomie and normlessness​
4. Gives an alternative option where organised religion is in decline.

Question 39

what does Davie argue about religiosity and social groups

Answer 39

There are clear differences between the genders and religion.​
Davie (2013) notes there are gender differences in terms of religious practice, belief, self-identification, private prayer and many other aspects of religiosity.

Question 40

examples of gender differences and religiosity

Answer 40

• Most churchgoers are female​
• More women than men say they are religious​
• More women than men say religion is important to them​
• Fewer women are atheist or agnostic​
• Women express more interest and are more committed to religion than men

Question 41

. Briefly outline Miller and Hoffman’s three main reasons for women’s higher levels of religiosity.

Answer 41

Women are socialised to be more obedient, passive and caring and these qualities are also valued by religions​

Women are more likely to work part time and therefore more spare time to devote to religion. Religion can also help to provide a source of gender identity​

Davie (2013) argues women are closer to birth and death through childbirth and caring for the elderly and this means they are closer and think about questions about life and death and the meaning of life religion is associated with.

Question 42

According to Bruce, what was the reason for women’s higher religiosity in the past?

Answer 42

Women’s religiosity is a result of their involvement in paid work as they have lower levels. This has also led to secularisation and less men taking up religion and driven religion to the private sphere of the family and personal life.

Question 43

Briefly outline two reasons why religion remains attractive to some women.

Answer 43

• religion has strong affinity values such as caring fro others. Women continue to have a primary role in caring for the young and old both in family and paid work
• mens withdrawal from religion in the last 2 centuries meant that churches gradually became feminised. Woodhead argues this continues to make religion more attractive to women

Question 44

Why are women more often associated with ‘nature’?

Answer 44

Women are more associated with ‘nature’ and a ‘healing role’ therefore they may be more attracted to NAMs and ideas.​

Heelas and Woodhead found 80% of participants in the holistic milieu were women in Kendal (Lake District).

Question 45

According to Bruce, how does women’s experience of child-rearing make them more likely to
be attracted to New Age movements?

Answer 45

NAMs celebrate the ‘natural’ and healing and give women higher status and self-worth. Bruce argues women are mainly the child rearers and this means they are less aggressive and goal orientated and more cooperative and caring and more feeling than men! – this fits with the NAMs goal.

Question 46

Briefly outline the following explanations given for ethnic differences in religiosity:
a. Cultural defence

Answer 46

Religion offers a sense of identity in a new culture and society a hostile environment; it helps people to keep their identity and helps to cope with racism. ​
Bruce – 2002​
Bird (1999) religion offers a sense of cultural identity in an uncertain or hostile environment and can be a basis for community solidarity or preserving one’s culture

Question 47

Briefly outline the following explanations given for ethnic differences in religiosity:
b. Cultural transition

Answer 47

Religion helps ethnic minority members ease into a new country and society; it provides support and community for minority groups in their new environment.​
However – once they have made the transition into wider society, religion then may lose its role and decline in importance.

Question 48

what is pryce study of the African Caribbean community in bristol show

Answer 48

shows both cultural defence and transition have been important. He argues that pentacostalism is a highly adaptive religion of oppression helping migrants with values which are in their new world. Pentecostalism helped African caribbean adapt to britsh society

Question 49

Briefly outline Voas and Crockett’s three explanations for age differences in religiosity.
a. The ageing effect

Answer 49

people turn to religion as they get older (evidence from Kendall project Heelas 2005). As we approach death we are naturally more interested in spirituality.

Question 50

Briefly outline Voas and Crockett’s three explanations for age differences in religiosity.: The period or cohort effect

Answer 50

People born during a particular period are more likely to be more or less religious because of events such as the war or rapid social change.

Question 51

Briefly outline Voas and Crockett’s three explanations for age differences in religiosity: Secularisation

Answer 51

As society becomes more secular each new generation is less religious than the last one. This accounts for the older people in church - not because they turn to religion as they are older but because it was something they were brought up with.

Question 52

According to Voas and Crockett, which of the above is the main reason for age differences in religiosity?

Answer 52

they argue that secularisation is the main reason why younger people are less religious than older people.

Question 53

Using an example, explain what Arweck and Beckford mean by the virtual collapse of religious socialisation.

Answer 53

traditional sunday schools, which in the 1950s enrolled a third of all 14 year olds, have all but disappeared