4.2 How to classify Religious Organisations.

Question 1

Define Typologies

Answer 1

• is also called ideal types
• A typology is a way to categorise RO
• This is specifically concerned with HOW TO CLASSIFY NRMS ( sects+cults) cause there are 1000s of them.

Question 2

Who is the debate between on how to use different criteria to classify religious organisations?

Answer 2

Wallis vs Stark & Bainbridge

Question 3

Wallis is based on looking at the ___ Relationship to____

Answer 3

NRMSs, Society

Question 4

What are the three relationships that NRMSs form with society?

Answer 4

1. World-rejecting
   2.World-accommodating
   3World-affirming

Question 5

what does World-rejecting mean and what examples can u include?

Answer 5

• Its in the opposition to the world.
• Rejects many of the norms and values of society
• They replace those norms and values with alternative beliefs and practices.
• Members withdraw from society
  Examples = Heaven’s Gate & Jone’s town

Question 6

define World- Accommodating + Example

Answer 6

• Generally accept the dominant norms and values of society BUT will disagree with some elements of society’s norms and values such as alcohol use and gambling
  Examples = The Raelians

Question 7

Define World-affirming + Example

Answer 7

-Accepts society as it is
- Offer the individuals the opp for self improvement within it
-members live similar lives to other members
- HOWEVER practice within their religion may appear ‘different’ to wider society
EXAMPLES= scientology

Question 8

Beckford’s Evaluation of Wallis Three relationships

Answer 8

positive
- Acknowledge that no religion group will conform exactly to his typology and allow for for this.
CRITICAL
- Its wrong to assume the view of members are all the same (homogenous) within the religion
- Views may vary between rejecting, accommodating and affirming over a range of diff topics
- good example is scientology.

Question 9

Stark and Bainbridge subdivide cults according to how organised they are. what are they? (list the 3 types of cults)

Answer 9

1. Audience cults
2. Client cult
3. Cult movement

Question 10

What is a audience cult (Stark and Bainbridge)

Answer 10

• an Audience cult is one where the participant (or client) is a passive consumer.
• attend lectures + buy bokos.
• Least organised
• do not involve formal membership or much commitment = no expectations.
• its been argued scientology began as an audience cult, initially it was ppl reading books on the a certain subject

Question 11

What is a Client cult (Stark and Bainbridge)

Answer 11

• Are based on the relationship between a consultant and a client. Doctor/patient
• clients enter a prolonged relationship as they might do with a therapist
• Its not like a sect/church HOWEVER, as they choose when, how often and for how long they wish to receive these services.
• Scientology developed from audience cult to a client cult when it sought to treat ppl through the application of Hubbard’s theory.
• form of a psychological therapy widely rejected by science community

Question 12

what is a cult movement (Stark and Bainbridge)

Answer 12

• Most organised and demand higher level of commitment than other cults.
• Its one which does not provide one service but looks to fulfil all spiritual needs of their customers.
• relationship become more traditional church, denomination or sect, then with clients being more like members of a congregation.
• Scientology turned from being a client cult into what it is today, A cult movement ; the church of Scientology

Question 13

Drane POSTMODERNIST suggested that New Age movement have grown as a result of an apparent failure of science as a belief system. EXAPLAIN HIS WAFFLE

Answer 13

While Benightment and Rationalism led to ppl dismissing traditional religion, they increasingly found science does not provide the answer they want.

Before science gave a sense pf reason, development that would solves world’s problem HOWEVER it only created new ones like impending environment disaster or the last of nuclear catastrophe.

Drane Argues ppl turn away from science ad look within themselves and Turing to spiritually

Question 14

OVERVIEW

Answer 14

Wallis —-> based on relationships Based on conflict

Question 15

Evaluation - religious organisation as postmodern organisation

Answer 15

• Flexible and democratic control - pwr will be more shares
• Niche market- New age movements will cater for small groups and individual needs
• Enabled by tech- the use of new tech social media, internet will be crucial to the Working of NAM

Question 16

Modern R.O’s traditional religions

Answer 16

• rigid with authoritarian control - a priest will lead + be in control
• Mass consumption - The mass experience religion for vast no’s
• Disabled by tech - these traditional religions will often view new tech with sus and critics