Are NAM’s Short Lived Flashcards
Second generation
Born into the sect and lack the same commitment their parents had when they made the conscious decision to join, may be less angry with the world
Either lead to the organisation becoming denominational, in which it is more world-accommodating and less hostile towards wider society or it will die out as the next generation completely turn their back on the organisation
Protestant ethic effect
Whereby members who were originally deprived, find that the teachings of the sect begin to enable them to achieve upward mobility
As people become more socially successful, the hostility they previously felt towards wider society reduces - if members continue to practice the faith which they do because it helps them achieve social mobility than the religion will continue
The more it grows + more tolerant it becomes of wider society, the more denominated it will be. If people leave the organisation because they no longer have a need for it then it will die out
Leader dies
The group loses their charismatic figurehead, plunging the movement into uncertainty - unlikely that another individual will be able to step up + replace them
Leader may be replaced with more of a hierarchy of leadership instead, meaning that not one person has absolute power - more denominated in structure
If the leader which was holding the movement together, then once they have gone - movement loses its purpose, if people turn their back on it, movement will die out
Evaluation
Many organisations continue to thrive in spite of the changes + not embraced the denominational stage
Sects like jehavoah’s have a large following + not a denominational witness
Sectarian cycle
All religions organisations will go through a cyclic process
Schisms
Tensions between the privileged + the unprivileged members - result in some members breaking away from the religion + forming a new group which accommodates their needs
Initial fervour
Where those who have set up the new religion are extremely enthusiastic about the new faith
The charismatic leader will inspire the followers to reject wider society + be fully committed
Once the next generation is born into the organisation, that fervour will decline + tensions with wider society will dissipate
Denominationalism
Whereby the organisation becomes world accommodating + embraces the status of being a denomination
Establishment stage
Lends to the organisation being accepted as a real religion by wider society, once this has occurred, it’s likely tensions will begin to arise within the organisation, leading to future schisms - which the cycle begin
Evaluation (2)
Evidence - Methodism started as a sect which emerged following a schism within the Church of England, over time it has popularised + now it is the biggest denomination in the country, it has gone through further schisms in which other movements have broken away such as the free Methodist movement
Fails to acknowledge that some sects do not go through the full cycle + do die of instead which may make the denomination or death theory more accurate
