BELIEFS: ORGANISATIONS, MOVEMENTS AND MEMBERS

Question 1

what is a church according to TROELTSCH?

Answer 1

-well-respected, stable, universalistic, formal organisation with hierarchy of professional clergy

-organised on monopoly of world “truths”= fundamentalists

-have an open membership-> accept values of society; don’t agree with new legislations
-have long lifespans e.g. church of England/ roman Catholic

(EV.) BRUCE: argues TROELTSCH’s ideas are outdated as churches no longer hold a monopoly

Question 2

what are denominations according to NIEBUHR?

Answer 2

-well-respected, universalistic, appeal to ethnic minorities/ marginalised groups (middle point between churches+sects)
-rely on members of community for active involvement.
-are inclusive nd accept other versions of the truth and accept societies values
-relatively long lasting, e.g. Methodism

Question 3

what are sects according to TROELTSCH?

Answer 3

-seen as deviant, they’re very small groups
-exclusive+attract marginalised groups
- have a charismatic centralised leader (claims to have been chosen by a higher supernatural power)
-very strict, rejects society’s norms and values
-secluded from outside world
-has short lifespans eg. ISIS

Question 4

what are cults?

Answer 4

-seen as deviant like sects, individualist, attracts upper class members
-have loose knowledge/ structure w/ low commitment
-lifespan depends on market demand e.g. scientology

Question 5

according to WALLIS what are WORLD-REJECTING New Right Movements (NRMs) ? + EVAL.

Answer 5

-world-rejecting: demand social change e.g. sects, highly critical of outside world so tend to adopt a communal lifestyle (religious organisations)

(EV.) •ignores diversity exists within the movement itself
•STARK&BAINBRIDGE: only need 1 criteria to distinguish between groups (conflict/tension the group has w/ the outside world)

Question 6

according to WALLIS what are WORLD-ACCOMODATING New Right Movements (NRMs) ?

Answer 6

• world-accomodating: neither accept nor reject the outside world, seek to restore the spiritual purity of religion e.g. denominations/churches
  -focus on improving the lives of their followers

Question 7

according to WALLIS what are WORLD-AFFIRMING New Right Movements (NRMs) ?

Answer 7

• world-affirming: accept the world in its current state e.g. cults, they’re optimistic
  -members seen as clients

Question 8

what are some explanations for growth of New Religious Movements?

Answer 8

-WEBER: marginality ‘theodicy of disprivilege’ =justification of their misfortune-> so sects offer support nd status ->as they’re denied from wider society
-STARK&BAINBRIDGE: relative deprivation (subjective feeling/depends on situation) -> ignores that m/c individuals accounts for high proportion; are spiritually deprived “its easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the K.O.G”
-WILSON: social change-> with it being rapid change= ppl feel a sense of anomie and NRMs relieve the anxiety

Question 9

what are the differences between a cult and sect according to STARK AND BAINBRIDGE?

Answer 9

• sects seem to promise other-worldly benefits e.g. a place in heaven to those who are suffering
  -cults offer this-worldly benefits e.g. good health to more prosperous individuals

Question 10

according to STARK AND BAINBRIDGE, what are the 2 kinds of organisation?

Answer 10

they identified two types of org. that are in conflict with wider society: sects and cults
-Sects result from SCHISM in existing organisations. they break away from churches usually because of disagreements about doctrine
-cults are new religions e.g. scientology and christian science or ones new to that particular society, have been imported

Question 11

what is the link with gender and religiosity?

Answer 11

• according to the British Attitude Survey: 55% women compared to 44% men say they have a religion

-MILLER&HOFFMAN: women express greater interest in religion nd have a stronger commitment to it

Question 12

according to MILLER & HOFFMAN, what are 3 reasons for women’s higher religiosity?

Answer 12

-women are less engaged in risk-taking behaviours, so men are less likely to believe in something that it is not certain and take risks
gender socialisation: women are socialised to be passive nd submissive which is valued in most religions
-less involvement in paid employment= have more time to organise their lives around religious events

Question 13

according to BRUCE, what are the class differences in religion?

Answer 13

-women are more likely to suffer from deprivation and turn to sects for compensation

Question 14

what is an evaluation of MILLER & HOFFMAN?

Answer 14

-women are now in paid work so therefore don’t have as much time to devote to religion due to their triple shift/ dual burden

Question 15

according to BRUSCO, why is pentecostalism attractive to women despite it being patriarchal?

Answer 15

-religion encourages men to be the breadwinner (pentecostal gender paradox) BUT it stops men from spending the income on themselves as a surplus.

Question 16

cultural defence- reason for ethnic differences: BRUCE

Answer 16

-BRUCE: religion is a focal point of support to defend against hostilities as a way of coping against oppression

Question 17

cultural transition- reason for ethnic differences: HERBERG

Answer 17

-provides support and a community to migrate within = high religiosity for 1st generation migrants

Question 18

what is an evaluation of cultural transition?

Answer 18

PRYCE: religion helping people transition may very e.g. Rastafarianism rejects western values and society so makes it difficult to transition

Question 19

what are 2 common themes of NEW AGE BELIEFS according to HEELAS?

Answer 19

-self-spirituality: focused on oneself rather than external sources
-detraditionalisation: rejecting external authority, find discovery of truth from our own experiences

Question 20

what are meta-narratives?

Answer 20

=claims of the absolute truth

Question 21

why have people lost faith in professionals such as scientists and doctors?

Answer 21

-can cause more danger than safety e.g. wars

Question 22

according to BRUCE, why is the growth of the NEW AGE a feature of modern society?

Answer 22

-focuses more on individuality

Question 23

why are NEW AGE activities attractive to westerners?

Answer 23

-elements of strong spiritual religions have been watered down= don’t have to commit

Question 24

what are 4 ways HEELAS links the NEW AGE and MODERNITY?

Answer 24

-a source of identity: new age offers new source of identity
-consumer culture: offers a way of achieving perfection that can be bought instead
-rapid social change : providing certainty and stability of truth in a chaotic life
-decline of organised religion:less alternatives to compete against

Question 25

what are VOAS & CROCKETT’S 3 explanations for age differences in religiosity?

Answer 25

-the ageing effect: natural to become interested in religion the closer to death we are
-the period/cohort effect: based on life experiments, shared trauma e.g. from war/rapid changes
-secularisation: each generation becomes more secular than the previous generation.

Question 26

what does ‘schism’ mean?

Answer 26

splitting from an established church/ denomination due to disagreement over teachings and practices.

Question 27

according to NIEBUHR, what are 3 reasons why sects are short-lived?

Answer 27

ending of sects: -there’s less commitment from 2nd generation as they’re born into it.
-the death of the charismatic leader= organisation either collapses or again turn denominational
-protestant ethic effect: helps members become more prosperous, turning an organisation into a denominations= abandoning world-rejecting beliefs

Question 28

what is STARK & BAINBRIDGE’S sectarian cycle?

Answer 28

1) schism
2) fervour
3) denominationism
4) establishment

Question 29

according to WILSON, what patterns do conversionists and adventists follow?

Answer 29

-mormonism: inc. in number=attract more members as their mission and end up almost denominational
-adventists sects: wait for the 2nd coming of christ= tend to segregate themselves from the outside world= corrupt

Question 30

what are 3 examples of established sects?

Answer 30

-Amish, Quakerism, Pentecostalism

Question 31

according to WILSON, why is it becoming more difficult for sects to keep themselves separate?

Answer 31

• due to the inc. in globalisation and media= easy contact with different groups= isolation is challenging so the sect can lose power

Question 32

what is the positive effect of globalisation for some sects?

Answer 32

-help those who are struggling in developing countries = easy access to other parts of the world (poorer countries attract more members)

Question 33

according to STARK & BAINBRIDGE, subdividing cults- AUDIENCE CULTS

Answer 33

They subdivide cults according to how organised they are:

-AUDIENCE CULTS are the least organised. don’t involve formal membership or much commitment. little interaction between members. participation may be through the media. e.g. astrology and UFO cults

Question 34

according to STARK & BAINBRIDGE, subdividing cults- CLIENT CULTS

Answer 34

-CLIENT CULTS based on relationship between consultant and a client. provide services to follower. before they were often sellers of medical miracles, seance but now emphasis has been shifted to therapies promising personal fulfillment and self-discovery

Question 35

according to STARK & BAINBRIDGE, subdividing cults- CULTIC MOVEMENTS

Answer 35

-CULTIC MOVEMENTS- most organised and commitment demanding. aim to meet all members religious needs. rarely allow followers to belong to other religious groups unlike audience and client cults.

e.g. scientology, moonies, doomsday cults that practise mass suicide. some client cults become cultic movements for their most enthusiastic followers.