BELIEFS: ORGANISATIONS, MOVEMENTS AND MEMBERS Flashcards
what is a church according to TROELTSCH?
-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 BRUCE: argues TROELTSCH’s ideas are outdated as churches no longer hold a monopoly
what are denominations according to NIEBUHR?
-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
what are sects according to TROELTSCH?
-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
what are cults?
-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
according to WALLIS what are WORLD-REJECTING New Right Movements (NRMs) ? + EVAL.
-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)
according to WALLIS what are WORLD-ACCOMODATING New Right Movements (NRMs) ?
- 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
according to WALLIS what are WORLD-AFFIRMING New Right Movements (NRMs) ?
- world-affirming: accept the world in its current state e.g. cults, they’re optimistic
-members seen as clients
what are some explanations for growth of New Religious Movements?
-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
what are the differences between a cult and sect according to STARK AND BAINBRIDGE?
- 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
according to STARK AND BAINBRIDGE, what are the 2 kinds of organisation?
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
what is the link with gender and religiosity?
- 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
according to MILLER & HOFFMAN, what are 3 reasons for women’s higher religiosity?
-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
according to BRUCE, what are the class differences in religion?
-women are more likely to suffer from deprivation and turn to sects for compensation
what is an evaluation of MILLER & HOFFMAN?
-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
according to BRUSCO, why is pentecostalism attractive to women despite it being patriarchal?
-religion encourages men to be the breadwinner (pentecostal gender paradox) BUT it stops men from spending the income on themselves as a surplus.
cultural defence- reason for ethnic differences: BRUCE
-BRUCE: religion is a focal point of support to defend against hostilities as a way of coping against oppression
cultural transition- reason for ethnic differences: HERBERG
-provides support and a community to migrate within = high religiosity for 1st generation migrants
what is an evaluation of cultural transition?
PRYCE: religion helping people transition may very e.g. Rastafarianism rejects western values and society so makes it difficult to transition
what are 2 common themes of NEW AGE BELIEFS according to HEELAS?
-self-spirituality: focused on oneself rather than external sources
-detraditionalisation: rejecting external authority, find discovery of truth from our own experiences
what are meta-narratives?
=claims of the absolute truth
why have people lost faith in professionals such as scientists and doctors?
-can cause more danger than safety e.g. wars
according to BRUCE, why is the growth of the NEW AGE a feature of modern society?
-focuses more on individuality
why are NEW AGE activities attractive to westerners?
-elements of strong spiritual religions have been watered down= don’t have to commit
what are 4 ways HEELAS links the NEW AGE and MODERNITY?
-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
what are VOAS & CROCKETT’S 3 explanations for age differences in religiosity?
-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.
what does ‘schism’ mean?
splitting from an established church/ denomination due to disagreement over teachings and practices.
according to NIEBUHR, what are 3 reasons why sects are short-lived?
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
what is STARK & BAINBRIDGE’S sectarian cycle?
1) schism
2) fervour
3) denominationism
4) establishment
according to WILSON, what patterns do conversionists and adventists follow?
-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
what are 3 examples of established sects?
-Amish, Quakerism, Pentecostalism
according to WILSON, why is it becoming more difficult for sects to keep themselves separate?
- due to the inc. in globalisation and media= easy contact with different groups= isolation is challenging so the sect can lose power
what is the positive effect of globalisation for some sects?
-help those who are struggling in developing countries = easy access to other parts of the world (poorer countries attract more members)
according to STARK & BAINBRIDGE, subdividing cults- AUDIENCE CULTS
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
according to STARK & BAINBRIDGE, subdividing cults- CLIENT CULTS
-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
according to STARK & BAINBRIDGE, subdividing cults- CULTIC MOVEMENTS
-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.