Characteristics of Religious Organisations Flashcards
List the characteristics of a church (e.g. Roman catholic Church)
- Membership is universal and exclusive
- Have a complex formal hierarchy made up of professional clergy
- Worship is restrained (order of service)
- Claim to have a monopoly of the truth
- Strong relationship with wider society (accept norms and values)
- Involvement and commitment is encouraged, though not compulsory
List the characteristics of a Sect (Jehovah’s witnesses)
- Exclusive membership- erect strong boundaries between themselves and non members
- Lack a professional clergy and a complex hierarchy
- little use of ritual, worship is emotional, expressive and spontaneous
- Claim to have a monopoly of the truth (possess elite spiritual insight)
- Critical of wider society and discouraged contact
- Demand high levels of involvement and commitment
List the characteristics of a Denomination (Baptist church)
- Although membership is open to all, does not seek to make members of the whole population
- have a professional clergy but hierarchy is much less complex than a church
- worship is relatively formal with less ritual than a church and less spontaneity than a sect (e.g. stand to sing)
- Do not claim to have a monopoly of the truth
- explicitly separate from the state but do not reject it. May appear at national occasions
- Put little pressure on individuals to commit to one set of beliefs (individualism)
List the characteristics of a Cult (the Raelian movement)
- Membership usually open to all- people can join and drop out as they wish
- Loose cult organisation with a charismatic leader rather than professionals
- Do not claim to have a monopoly of the truth- tolerant of involvement with other groups
- Followers live in the world and cult activity is likely to be part time (strong relationship with society)
- Do not demand high levels of commitment from their followers, nor acceptance of their teachings.
World affirming NRM
Broadly accept the world. Many do not appear religious at all and their language may be much more similar to business. What they offer their members or clients are techniques to enable them to live more satisfactorily in the world.
e.g. scientology is based upon reading self-help texts like Dianetics, and participate in auditing to free themselves of engrams which restores their thetans
World rejecting NRM
are sect like organisations, often founded by a charismatic leader. They are critical or even hostile of wider society and distance themselves from it. They are seen by members as uniquely legitimate- as the sole means of access to truth . They draw clear boundaries between members and non members , set strict rules for entry and continuing membership.
e.g. Harre Krishna- reject ‘corrupt behaviour’ including meat eating, intoxicants and illicit sex
World accommodating NRM
Encourage their members to remain within wider society, though they are dissatisfied with and critical of non secular nature of society, They try to help members cultivate their awareness of inner power, but claim to be merely one of a variety of paths to salvation.
e.g. members of neopantecostal church will be involved in wider society, however will engage in extreme ritual within church as they sense a loss of communication in society.
List the characteristics of New Age Movements
- Interested individuals can attend. No concept of membership
- The most important organisational form is the network whereby members come into contact with like minded people
- Although individuals may believe in a God, the sacred is likely to be seen from within. As a result, there is unlikely to be worship as such, but rituals such as chanting
- Believe there are many truths which can come from a range of sources
- New Age seekers live in the world with the exception of those who stay at Findhorn (only New Age settled colony)
- The commitment of New Age seekers is primary to their own spiritual growth- usually stay as long as the organisation satisfies their needs
