classifying new religious movemenrs

Question 1

what did wallis look into

Answer 1

-the rapid growth of smaller religious organisations and distinguishing into 3 types of new religious movement

Question 2

what are the 3 types of religious movements

Answer 2

• world rejecting , world affirming and world accommodating

Question 3

what is world rejecting RM

Answer 3

• hostile to other society, mainly sects as they have characteristics such as charismatic leader and high levels of discpline from their leaders

Question 4

examples of world rejecting

Answer 4

• branch dividians
• monies
  -family international

Question 5

what is word affirming RM

Answer 5

• mainly cults
• don’t associate features w traditional religious organisations e.f buildings and rituals
• have more like therapy groups
  -members are consumers as they buy services with aim of unlocking their potential and meet personal needs
  -not at odds with rest of the world , live normal lives

Question 6

example of world affirming

Answer 6

• scientology
• ppl into alternative medication

Question 7

world accommodating RM

Answer 7

-mainly denominations
-see religion as personal affair
-live conventional and conformist lives outside of their religious activities
-religion is important , they want to rediscover spirituality thought to be lost

Question 8

examples of world accommodating

Answer 8

-amish
-pentecostalists

Question 9

evaluation (wallis)

Answer 9

• -useful way of classifying new RM BUT some argue it’s not clear wether categorising them according to teachings or individual memeber beliefs
• ignores the diversity of beliefs that may exist within NRM

Question 10

what does wallis recognise (eval)

Answer 10

• real NRMS will rarely neatly fit into his typology and some like 3HO(the healthy happy holy organisation )
  -middle ground groups
  BUT some sociologists find such typologies useful as a way of analysing and comparing the significant features of NRMs

Question 11

evaluate (stark and bainbridge)

Answer 11

-reject idea of constructing such typologies altogether
-they argue using just one criterion ( degree of conflict or tension between the religious group and wider society )
-however, they then go on to classify the smaller types of religious organisation into their own typology.

Question 12

what is a sect in small words

Answer 12

• small religious groups which are an offshoot of an existing religion and are im high degree of tension with the outside world

Question 13

what are cults

Answer 13

-small religious groups which are either novel or based upon religion from another society ; divided into three types

Question 14

what. 3 types are cults divided into

Answer 14

-audience , client and cult movements

Question 15

what are audience cults

Answer 15

-provide little to members apart from information and spread via the media e.g new age ideas

Question 16

what are client cults

Answer 16

-hv more organisation and offer paid services to members e.g spiritualism

Question 17

what are cult movements

Answer 17

are organised, involve a range of activities and communities e.g scientology