Defining religion and religious organisations Flashcards
Weber
-substantive definition- exclusive
-religion as a belief in a supernatural
-NEG= too exclusive and has western view point
Durkheim (functional)
-functional definition- inclusive
-defines religion according to the contribution made to social integration
-NEG= too broad, may not have universal functions
Yinger
-functionist definition
-functions that it performs for individuals e.g. answering life questions
Aldridge (constructionist)
-constructionist definition- cannot have a single, universal definition
-scientology is a religion for its followers but has been denied the legal status by many govts
Southwold
-Polythetic
-list: faith, theology, meaning, ethical codes, rituals etc
types of religion
-totenism: worship totems e.g. Wiradjuri tribe
-Animism: belief in spirits which have influence e.g. shinto
-theism: belief in a god e.g. christianity/ hinduism
Troeltsch & Weber (church)
-8 characteristics of what a church is:
-large membership, inclusive, universal, bureaucratic, monopoly of truth etc
Bruce (characteristics of church)
-characteristics of a church are no longer appropriate due to questioning which leads to pluralism
-churches and sects have drifted towards denomination characteristics e.g. church can’t claim monopoly of truth
criticisms of Troeltsch’s definition of church
-may not have many active members e.g. 870k CoE in 2005
-aren’t always tied to the state
-not always ideologically conservative
-tolerant
Niebuhr
-denomination characteristics:
-large inclusive membership, not universal membership,no monopoly of truth, professional clergy etc
etv of denominations
+recognises complexity of relig organisations
-purely based on christianity
Weber and Troeltsch (sect)
-characterised sects as opposite to churches using these characteristics:
-charismatic leader- e.g. Sun Myung Moon,
small and exclusive membership (chosen ones), opposition to wider society e.g.amish, etc
Wilson
sects
-sects develop and change
-introversionist sect= ‘God calls us to abandon the world’ and live spiritually e.g. amish
-reformist sect= role is to change world using spiritual means and good deeds e.g. The Quakers
-conversionist sect= evangelical sect whose members crusade to save souls who’re in danger of eternal damnation e.g. JW
aldridge
groups such as mormons are ambitious, in USA viewed as a denomination but in UK seen as a sect
Characteristics of cults
-offer services around supernatural ideas and these services cost money
-clients/ customers not followers
-membership is loosely knit
-tolerate other beliefs
-world affirming (purpose is improving lives)
-short lived w/ small membership
What do Stark and Brainbridge offer?
-Offer an alternative definition of cults
-They’ve devised a new set of beliefs from outside of society e.g. science fiction
Stark and Brainbridge (etv of cults)
-think that typologies overlap so they rank organisations in terms of their degree of tension in society
-1= sects are small relig groups which are an offshoot of an existing religion (high degree of tension)
-2= cults are novel based or based on religions from diff societies
Stark and Brainbridge (3 types of cult)
-audience cult= more form of entertainment, less commitment
-client cult= way of enhancing life, seen as customers e.g. Scientology
-cult movements= give up aspects of their life, complete spiritual package
Problem of stark and Brainbridge
They are against other typologies bc boundaries aren’t clear cut, but their own typology could be criticised for the same reason
Wallis
Look at similarities and differences of relig organisations e.g. churches are accepted whereas cults are not
What are New religious movements?
Participation and membership are different from mainstream religions. People think NRM have too much hold over members
Wallis
categoriesof NRM
-3 categories of NRM
>world rejecting NRMs= critical of outside world, see secular world as corrupt, attempt to transform world w evangelical zeal, live communally e.g. Moonies
>world accommodating NRMs= offshoots of church/denominations, don’t accept/reject world, relig matters not worldly, response to increasing secularisation e.g. new evangelical movement
>world affirming NRMs= lack characteristics of religion, accept societal goals but provide new means of achieving these, humans have spiritual potential, alternative way of economic success, MC
Critiques of Wallis
-some organisations don’t fit his description
-Beckford= hard to apply bc it’s unclear whether individual beliefs or teaching of movement is important
-stark and brainbridge= against all typologies
Barker
-similarities of NRM
>converts so are enthusiastic
>atypical of population e.g. mc
>led by founder who is charismatic
>tensions in group and wider society
Marginality (growth of NRM)
-Weber= social stratification, disadvantaged groups
-theodicy of disprivilege= relig set of ideas explains why they’re in that position e.g. ‘God’s chosen ppl’
-but world-rejecting have recruited from the affluent, not marginalised. But these individuals had become marginalised e.g. hippies
Relative Deprivation (growth of NRM)
-Glock and Stark
-social deprivation= lack of status
-organismic deprivation= physical/mental issues (healed by sects)
-ethical deprivation= world in moral decline e.g. Jim Jones
-Psychic deprivation= spiritual fulfilment rather than capitalist society
Social Change (growth of NRM)
-rapid social change undermines traditional norms
-Wilson= Methodism as a response to industrialisation
-response to scientific rationalism
-Bellah= crisis of meaning in 1960s concerning materialistic values of their parents culture. This counter culture e.g. drugs leads to uncertainty but NRM help with identity
Denomination or death (sects short lived)
-Niebuhr= sects either die out or compromise with the world
>second generation members lack commitment
>ascetic sects become prosperous and compromise with the world
>leaders death may cause sect to collapse
Sectarian Cycle
-Stark and Brainbridge sects move through a cycle
>schism= sect is created
>initial fervour and charismatic leadership w/ tension
>denominationism= second gen means fervour disappears
>establishment= world accepting so tension reduces
>schism when zealous members break away to find sect true to original meaning
established sects
(types?)
-Conversionist= aim to convert large numbers of ppl, grow into larger denominations
-adventist= separate from the world. prevents compromising and them becoming a denomination
-established= survived for generations e.g. Mormons but globalisation may make their separation harder or make it easier to recruit from third world
New age movements
-many are essentially client cults e.g. psychotherapy, yoga etc
-generally opposed to trad science e.g. ancient ideas to discover authentic self
-fundamentally green= claims planet is a living organism/ everything is interconnected
-importance of self/ spirit= heelas call them sel-religions bc they’re abt human potential
Heelas & Woodhead
-traditional religion declining and replaced by new age spirituality
-e.g. Cumbria or Kendal Project, traditional relig decline but new age didn’t replace this despite growing
Bruce (explanations for new age)
-university m/c take interest in spirituality
-spirituality in rationalised world
-techniques allow for personal/spiritual growth and success/ wealth
-trad relig decline
fundamentalism
-return religion to basic roots
>interprets theology literally
>intolerant of other religions
>all areas of life are sacred
>conservative & patriarchal
cause of rise in fundamentalism
-response to secularisation, social change, globalisation= response when to some the world seems insecure and morally lost
-they adopt aggressive strategies, have no compassion/ tolerance for other beliefs, may kts for the cause e.g. Islamic fundamentalism
