Defining religion and religious organisations

Question 1

Weber

Answer 1

-substantive definition- exclusive
-religion as a belief in a supernatural
-NEG= too exclusive and has western view point

Question 2

Durkheim (functional)

Answer 2

-functional definition- inclusive
-defines religion according to the contribution made to social integration
-NEG= too broad, may not have universal functions

Question 3

Yinger

Answer 3

-functionist definition
-functions that it performs for individuals e.g. answering life questions

Question 4

Aldridge (constructionist)

Answer 4

-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

Question 5

Southwold

Answer 5

-Polythetic
-list: faith, theology, meaning, ethical codes, rituals etc

Question 6

types of religion

Answer 6

-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

Question 7

Troeltsch & Weber (church)

Answer 7

-8 characteristics of what a church is:
-large membership, inclusive, universal, bureaucratic, monopoly of truth etc

Question 8

Bruce (characteristics of church)

Answer 8

-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

Question 9

criticisms of Troeltsch’s definition of church

Answer 9

-may not have many active members e.g. 870k CoE in 2005
-aren’t always tied to the state
-not always ideologically conservative
-tolerant

Question 10

Niebuhr

Answer 10

-denomination characteristics:
-large inclusive membership, not universal membership,no monopoly of truth, professional clergy etc

Question 11

etv of denominations

Answer 11

+recognises complexity of relig organisations
-purely based on christianity

Question 12

Weber and Troeltsch (sect)

Answer 12

-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

Question 13

Wilson

sects

Answer 13

-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

Question 14

aldridge

Answer 14

groups such as mormons are ambitious, in USA viewed as a denomination but in UK seen as a sect

Question 15

Characteristics of cults

Answer 15

-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

Question 16

What do Stark and Brainbridge offer?

Answer 16

-Offer an alternative definition of cults
-They’ve devised a new set of beliefs from outside of society e.g. science fiction

Question 17

Stark and Brainbridge (etv of cults)

Answer 17

-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

Question 18

Stark and Brainbridge (3 types of cult)

Answer 18

-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

Question 19

Problem of stark and Brainbridge

Answer 19

They are against other typologies bc boundaries aren’t clear cut, but their own typology could be criticised for the same reason

Question 20

Wallis

Answer 20

Look at similarities and differences of relig organisations e.g. churches are accepted whereas cults are not

Question 21

What are New religious movements?

Answer 21

Participation and membership are different from mainstream religions. People think NRM have too much hold over members

Question 22

Wallis

categoriesof NRM

Answer 22

-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

Question 23

Critiques of Wallis

Answer 23

-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

Question 24

Barker

Answer 24

-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

Question 25

Marginality (growth of NRM)

Answer 25

-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

Question 26

Relative Deprivation (growth of NRM)

Answer 26

-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

Question 27

Social Change (growth of NRM)

Answer 27

-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

Question 28

Denomination or death (sects short lived)

Answer 28

-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

Question 29

Sectarian Cycle

Answer 29

-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

Question 30

established sects

(types?)

Answer 30

-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

Question 31

New age movements

Answer 31

-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

Question 32

Heelas & Woodhead

Answer 32

-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

Question 33

Bruce (explanations for new age)

Answer 33

-university m/c take interest in spirituality
-spirituality in rationalised world
-techniques allow for personal/spiritual growth and success/ wealth
-trad relig decline

Question 34

fundamentalism

Answer 34

-return religion to basic roots
>interprets theology literally
>intolerant of other religions
>all areas of life are sacred
>conservative & patriarchal

Question 35

cause of rise in fundamentalism

Answer 35

-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