dynamjc of sects and NRMS Flashcards
what are key about sects
-short lived organisations
-frequently lasting only a single generation or less
what does sects go down one of 2 paths mean according to niebuhr - denomination or death
-compromise w world abandon their extreme ideas and become a denomination
-die out
reasons for sects going down one of 2 paths
- 2nd gen lack to commitment and belief of their parents
- sects that are hardworking and save money tend to be prosperous and this may lead to them moving out of the sect
‘ protestant ethic ‘ effect
-they commit mass suicide e.g heavens gate
what do starke and bainbridge say
-see religious organisations as moving through a cycle
first stage of starke and bainbridge cycle
-schism
-tension between needs of deprived and privledged members
-deprived members break away to found a world rejecting sect
second stage starke and bainbridge cycle
-initial fercour
-charismatic leaderhsip
-great tension between sects beliefs and wider society
third stage starke and brainbridge cycle
-denomination(pentecostalism)
-the protestant ethic effect
-coolness of the second generation mean the fervour diappears
fourth stage
-establishment
-sees the sect become more world accepeting and tension w wider society reduces
final stage starke and bainbridge
-further schism
-zelaous or less privledged members break away
-found a new sect true to the original msg
how does aldridge disgaree w niebhur
-many sects existed alongtime while retaining their features as sects
-not all sects depend on charismatic leaders
-many sects hv been sucessful in socialisng their kids into sects beliefs
-sects can maintain strict codes of conduct over long periods
how does aldridge points get proven by the jehovahs witness
-millenarian sect
-maintain their religous fervour
-dont completely isolate their members from contact wider society
-not led by charismatic leader
-wealthy and bureucratic
how do they try to protect their members from evil?
-no celebrating birthdays, christmas
-encouraged friendhsips formed by only other witnesses
-but children still attend state schools
what do jehovah witnesses majorily avoid
-blood transfusions
what do jehovahs witnesses do
-go around in pairs from door to doot trying to convert people
how could the Amish be used to support aldridge
-been around for ages
-still integrate w society
what did wilson also say?
-rejected the view that disappearance of asect or its becoming of a denomination are the only alternatives
what argument does wilson give to back his argument
-jehovah and 7th day adventists as long established sects and hv not become denominations
what does wilson say affects whether a sect can retain its status or turns into a denom?
-depends what the members see as being required in order to be saved
what are convesionist sects
-sects most likely to develop into a denom
-sects that think the best way to save the world is to be enaged w it
-and believe ins preading the message and ‘saving souls’
exmaple of conversionist sects
-penetecostalism emerged as a sect and is now a denom
what is introversionist sects
-AMISH= believe only route to salvation involves total withdrawal from corrupting infulences
-can only suceed if they kept apart from the world
-they do not try to convert ppl thru preaching
what are adventists/ revolutionary sects
-jehovahs witnesses
-millenarian = dooms day beliefs and second coming of christ, this will destroy the evil world aside from some members of the sect
-may try spead beliefs but cannot compromise w the world
-cannot become denom as they cannot compromise w other beliefs
