explaining growth of NRMs

Question 1

why do they join?

Answer 1

• appeals to individualistic selves
• change in attitudes towards gender/religion
• politically motivated eg civil rights
• increase in individualisation
• fundamentalism- literal interpretation of scripture

Question 2

why did the growth begin

Answer 2

• reformation in 1500s led to new branch of christianity (earn place in heaven). protestantism (predetermined place in heaven)

Question 3

nelson

Answer 3

disillusion with mainstream church of england responsible for increase in christian sects in 1970s. bc cofe too formal, not creative/ spiritual enough

Question 4

the 2 reasons the growth begun

Answer 4

1. impact of social change: wallis
2. impact of deprivation: glock

Question 5

what does wallis say about the growth

Answer 5

industrilisation, urbanisation, immigration, secularisation led to increase in christian sects

Question 6

how did NRM compensate for changes?

Answer 6

offered hope and certanity in uncertain world. sense of community

Question 7

why were middle class, uni educated youths attracted to second wave NRMs?

Answer 7

• counterculture rebellion of rejection of individualism, selfishness, consumerism, materialism associated with parents generation

Question 8

what was the reasons for the 3rd wave?

Answer 8

world thought to be ending/ jesus or aliens appear so sects promised salvation from these

Question 9

criticisms of wallis

Answer 9

• too much emphasis on idea that NRMs are product of counterculture rebellion eg scientology
• fails to explain diversity among NRMs

Question 10

what does glock suggest?

Answer 10

appeal of NRMs is linked to relative deprivation. NRM may be rational response to particular type of deprivation that may be party brought about by social change

Question 11

5 deprivations by glock

Answer 11

1. economic
2. social/status
3. organismic
4. ethical
5. psychic

Question 12

explanation of economic deprivation

Answer 12

• appeal to people in poverty as provide security, comfort and compensation for risks eg practical help (housing)

Question 13

explanation for social/status deprivation

Answer 13

• NRMs attract skilled manual workers in lower-middle class experiencing status deprivation at work
• provide no hierarchy, alternate way to gain status

Question 14

explanation of organismic deprivation

Answer 14

• physical, mental, and addiction problems
• alternate therapies eg scientology

Question 15

explanation of ethical deprivation

Answer 15

• feel world is wicked/ in moral decline
• provide moral certainty- clear sense of what right and wrong

Question 16

explanation of psychic deprivation

Answer 16

• experience world as too materialistic, lonely, impersonal
• spiritual void experienced by those who have achieved society’s values so provide source of fulfilment- middle aged, white women.

Question 17

term: spiritual void + sociologist

Answer 17

Herberg- NRM are logical consequence of secularisation/ desacralisation “loss of sacred world”