explaining growth of religious movements

Question 1

how many ppl roughly in uk are in NRM

Answer 1

500,000

Question 2

What are the 3 explanations for the growth of NRMs?

Answer 2

Marginality
Relative Deprivation
Social Change

Question 3

what does weber think sects offer their marginalised members

Answer 3

theodicy of disprivilege
- religious explanation and justification for their suffering and disadvantage

Question 4

Explaining growth of NRMs: Marginality: Troeltsch

Answer 4

sects tend to draw their members from the poor and oppressed.

Question 5

example of a sect appealing to marginalised

Answer 5

the Nation of Islam appealed to marginalised African americans in the 60s

Question 6

we live in a consumerist world which is impersonal and lacks moral value and emotional warmth. who says this is why we turn to sects, for a sense of community

Answer 6

Wallis

Question 7

Social Change: Wilson: response to sudden change

Answer 7

rapid social change can creates a state of ‘anomie’ – therefore turn to a sect as a solution.

Question 8

what does bruce say about sects attracting people because of social change

Answer 8

• secularisation of modern society = ppl are less attracted to traditional churches and strict sects so prefer cults because they’re less demanding

Question 9

Drane argues thatNAMhave grown as a result of what

Answer 9

disbelief of science and religion as a belief system.

• People found that science nor religion did not provide the answers they needed
• therefore people are turning away from science and religion and looking within themselves and turning to spirituality and personal development self religion

Question 10

what are Self spirituality movements:

Answer 10

• seek the spiritual beliefs
• have turned away from tradition
• focus more on personal experience and values,
• for example:
  A belief in the power of natural healing
  and the psychic power of certain individuals.

Question 11

Heelas argues that New Age movement are increasing due to what four factors

Answer 11

Source of authentic identity – people can pick and choose what they wish to believe in

Consumer culture- offers a variation of rewards and promises

Decline in traditional religion

rapid social change - rising normlessness so people seek sense of certainty and truth