MT5 - Religious organisations and movements

Question 1

2 characteristics of a Church

Answer 1

Large hierarchical religious organisation

Generally recognises state and accepts norms and values of society

Question 2

2 characteristics of a denomination

Answer 2

Tend to neither accept or reject the world they just live within it

Stronger commitment of members following rules

Question 3

2 characteristics of a sect

Answer 3

Highly critical of the outside world, so they tend to withdraw from the world and live communally, and share all possessions, are very traditional and conservative,

Charismatic leadership and authority

Question 4

2 characteristics of a cult

Answer 4

Small, voluntary, loose-knit group with charismatic leadership

Flexible commitment and no restrictions on the followers’ lives,

Question 5

Examples

Answer 5

Church - Catholicism, Islam

Denomination - Methodists, Pentecostalists

Sect - Amish, Moonies, Jehovah’s Witnesses

Cult - Scientology

Question 6

Reasons for the end of sects

Answer 6

1. Second generation members, children born into the sect, lack the commitment to the sect – their parents may have joined willingly, but they didn’t.
2. ‘the Protestant ethic effect’ – many sects practice asceticism – hard work and no fun – thus becoming prosperous and may then no longer be world-rejecting so the members leave the sect and rejoin the mainstream society.
3. Death of the leader – sects led by charismatic leaders tend to collapse following the leader’s death.

Question 7

NRMs

Answer 7

World rejecting (similar to sects) - appeal to those facing difficulties

World accommodating (denominations) - appeal to all

World affirming (cults) - appeal to m/c who feel pressure to have all

Question 8

NAMs

Answer 8

no leaders or places of worship

do not require much commitment

Examples - Sound therapy, crystal healing.

Question 9

Reasons for the increase in sects

Answer 9

Weber argued that sects appeal to these marginal groups by offering a solution to their situation – theodicy of disprivilege – a religious explanation and justification for their suffering and disadvantage, e.g. their suffering is a test from God and offer them rewards in the afterlife.
Example: he Nation of Islam recruits successfully among disadvantaged black men in the USA

Relative deprivation
Stark and Bainbridge argue that working classes may feel materially deprived and it is sects that offer them compensators for what they feel they lack here on Earth by promising them rewards in the afterlife. This is why they tend to join world-rejecting sects such as People’s Temple. On the other hand, the middle classes tend to join world-affirming NRMs (cults) which allow them to further their wealth, such as Scientology.