Organisations, Movments And Members Flashcards
Types of organisations
Church - large organisation, run by hierarchy, claim truth. Universalistic, closely linked to state.
Sects- small, exclusive groups, hostile to wider society , high commitment.
Denomination- less exclusive membership, broadly accept society, not linked to state, some rules
Cult- individualistic, loose-knit, small group, no exclusive belief system. Tolerant of other beliefs. No strong commitment
NRMS - types
World rejecting- highly critical of outside world, expect radical change
World accommodating- neither accept nor reject the world.
World-affirming - spiritual or supernatural for followers to achieve goals
Sects and Cults - Stark and Bainbridge
Sects- splitting away from other organisations and offering other-worldly benefits to those suffering ethical deprivation
Cults- new religions, that offer physical benefits to the suffering.
3 types of cults-
Audience cults- least organised.
Clients- therapies promising fulfilment
Cultural - organised, requiring high levels of commitment. Meet members needs.
Reasons for growths in NRMs
Marginality- appeal to people who are marginal to society eg the poor and dispriviliged.
Relative deprivation- people may feel deprived. Turn to sects to a sense of community, relatively deprived who turn away from churches to form sects
Social change - undermine established norms and produce anomie
Dynamics of sects and NRMs
Death- they either due out or abandon their ideas to become a denomination.
Conversionist - aim to convert marge numbers of people to grow rapidly
Adventist - separate from corrupt world - prevents growth
Established- survive many generations eg Mormons
Growth of NAMs
Diverse, eg crystals, yoga, meditation.
2 common themes - self spirituality : turned away from traditional churches to look inside themselves
Detraditionalisation- rejects spiritual authority, values personal experience
Postmodernity and New Age
Growth of new age is a feature of modern society
Values individualism
Pick and mix shopping reflecting consumerism
Links between modernity and new age movements
Source of identity - offers a source of authentic identity
Consumer culture - creates dissatisfaction, alternative way to achieve satisfaction
Rapid social change creates anomie - new age provides certainty
Decline of traditional religion , more opportunity new age
Gender and religion stats
More women attend church
More women religious
More women say religion is important
More men are atheist
Women more likely to practice religion
Reasons for gender differences in religion
Socialisation and gender roles- socialised to be more passive and caring, qualities valued by religion. Work part time, more time. Closer to life and death, childbearing and caring for the sick
Paid work- less involvement in paid work, religion become more privatised.
Women and the new age- more ascossiated with nature and healing, new age movements celebrate this. Emphasis on not playing roles
Compensation for deprivation, sickness, ethical and social
Pentecostal gender paradox
Attractive to women due to return to traditional gender roles where men support their families.
Ethnicity and religion trends
Black people are more likely to attend church.
Hindus and Muslims are more likely to see religions as important and attend worship every week.
Reasons for ethnic differnces
Poorer countries, higher levels of religion
Cultural defence - preserve ones culture and cope with oppression
Cultural transition - easing the transition into a new culture
Age and religion trends
Older, more likely to attend religious services
Under 15s- less choice and made by patehtsc
Reasons for age differences in religion
Ageing effect- people turn to religion as they get older. Approach death, more concerned.
Cohort effect- people born in certain times more likely due to periods lived through eg war
Secularisation- each generation becomes less religious.
