Reasons for the appeal and growth of Sects, Cults, NRM's and NAM's and dynamics of sects and cults Flashcards
Explain why Heelas’ argues world affirming NRM’s appeal to successful middle class people?
they feel something is missing in their lives so seek techniques to recapture their inner selves
why does wallis suggest world affirming movements appeal to middle class?
because they help deal with stress at work, find career success and a happier personal life
explain what Weber mean when he said there is a ‘growing disenchantment with the world.’
the spiritual element has disappeared and the world has become more rational
what does Bruce see the growth of new age ideas and cults as consequences of?
growing individualism, modernity and loss of faith/disillusionment with traditional religions
what does lyotard suggest has happened
people have lost faith in metanarratives and traditional sources of authority
who suggests there is now a ‘crisis of meaning’ in postmodern society?
Bauman
who believes that the rise of new age ideas is part of a spiritual revolution providing new means for individuals to fill the vacuum of meaning which is caused by what?
heelas
the decline in traditional religions and the lack of spirituality in contemporary societies
what does Baurillard argue?
that we now live in a media saturated society so people are able to pick beliefs from all over the world. NRM’s are able to communicate with large numbers which has raised their profile
explain Weber’s theodicy of disprivilidge
sects are most likely to emerge from marginal groups that are not integrated into society. they appeal to them offering a theodicy of disprivilidge which is a religious explanation and justification for a groups marginalisation with promises of compensating rewards after death
what does wilson suggest can lead to marginalisation?
poverty, homelessness, unemployment, disillusionment with society
explain Stark and Bainbridge’s idea that world rejecting NRM’s can be compensators
when social order is disrupted religion can compensate for lonliness, grief, economic hardship etc and provides a means for individuals to come to terms with such events. they suggest religion in some form will never disappear as it answers universal questions for example Jehovah’s witnesses provide a close knit group of members in similar positions
Who notes that membership appeals to young people as it can provide support for an identity and statement independent of school and family so to overcome a sense of status frustration
he notes that sects only involve a small proportion of the population and even then only through a brief transition to adulthood
Wallis
what does barker say about young adults involvement?
lack of responsibilities of work, rent and childcare gives them time and freedom to get involved
what do stark and bainbridge say about relative deprivation?
membership is not limited to the deprived
relative deprivation is the sense of lacking something compared to the group which people identify with and compare themselves
people may feel inadequate and membership may help overcome this
Who says that the rise of methodism was a response to rapid social change which provides fertile ground for sects? explain further
wilson
such periods may create what Durkheim called anomie - a sense of normlessess, confusion and uncertainty over social norms caused by social change
sects and cults may provide solutions by providing new belief systems and a sense of certainty in an uncertain world
who says that growth of sects and cults are a response to social changes of secularisation and modernisation? what else does he suggest?
bruce
that churches are less appealing due to commitment and cults are less demanding
what do Glock and Stark about sects as a from of protest?
sects emerge as a form of protest so may therefore appeal to those whose values are at loggerheads with society
what does Niebuhr say about the life lengths of sects? give examples
they are either short lived or turn into denominations e.g. methodists began as a worl rejecting sect but evolved to become a respectable world accommodating denomination
he thought the commitment was hard to maintain so the sect either withers away or accommodates to mainstream society
what did Becker call a sect that had accommodated to mainstream society?
a cooled down sect
why does Barker think world rejecting sects are short lived?
because people find it hard to cope with the strict discipline and commitment so eventually leave.
as people get older the reasons that drove them to the sect diminish so they begin to look for normal lives when reasons cease to be relevant
who says people can pick ‘n’ mix beliefs and can experiment without commitment so sects have short lives as consumer tastes change
baudrillard
who argues against Niebuhr’s claim that sects are short lived or turn into denominations saying that many sects have retained their features and have been successful in socialising children and what example do they point to?
Aldridge
the Amish still exist and have separated themselves from the modern world
wilson argues that whether sects can retain their features of not depends on what members see as being required to be saved what are the 3 categories he suggests?
- conversionalist sects - most likely turn into a denomination as they think the best way to save the world is not to be hostile and isolated but engaged in converting others
- introversionalist sects - not able to survive in denominational form as believe the only route to salvation is total withdrawal from corrupting influences of the world
- revolutionary/adventist sects hold millenarian beliefs which they may try to spread but cannot compromise with the world or tolerate other beliefs without abandoning their own
give an example of a conversionalist sect who turned into a denomination
the salvation army
