Relgious Organisations Flashcards
Define a sect
Small, voluntary, exclusive group. Demand total commitment from their followers, emphasising separateness and rejection from society
Example and history of sects
Peoples Temple led by Jim Jones
Sects really took off in the 20the century
Life cycle of a sect
Church faced times of dissent, members became radical
Those no longer happy formed a sect
People are angry with mainstream views
Growth of sects
Weber- marginality
People who feel outside of mainstream society
War and economic decline
Relative deprivation- breakaway sects
Social change- offer certainty
Sects emerged due to modernisation and secularisation
Why are sects short lived
Voluntary, second generation problem Sometimes don't survive single generation Rely on a charismatic leader Ideologies can be radical Hard to commit to
Define a cult
Loosely knit group, organised around a common theme and interest, lacking strong belief system
Differences of a sect and cult
Cults are more individualistic
Tolerate other beliefs
Have customers rather than members
What does wallis say about cults
They do not claim monopoly over truth
They are very tolerant and emphasise power or the individual
What do Stark and Bainbridge say about cults
Audience cults, client cults and cult movement
Give an example of a cult
Heavens Gate
Required members to refrain from drugs, sex and alcohol
Shows levels of commitment
Believed a comet would pass close to earth and take dead bodies
Committed suicide
Believe spirits would ascend
What did Troeltsch say about the church
Distinguished between different types of religious organisations
Church reffered to a large organisation
4 main features of the church
Mains monopoly over truth
Complex and rigid hierarchy
Close relationship to the state
Closely integrated with mainstream society
Criticisms of Troeltsch’s view of the church
Church of England no longer claim monopoly over truth
Religious pluralism .
What’s a denomination
Don't usually claim monopoly over truth Have a hierarchy and are tolerant of others Reasonably large membership Usually not as loyal as church members Not closely connected to the state
Example of denomination
Baptism
