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
World rejecting movements
Critical of wider society
Require total commitments
Significant lifestyle changes
Eg- The Moonies
World Affirming movements
Seek wider membership Spiritual power- individualistic Don't require strong commitment Don't focus on a belief system Similar to self help therapy groups
World Accommodating movements
Come from traditional movements
Try to re discover spiritual purity
Pentecostalism aims to bring Holy Spirit back
Allow people to carry on with current lifestyle
Why have New Religious Movements grown
Marginality- inequality and immigration, racism may marginalise some, may help it make sense of the situation
Relative deprivation
Social change
Postmodernity
New Age Movement
Close to cults and world Affirming movements
Spread through cultures such as crystal healing
Beliefs are dedicated to self spirituality
New science, new ecology and new psychology
Why do New Age Movements appeal
Those who turn from traditional movements
People can find peace within themselves
People cope with uncertainty
M/C, women especially
Cultural changes, mass communication and very postmodern
Millenarianism
Type of new religious movement
Claim there’s going to be a horrific event where social order is overthrown
Members part of the group will survive
Example of milenarianism
Ghost dance
Plain tribes in North American
Believed a storm or earthquake would return the buffalo
Associated with deprived groups
Radical social change
