Religious Organisation Flashcards
Bruce
The concept of the church is outdated as there are very few societies that has one dominant organisation
Troelsch
Church is large with millions of members, have a bureaucratic hierarchy and are ideological conservative. Sects are small, exclusive and hostile to wider society and have a charismatic leader
Niebuhr
identifies denominations as midway between churches and sects. They relax their teachings so they can attract more converts
Heelas
Cults have negative connotations within the media. There are 2 key features: self spirituality and detraditionalisation
Wallis
Church: uniquely legit, respectable
Denomination: pluralistically legit, respectable
Sect: uniquely legit, deviant
Cult: pluralistically legit, deviant
Stark and Bainbridge
Audience Cults: readings from the internet
Client Cults: sell therapies and courses to believers
Cult Movements: high level of support and personal commitment
Barker
Sects should be called NRMs. They're concerned with spiritual and supernatural Membership is young convents High turnover of members Led by an inspirational leader Believe that they have the truth Hostile to wider society
Niebuhr
NRMs emerge in times of social crisis Economic and natural disaster Alien culture Defeat in war Help to feel apart of a community
Wilson
18th and 19th century, growth in new religions. In America, there was a lack in traditional sources of authority so religion allowed stability
Bellah
Emergence of new religions during the 1960s due to crisis of meaning with the youth
Giddens
The growth of NRMs is a response to secularisation
Weber
Sects appeal to those who are marginalised: they offer a explanation for their disadvantage and reward in their next life
Drane
The appeal to NRM is part of the shift towards postmodernism. People feel disillusioned with the churches failure to meet needs
Heelas `
The New Age is linked to modernity in 4 ways: providing certainty and truth
authentic identity
achieve perfection
creates anomie
