religious organisations Flashcards
1
Q
how do some choose to express their faith?
A
through membership of a religious organisation
2
Q
what are sociologists interested in?
A
the different types of religious organisation, how they develop and who joins them
3
Q
CHURCH
A
4
Q
what is a church?
A
a large, formal religious organisation most associated with Christianity
5
Q
2 examples of a church
A
the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England
6
Q
who identified the 5 key features of a church?
A
Troeltsch
7
Q
when did Troeltsch identify the 5 features of a church?
A
1980
8
Q
what are the 5 key features of a church?
A
- large, formal organisations with a hierarchy of paid officials
- automatic recruitment (often born into it)
- aim to appeal to all members of society and accepting of wider society
- has a close relationship with the state
- claims monopoly on religious truth
9
Q
1 criticism of churches
A
critics argue some of the criteria of a church doesn’t fit today’s reality.
10
Q
what does Bruce (1996) argue about Troeltsch’s idea of a church as having a religious monopoly?
A
only applies to the Catholic Church before the 16th century Protestant Reformation, when it had religious monopoly over society, symbolised by its cathedrals. since then, sects and cults have flourished, and religious diversity has become the norm
11
Q
what does this suggest?
A
in today’s society, churches are no longer truly churches in Troeltsch’s sense because they’ve lost their monopoly and been reduced to the status of denominations competing with all the rest
12
Q
SECT
A
13
Q
what is a sect?
A
a small religious group, often hostile to the outside world
14
Q
what may a sect have broken away from?
A
an established religion
15
Q
what is an example of a sect?
A
the Protestant religion
16
Q
what may sects represent?
A
an entirely new set of beliefs and practices
17
Q
who identified 6 key features of a sect in 1980?
A
Troeltsch
18
Q
what are the 6 key features of a sect?
A
- small organisation with no professional hierarchy
- headed by a charismatic leader
- exclusive membership
- no automatic recruitment
- requires total commitment of members
- opposed to the state and wider society (world rejecting)
19
Q
what is an example of a sect?
A
The People’s Temple
20
Q
who was The People’s Temple headed by?
A
Jim Jones
21
Q
when did he start The People’s Temple?
A
the 60s
22
Q
what was the Temple started as?
A
an integral and inclusive church
23
Q
where did they move?
A
Jonestown in Guyana
24
Q
how many people died in the massacre?
A
909
25
one weakness of sects
many sects are often incorrectly labelled as deviant by western media. for example, they focus their attention and report on sects e.g., The People's Temple which are seen as dangerous and hostile organisations
26
what does this suggest?
it isn't representative of all sects. as such can't be generalised
27
DENOMINATION
28
what is a denomination?
a smaller, formal religious organisation or group that accepts and is accepted by wider society and doesn't have any formal connection with the state
29
what do they share some similarities with?
churches and sects
30
3 examples of denominations
Methodists, Baptists, Pentecostalists
31
who identified 4 key features of denominations in 1929?
Neibuhr
32
4 key features of denominations?
1. no claim to a monopoly on religious truth
2. accept religious diversity
3. no close relationship withthe state
4. may not fully accept wider society
33
1 weakness of denomintions
it is difficult to measure membership of denominations. for example, some members can believe without attending services and it is unclear when the attendance counts take place and by whom
34
what does this suggest?
the statistics religious organisations lack validity as they're open to bias
35
CULT
36
what is a cult?
a spiritual association that emphasises individualism
37
what are they often viewed synonymous with?
a sect
38
who identified 6 key features of a cult in 1985?
Wallis
39
what are 6 key features of a cult?
1. minimal organisational structure
2. limited formal contact with members
3. no control over members' lives
4. no claim to monopoly of religious truth
5. world affirming in stance
6. tend to be short-lived
40
what are 3 types of cults identified by Stark and Bainbridge in 1985?
1. audience cults
2. client cults
3. cult movements
41
what are audience cults?
highly indivudualistic, require a low level of commitment and participation, and tend to attract those interested in a range of new mystical ideas to commit to one single group e.g., Astrology
42
what are client cults?
use products e.g., books, to establish contact with cult members. aimed at helping the individual to access their 'power within' to achieve personal goals. focus on wealth and status. offer short, courses that teach healing or meditation techniques
43
what are cult movements?
a more organised form of client cults, which offer members opportunities for regular meetings
44
1 strength of cults
the idea of cults support the postmodern view of religion. for example, according to this theory, individuals can pick and choose what to believe and 'pick and mix' from a variety of religions or belief systems
45
what does this suggest?
the classification of 'cults' complements wider society
46
NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS (NRMS)
47
what are the 3 types of NRMs
1. world-rejecting NRMS
2. world-accomodating NRMS
3. world-affirming NRMS
48
what are world-rejecting NRMS similar to?
Troeltsch's sects e.g., The Manson Family
49
what do world-rejecting NRMS vary in?
size, from a handful of members to hundres of thousands
50
5 characteristics of world-rejecting NRMS
1. critical of the outside world, they tend to withdraw from it and adopt a communal lifestyle
2. require a high level of commitment and have strictrules concerning membership
3. only source of salvation
4. vary in size, most are small local groups, but a few are international
5. often politically radical but morally conservative
51
what are world-accomodating NRMS
breakaways from existing mainstream churhces or denominations e.g., neo-Pentecostalists who split from Catholicism
52
what do world-accomodating NRMS focus on?
religious rather than worldy matters
53
what do world-accomodating NRMS seek to restore?
the spirital purity of religion
54
what kind of lives do they lead?
conventional lives
55
what do world-affirming NRMS differ from?
all other religious groups
56
what do world-affirming NRMS offer their followers?
access to spiritual or supernatural powers
57
2 features of world-affirming NRMS
1. they accept the world as it is and are optimistic and promise followers success in terms of mainstream goals and values
2. they are non-exclusive and tolerant of other religions
58
what are most world-affirming NRMS?
cults
59
what are world-affirming NRMS members called?
customers
60
how do you enter a world-affirming NRM?
through training
61
what is an example of an organisation that combines elements of all three types?
the Healthy Happy Holy Organisation (3HO)
62
3 ways 3HO is world-affirming
- it employs techniques that is claimed will bring personal benefits, such as happiness and good health
2. it hopes its teachings will have spin-offs for the outside world
3. not exclusive and members lead conventional lives
63
1 way 3HO is world-accomodating
it's an offspring of an existing established religion
64
4 ways 3HO is world-rejecting
1. requires a high level of commitment
2. the organisation has a clear concept of God
3. members dress unconventionally e.g., white clothes, turbans
4. they live in communes and there are some restrictions on behaviour e.g., vegetarianism, no alcohol
65
what do Wallis' critics claim about his way of classifying NRMS?
his categories are difficult to apply e.g., it's not clear whether he is categorising them according to the movement's teaching or individual members' beliefs
66
what does Beckford (1985) argue about Wallis' typologies?
while a typology may be usefu, Wallis pays insufficient attention to the diversity of view that exist within a NRM
67
what do Stark and Bainbridge (1986) argue about Wallis' typologies?
they reject the idea of constructing typologies, claiming that religious organisations should be distinguised in terms of the degree of conflict between religious groups and wider society
68
what were the 2 types of organisations in conflict with wider society they identified?
sect and cults
69
what do sects result from?
schisms
70
what is a schism
splits in existing organisations
71
why do sects break away from churches?
because of disagreements about doctrine
72
what do sects promise to those who suffer economic or ethical deprivation?
'other-worldly' benefits e.g., a place in heaven
73
what do cults tend to offer to prosperous individuals who are suffering psychic and organismic deprivation?
'this-worldly' benefits e.g., good health
74
THE GROWTH AND APPEAL OF RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS
75
what do most explanations of NRMS suggest they developed as a response to?
uncertainty and major social change
76
what can these circumstances lead to?
social dislocation i.e. a feeling of being uprooted, and to anomie
77
what are 3 main explanations for the growth of NRMS sociologists offered?
1. marginality
2. relative depriation
3. social change
78
what does Troeltsch state about sects?
sects tend to draw their members from the poor and oppressed
79
what does Weber claim about sects?
sects tend to arise in groups who are marginal to society
80
what do the groups who are marginalised feel like they are?
disprivileged
81
what does it mean to be disprivileged?
they are not receiving their just economic rewards or social status
82
how do sects offer a solution to this according to Weber?
by offering members a 'theodicy of disprivilege'
83
what is a 'theodicy of disprivilege'?
a religious explanation and justification for their suffering and disadvantage
84
what is an example of a sect that has recruited from the marginalised poor?
the Nation of Islam recruited successfully among disadvantaged black people in the USA
85
what groups have sect-like world-rejecting NRMs recruited from since the 1960s?
more affluent groups of often well-educated young, middle-class whites
86
what is relative deprivation?
the subjecitve sense of being deprived
87
in what way may m/c people feel deprived?
spiritaully
88
how may they perceive today's materialistic, consumerist world?
impersonal and lacking in moral value, emotional warmth or authenticity
89
why may they turn to sects?
for a sense of community
90
who do Stark and Bainbridge argue break away from churches to form sects?
the relatively deprived
91
when do deprived members break away to form sects?
when m/c members of a church seek to compromise its beliefs to fit into a society
92
why may deprived members break away to form sects?
to safeguard the original message of the organisation
93
what do they claim world-rejecting sects offer deprived groups?
the compensators they need for the rewards they are denied in this word
94
how is anomie produced according to Wilson (1970)
periods of rapid change disrupt and undermine established normd and values
95
what might people do in reponse to the uncertainty and insecurity this creates?
those most affected may turn to sects as a solution
96
what does Bruce see the growth of sects and cults as a response to?
the social changes involved in modernisation and secularisation
97
why does Bruce claim people are less attached to the traditional churches and strict sects?
they demand too much commitment
98
why do they prefer cults?
because they are less demanding and require fewer sacrifices
99
what does Wallis claim that social changes from the 1960s has impacted on?
young people, including the increased time spent in education
100
what has this provided for them?
freedom from adult responsibilities and enabled a counter-culture to develop
101
what has the growth of radical political movements offered?
alternative ideas about the future
102
why were world-rejecting NRMS attractive to people in this context?
they offered young people a more idealistic way of life
103
what does Bruce claims led to disillusioned youth turning to religion?
the failure of the counter-culture to change the world
104
what does Bruce claim the growth of world-affirming NRMS is a response to?
modernity, especially to the rationalisation of work, which no longer provides meaning or a source of identity
105
what do world-affirmingg NRMS provide?
a sense of identity and techniques that promise success in this world
106
what else has grown since the 1970s?
'middle-ground- movements
107
what did middle-ground movements attract?
former members of world-rejecting NRMS
108
why do middle-ground movements attract these people?
becuse they provide a halfway house back to a more conventional lifestyle
109
THE GROWTH OF THE NEW AGE
110
what does new age mean?
a range of beliefs and activities that have been widespread since the 1980s
111
what do new age religions include?
diversity, being eclectic, belief in UFOs, aliens, astrology, tarot, crystals, alternative medicine and psychotherapy
112
what does eclectic mean?
putting unconnected ideas together in new combinations
113
who identified 5 features of New Age religions?
Bruce (2002)
114
what are the 5 features of New Age religions?
1. emphasis on self
2. everything is connected
3. self is the final authority
4. global cafeteria
5. therapy
115
what does emphasis on the self mean?
NAMS aim to strip away the negative residue caused by the environment and circumstances, to free the real world and true self
116
what does everything is connected mean?
NAMS see the self, the environment and supernatural world as part of a greater whole (holistic)
117
what does self is the final authority mean?
NAMS don't impose absolute truths on communities. they give status to each person and value whatever works for each person
118
what does global cafeteria mean?
the new-age stresses the right of the consumer or 'spiritual shopper' to believe what they want to believe.
119
what does therapy mean?
the rivals and ideas of NAMS are deliberately therapeutic and are intended to make people more successful, healthier and happer
120
who identified 2 characteristics of the New Age?
Heelas (1996)
121
what are the 2 characteristics Heelas identified?
1. self- spirituality
2. detraditionalisation
122
what is self-spirituality?
new agers look inside themselves to find the spiritual
123
what is detraditionalisation?
the new age values personal experience and believes that we can discover the truth for ourselves and within ourselves
124
what does Drane (1999) claim the New Age appeal is part of a shift towards?
postmodern society
125
why are people turning to the New Age idea that each of us can find the truth for ourselves by looking within?
people have lost faith in 'experts' and 'professionals' e.g., scientists because science has resulted in war, genocides, global warming
126
what does Brice (1995) argue the growth of the New Age is a feature of?
the latest phase of modern society, not postmodernity
127
what does Bruce say is typical of religion in late modern society?
'pick and mix spiritual shopping'
128
4 ways Heelas (1996) says the New Age and modernity is linked
1. source of identity
2. consumer culture
3. rapid social change
4. decline of organised religion
129
what is source of identity?
individuals have many different roles in modern society but there's little overlap between them, resulting in a fragmented identity. new age beliefs offer a source of 'authentic' identity
130
what is consumer culture?
creates dissatisfaction because it never delivers the perfection it promises. the new age offers an alternative way to achieve perfection
131
what is rapid social change?
modern society disrupts established norms and values, resulting in anomie. the new age provides a sense of certainty and truth in the same way as sects
132
what is the decline of organised religion?
modernity leads to secularisation, thereby removing the traditional alternatives to new age beliefs
