Religious Organisations Flashcards
Churches and Sects- who talks about this?
Troeltsch and Wallis
Troeltsch and Wallis- features of churches?
1) Bureaucratic and closely linked to the state
2) They are conservative
3) Integrate with social and economic structure of society
4) The are universalist with open membership
5) Intolerant and hegemonic
6) Make up the ecclesia of a country
Troeltsch and Wallis -1) Bureaucratic and closely linked to the state
Churches have a hierarchical power structure with paid officials, are wealthy and influence society
Troeltsch and Wallis- They are conservative?
Churches accept the dominant norms of society and generally support the status quo helping maintain the current structure of society supporting its laws and values
Troeltsch and Wallis- Integrate with social and economic structure of society?
Church members play a full and active part in social life
Troeltsch and Wallis -4) The are universalist with open membership
Churches welcome individuals from all parts of society and don’t require particular demonstrations of faith from their followers just a belief
Troeltsch and Wallis -5) Intolerant and hegemonic
Claim to have a monopoly on word truth
Troeltsch and Wallis -6) Make up the ecclesia of a country (Yinger)?
Church should be defined as part of Ecclesiastical of a particular country e.g. the C and E in England, Catholicism in Italy, Hinduism in India
Troeltsch and Wallis- 6 types of sects?
1)They are egalitarian
2)Radical in nature
3)They are withdrawal
4)Have closed/controlled membership exclusive
5)Intolerant of other
6)World Rejecting
Troeltsch and Wallis- 1)They are egalitarian?
Power distributed among followers even though they have charismatic leader
Troeltsch and Wallis- 2)Radical in nature?
Sects tend to reject the dominant norms of society replacing mainstream norms with their own set of beliefs and values
Troeltsch and Wallis- 3)They are withdrawal?
Members expected to withdraw from society and conventional life
Sects have tight control over members and live communally in own breakaway society’s
Troeltsch and Wallis- 4)Have closed/controlled membership exclusive?
Sects are self selective usually family tradition
Close knit communities and hostile suspicion of non members
E.g. Amish, Moonies, Black Muslims etc
Troeltsch and Wallis- 5)Intolerant of other?
Exclusive, make up a minority and attract people from marginalized positions in society
Troeltsch and Wallis- 6)World Rejecting?
Typology of religious organisations
Highly critical of the outside world demanding significant lifestyle change from followers
Exercise complete control over members requiring high levels of commitment aiming to create social change and often conflict with the state
What do Stark and Bainbridge believe about sects?
Sects promise their members other worldly benefits like a place in heaven
According to Wilson what does he believe are the 6 types of sects?
1) Conversionist
2) Revolutionist
3) Introversionist
4) Manipulationist
5) Thaumaturgical
6) Reformist