religious organisations

Question 1

what are all the religious movements

Answer 1

• churches
• denominations
• sects (NRM)
• cults (NRM)
• new age movements

Question 2

features of churches

Answer 2

• large and formal
• worldwide
• hierarchy of paid officials
• automatic recruitment, dont have to prove themselves
• may have close relationships to state
• claims a monopoly of the truth
• doesnt demand alot of dedication
• conservative views
• attracts mostly m/c

Question 3

evaluations of churches

Answer 3

• Bruce argues claiming a monopoly of the truth doesnt fit todays society
• now religious diversity is the norm
• Bruce argues they arnt always conservative and doesnt have as much support from population due to securalisation

Question 4

features of denominations

Answer 4

• Neibuhr - these differate from churhces as they accept diversity
• breakaway from a church
• large and formal, have hierarchys
• draws in followers from all classes
• open membership
• dont claim a monopoly of the truth
• no close relationship to the state
• world accommodating, dont reject the world
• have a hierarchy of paid officials

Question 5

features of cults and example

Answer 5

• about self improvement
• m/c join as it costs to get in
• small
• dont claim a monopoly of the truth
• world affirming
• fluid membership, can leave when they want
• limited contact between members
• dont demand strong commitment
• e.g. scientology

Question 6

3 types of cults according to Stark and Brainbridge

Answer 6

• audience cult - least organised, dont require membership, individualistic, interaction often online
• client cult - based on relationship between therapist and client, provides services to client
• cultic movement - organised, requires commitment, offers rewards to followers

Question 7

features of sects and example

Answer 7

• e.g. peoples temple
• target the disadvantaged groups
• requires full commitment
• only 1 leader, no hierarchy
• isolated from society, world rejecting
• tests to prove theyre worthy to join
• radical
• hate the state

Question 8

features of new age movements and example

Answer 8

• spiritual
• modern and contempory
• centric around liberation, empowers everyone
• appeals to women as their values align and leadership is avaliable for women
• appeals to m/c as pay to join
• doesnt require commitment
• self improvement
• e.g. wicca

Question 9

reasons why people join NRM (cult and sects) - 10 reasons

Answer 9

• progmatic reasons - Heelas says wealthy people use it as an escape
• secularisation - other beliefs only accomodate secular world
• filling vacuum - lost faith in religion but still want to follow a belief
• identity formation - form own identites through their beliefs
• globalisation - have access to choose beliefs from around the world
• marginality - attracts those isolated from society
• status frustration - helps them achieve status
• relative dep - attracts those deprived
• social change
• protest

Question 10

similarity between churches and sects

Answer 10

they both claim a monopoly of the truth

Question 11

similarity between denominations and cults

Answer 11

dont claim a monopoly of the truth

Question 12

similarity between sects and cults

Answer 12

both seen as deviant in the media