Religious Organisations

Question 1

Troeltsch
(Identifying)

Answer 1

First attempt to identify features of different types of religious organisations

Question 2

Troeltsch
(sects)

Answer 2

Sees sects as small exclusive groups - hostile to wider society and expect high levels of commitment

Question 3

Niebuhr

Answer 3

Describes denominations as lying midway between churches and sects

Question 4

Bruce

Answer 4

Argues Troeltsch idea of church having religious monopoly only applies to Catholic church before 16th century Protestant Reformation

Question 5

Wallis

Answer 5

Categorises new religious movements (NRM) in 3 groups based on relationship to outside world:
- World Rejecting NRM
- World Accommodating NRM
- World Affirming NRM

Question 6

Stark and Bainbridge

Answer 6

We should distinguish between religious organisation using 1 criteria - degree of conflict between group and wider society

Question 7

Stark and Bainbridge
(Sects and Cults)

Answer 7

2 organisations that are in conflict with wider society:
. Sects result from schisms = splits in existing organisations
. Cults = new religions or new to particular society

Question 8

Stark and Bainbridge
(Cults)

Answer 8

Subdivides cults by organisation:
- Audience cults
- Client cults
- Cultic movements

Question 9

Weber

Answer 9

Sects arise in groups who are marginal to society - feel they are deprivileged
^ sects offer solution by offering members a theodicy of deprivilege