Religious organizations and movements Flashcards
What is the definition of a church?
A large, well established religious organisation that claims monopoly on the truth
What is the definition of a denomination?
A less well established, medium sized organisation that has broken away from a church or a sect that has become established
What is a sect?
A small religious organisation with norms and values that oppose those in wider society
What are some examples of churches?
Anglican
Roman Catholic
Islam
Judaism
Hindusim
What are some examples of denominations?
Methodists - don’t drink alcohol
Pentecostalists
Baptists
What are some examples of sects?
Mormons
Jehovah Witnesses - don’t celebrate traditional events like xmas
What is the evaluation of churches?
Not always connected to the state - relative autonomy - Maduro
Not always conservation - Radical Bishops CofE
Most accent religious pluralism and co-exist
Churches no longer have majority - 2005 = 87,00 active CofE members
What did BRUCE say to why the definition of the church is not applicable in modern society?
Only appropriate in pre-modern Christian societies
1517 = Martin Luther King questions teachings of the medieval church
Competing Christian institutions which have led to religious pluralism
All religious can co-exist
What is the involvement and commitment of followers in churches, denominations and sects?
Churches: no demonstration of faith required
Denomination: no pressure to commit yourself
Sects: Deep commitment demanded from members, may be expected to withdraw from life outside sects
What is the relationship with the state in churches, denominations and sects?
Churches: tied with the state
Denomination: Doesn’t identify with the state, approves separation of church and state
Sects: often in opposition to the state, members reject values of the world that surrounds them
What is the membership and size of a church, denomination, sects?
Church: Large religious organisations - open to all
Denomination: usually smaller than church, doesn’t want whole population to be involved
Sect: highly exclusive attitude, strong boundaries between themselves and wider society
What is the organisation in the church, denomination and sects?
Church: formal organization with a hierarchy of paid officials
Denomination: still a formal organization with a hierarchy of paid officials
Sects: lack professional clergy, no complex hierarchy
What was the study on DAVID KORESH and the Branch Davidians?
Sect
Believed he was David the lamb from the bible and apocalyptic end of the earth was imminent
Demanded absolute loyalty from his members (e.g. allowing men to have sex with their wives and daughters is he chose to)
Weapons stockpiled
What is the evaluation of traditional religious typology?
BRUCE - churches and sects have drifted towards characteristics of denominations
Church are no longer universal = more like denominations
ALDRIDGE - Mormons have an ambiguous position (e.g. Church of Latter-Day Saints)
UK = sect
US = denomination
How are cults and sects similar and different?
Similar:
They’re individualistic and small
Different:
Cults don’t involve god, more tolerant of other beliefs, lack clear rules, have customers
