Sects N Cults Flashcards
Outline and explain two reasons why sects tend to recruit members from particular social groups [10 marks]
One explanation lies within relative deprivation. This refers to
the subjective sense of deprivation, even the most privileged
groups can feel disadvantaged. Wallis believes that privileged
individuals turn to sects for a sense of community. This is
because the middle-class feel spiritually deprived. This
suggests that the materialist and consumerist society dispels
moral values, emotional warm and authenticity. This implies
that middle-class members seek to compromise their beliefs to
fit in with society. As a result, they feel deprived. This indicates
the middle-class individuals join sects to fill the vacuum of
meaning. This shows that affluence can attract individuals to
join sects.
Another explanation lies within social and economic
inequalities, this is particularly true in a materialist and
consumerist society. Some sects tend to have a particular
appeal to the poor and oppressed. Weber argues that new
religious movements such as sects are highly popular within
society’s marginal groups. This is because marginal groups feel
deprivileged. As a result, they are drawn towards sects as they
offer members a theodicy of deprivilege. This means that
members are given religious justifications for their
disadvantage. Consequently, they believe that their misfortune
is seen as test of faith. This implies that sects are a form of
hope for example by promising rewards in the future for
keeping faith. This shows that marginality can attract individuals
to sects.
Item A Contemporary Western societies involve a wide variety of religious, spirituality and other beliefs. Postmodernists see the beliefs that people hold as purely a personal matter. They can go spiritual and religious shopping, and pick and mix religious beliefs to suit their own lifestyles without long- term commitment to any religion or religious organisations. This means that many religious cults and sects are short-lived or long-lived. Applying material from Item A, analyse two influences on whether a religious sects or cults are short-lived or long. lived 110 marks]
One influence in Postmodernity. A key feature of
Postmodernity is the idea of consumerism. Postmodernist Lyon
arques that religion has become disembedded in
Postmodernity. This means that individuals “can go spiritual and
religious shopping’ (Item A). This suggests that individuals can
pick and mix religious beliefs to suit personal lifestyles. As a
result, individuals may join particular audience cults to suit their
needs. In Postmodernity, consumer tastes and fashion trends
are constantly changing. This can lead to short-lived cults. This
is because audience cults don’t demand long-term
commitment. This shows that some cults are short-lived due to
volatile consumer tastes and a rejection of obligation.
However, not all cults will be short-lived. For example, cultic
movements are likely to be long-lived as they demand higher
commitment, thus making it harder to leave.
Contemporary western societies involve a wide diversity of
religious, spirituality and other beliefs’ (Item A). Despite these
differences in beliefs, some groups are more likely to join
sects, such as those who suffer relative deprivation. Wallis
believes that middle-class people may turn to sects for a
sense of community. This is because they may feel spiritually
deprived. This means that the materialistic, consumerist world
is seen as impersonal and immoral. Consequently, these sects
are likely to be long-lived. This suggests that emotional and
psychological deprivation is constant deprivation and is hard
to overcome. Whereas, material deprivation is easier to
overcome. Thus long-term sects may occur to continue to
provide communities for higher class people to help them in
non-financial terms. Even so, this may not necessarily mean
that sects are permanent. Stark and Bainbridge argue that
there is a sectarian cycle that leads to the eventual break-
away of sects.
Item A Churches and denominations are generally seen as fairly respectable and mainstream organisations, whereas sects and cults tend to be seen as more deviant. Media treatment of sects and cults has meant that they are associated in the popular imagination with groups seen as evil, controlling, extremist and manipulative, as brainwashing their members, and as harmful to both their own members and to wider society. Applying material from Item A, analvse two ways in which churches and denominations may differ from sects and cults [10 marks]
‘Churches and denominations are generally seen as fairly
respectable and mainstream organisations’ (Item A). This is due
to their size, membership base, organisational form and
relationship to the state. According to Troeltsch, churches are
large organisations with millions of members. This means that
the are run in a formal, bureaucratic structure accompanied
with professional paid clergy. This suggests that they are more
attractive to the middle-classes. Furthermore, the church gains
recognition because it is ideologically conservative with allied
links to the state. As a result, churches gain a favourable
image. In comparison, ‘sects and cults tend to be seen as more
deviant’. This is because they have a smaller membership size,
characterised by working-class individuals. Moreover, sects
tend to be structured around a charismatic leader rather than
professional religious leaders. In addition, they are often in
conflict with the state, thus causing a negative image.
Therefore, both differ in terms of their images. However, not
all sects recruit mainly working-class individuals. For example,
the Moonies recruited mainly, affluent, well-educated, young,
middle-class white individuals.
Churches and sects/cults both differ in the purposes. Despite
having a primary purpose of sharing religious messages,
churches also have positive wider purposes. For example,
Davie argues that churches resemble a ‘Spiritual Health
Service’. This means that churches can helo individuals
celebrate moments such as marriages through weddings,
celebrate new life through baptisms and cope with loss
through funerals. Similarly, churches play a vital role in helping
others. This is demonstrated through the provision of food
banks and helping the the homeless. This leads to increased
levels of social cohesion by helping the most deprived in
society. Opposingly, sects/cults seem to offer negative
purposes by being ‘harmful to both their own members and
wider society’ (Item A). This means that cults are often
manipulative, dangerous and harmful. This leads to negative
impacts on the mental and physical well-being of members. In
addition, cults often commit acts of terror or murder. This
results in societal unrest and disorder. Therefore, both differ in
the impacts of their actions. But not all cults/cults are
considered to be harmful. For example, Jehovah’s witnesses
are simply strict religious organisations that live peacefully
among communities.
