Social Groups / organisations Flashcards
church def according to Troeltsch
large organisations, often with millions of members
- run by bureaucratic hierarchy of professional priests
- claim monopoly of truth
- universalistic (aim to include whole of society)
why are churches more attractive to higher classes
- more attractive to higher classes because they are ideologically conservative
sects def according to Troeltsch
Small, exclusive religious groups that expect strong commitment from their members.
-Are often hostile to wider society and draw their members from the poor and oppressed.
-Others attract those seeking health, wealth, and happiness in this world.
what kind of person leads sects
a charismatic leader rather than buerachratic hierarchy
one similarity of church and sects
both believe they have a monopoly of religious truth
characteristics of a cult
- least organised
- highly individualistic
- loose-knit
- smaller
- usually less sharply defined belief set
- do not often demand strong commitment
who are cults usually led by
‘practitioners’ or ‘therapists’ who claim special knowledge
two characteristics Roy Wallis summarises from similarities and differences of religious organisations
how they see themselves
(churches and sects often claim theirs is only correct one) usually denominations and sects accept there can be many valid interpretations
how they are seen by wider society
(churches and denominations seen as respectable and legitimate whereas cults and sects seen as deviant )
who talks about how religious organisations see themselves vs how they are seen by wider society
Roy Wallis
Why does Bruce think Troeltsch’s views are outdated
idea of catholic church having monopoly only applies before 16th century before protestant reformation
- religious diversity is now norm and cults and sects have flourished
- church has now been reduced to status of denominations (competing like everyone else)
What are the three types of NRMs?
according to roy Wallis
depending on whether their attitudes to wider society):
world-rejecting,
world-affirminging, or
world-accommodating
What are 2 examples of New Religious Movements (NRMs)
what have they grown as a response to
NRM’s including Scientology & ‘the moonies’, have grown since the 1960s as a response to marginality, relative deprivation, and social change.
what are World-Rejecting NRMs
Religious organisations with a clear notion of God.
-Highly critical of the outside world, and they expect or seek radical change.
-Can control all aspects of an individuals life, and is often accused of “brainwashing” them
World-Rejecting NRMs Examples
The Moonies, The People’s Temple
3 characteristics of world rejecting NRM
often conservative moral codes (eg sex)
members live communally with restricted movement
members must make a sharp break with former life to achieve salvation
what are World-Affirming NRMs
Lack the conventional features of religion such as collective worship.
-Not highly organised.
=Accept the world as it it.
-Optimistic, and promise followers success in terms of mainstream goals.
-Claim to offer specialist techniques that enable followers to unlock their on spiritual powers.
World-Affirming NRMs Examples
Scientology, Soka Gakkai
3 characteristics of world affirming NRMs
- often customers rather than members and entry through training
- few demands so carry on normal lives
- non exclusive and tolerant of others
what are World-Accommodating NRM’s
These are often breakaways from existing mainstream churches or denominations.
Neither accept nor reject the world, and seek to restore the spiritual purity of religion.
World-Accommodating NRM’s Examples
Neo-Pentecostalists- Believe that other Christian religions have lost the Holy Spirit. Members tend to lead conventional lives.
diff between world rejecting and world affirming
world rejecting are highly critical of outside world and have much more control over members. often seen as brainwashing members
affirming has a more positive outlook on life and followers live a normal life, and are usually customers who must undergo training to join. are most successful due to the few demands
3 evaluations of Wallis’ types of NRM
- often fit into multiple types
- unclear if he is categorising based on member belief or organisations beliefs
- many think we should only distinguish based on tension they bring to society
who identifies two kinds of organisations that are in conflict with wider society - sects and cults
stark and Bainbridge
explain what Stark and Brainbridge mean by sects promising other-worldly benefits
salvation to those suffering economically or have ethical deprivation (values conflict with wider society)
