theories on religious movements

Question 1

sects - marginality

Answer 1

weber - sects appeal to marginal groups by offering solution to situation - theodicy of disprivilege - religious explanation and justification for suffering - suffering is test from god and offer rewards in afterlife

nation of islam - recruits successfully among disadvantaged black men in USA

Question 2

sects - relative deprivation

Answer 2

stark and bainbridge - w/c feel materially deprived and sects offer compensators for what they lack on earth by promising rewards in afterlife so they join world rejecting sects

m/c join world affirming NRMs which allow them to further their wealth

Question 3

NAMs - drane

Answer 3

NAMs popular due to postmodernity which brings decline in reliance on science so people lose faith in science and become disillusioned with traditional religion as it fails to meets spiritual needs - people turn to NAMs and idea that we can find truth for ourselves by looking within

Question 4

NAMs - bruce

Answer 4

appeal to NAMs is feature of last phase of modernity not postmodernity - key feature of modernity is individualism which is also promoted by NAMs - a value held by those in expressive arts - social group most likely to join. NAMs are often watered down versions of eastern religions and are often audience or client cults which enable followers to be spiritual shoppers, reflecting consumerism of modern capitalist societies.

Question 5

world rejecting NRMs - social changes - wallis

Answer 5

social changes in 1960s led to young people joining world rejecting NRMs - offer more idealistic way of life.

since 1960s, young people spend more time in full time edu which gives freedom from adult responsibilities, at same time there were political movements which combined to give young people alternative view of future and enabled them to develop counter culture. however, for some youths, counter culture failed and made them feel disillusioned so they turn to NRMs instead

Question 6

world affirming NRMs - bruce

Answer 6

modernity and rationalisation of work mean that people no longer get sense of identity from work so join world affirming NRMs as they offer sense of identity and techniques for achieving success