Topic 6 Organisations Movements And Members

Question 1

Define

• denomination

- cult

Answer 1

Denomination: less exclusive, don’t appeal to whole society, accept values, not linked to state, don’t claim monopoly of truth

Cults: individualistic, small, tolerant of other beliefs, don’t demand commitment, world affirming

Question 2

How they see themselves and others see them
-churches and sects

-denominations and cults

Answer 2

churches and sects: their faith is the only correct one

Denomination and cults: many faiths

Churches and denominations: legit and rspect

Sects and cults: deviant

Question 3

Summaries world rejecting NRMs, give examples

Answer 3

The monies, Krishna consciousness, children of God

Clear notion of God
Critical of outside world
Expect radical change
Make break from former life 
Restricted contact with outside world
Movement controls them (brain washes)

Question 4

World accommodation NRMs

Answer 4

Neo-Pentecostalists

Neither accept or reject the world
Break away from existing churches or denominations
Focus on religious rather than worldly matters
Seek to restore spiritual purity
Lead conventional lives

Question 5

World affirming NRMs

Answer 5

Scientology

Differ from other groups
Lack conventional feature ps eg collective worship
Offer access supernatural powers
Accept wold as it is, optimistic
Promise success in terms of goals and values
Inclusive and tolerant of other religions

Question 6

Sects and cults are in conflict with wider society explain audience and client cults etc

Answer 6

Sects : split off from churches
Cults: new religions eg. Scientology

Sects: other worldly benefits
Cults: this worldly benefits

Audience cults: least organised, least commitment, communicate through media

Client cults: relationship between consultant and client eg. Contact with dead

Question 7

What 3 factors explain growth of religion and which 3 theorists support this?

Answer 7

Marginality- weber. Sects arise round how who are marginal to society.. Offer solution geology of dis privilege

Relative deprivation- stark and Bainbridge. Relatively deprived break away from churches and sects, world rejecting offer explanations for their deprivation eg. Camel eye of needle

Social change- Wilson. Rapid change distrust and undermine norms and values, response to uncertainty turn to sects

Question 8

Growth of NRMS??

Answer 8

World rejecting: social change changed time spent in education, freedom from adult reasons initials, attractive and offered alternatives about your future (idealistic in heaven etc)

World affirming: response to modernity, work no longer provides meaning, gives sense of identity and techniques that promise success in this world

Question 9

Explain Niebuhrs work on domination or death

Answer 9

Sects are world rejecting that come due to schism, sects are short lived and die out

1) the 2nd generation lack commitment
2) Protestant ethic effect, sects that practise ascension become mobile and prosperous, leave
3) death if leader, sects will collapse or turn to denomination

Question 10

Explain stack and bainbridges secretarian cycle..

Answer 10

Schism, tension between deprived and jot, break away into sect

Initial fevour, leader and tension

DenominationsIsmProtestant ethic effect and 2nd generation lead to world accepting and tension reduces

Further schism, break away and find new sect again

Question 11

Name 2 established sect types

Answer 11

Conversionsists, eg evangelicals aim to convert large numbers and grow

Adventist sects eg. Jehovah’s Witness await 2nd coming of Christ to be saved, must be separate from corrupt world

Question 12

What themes characterise the new ages?

Answer 12

Self spirituality and detraditionalisation

Belief in Ufos, aliens. Astrology Etc

Question 13

What are the features of a post modern society and how does this lead to the new age?

Answer 13

Loss of faith in meta narratives
Science promised better world that resulted in war
Faith lost in professionals such as doctors

Led to New age idea that truth for ourselves is within

Question 14

What does Bruce say about the new age and modernity?

Answer 14

Growth in the new age is feature of modern society, modern values eg individualism key principle of new age.
New age softer version of demanding trationa leader Religions eg. Buddhism,

Question 15

How does Heaelas see new age and modernity as linked?

Answer 15

Source of indenting
Consumer culture
Rapid social change
Decline of organised religion

Question 16

Religiosity and social groups, explain the trends..

Answer 16

Lower class world rejecting
High lass world accepting

Gender: more prisms male, more women particpate in religious activities, women express greater interest in religion, greater commit,met.2x many women than men in sects

Question 17

Reasons for gender differences?

Answer 17

Socialisation and gender role: Miller and Hoffman: women more religious as socialised as passive, obedient and caring. Women work part time so scope for organising religious activity. Taking care of family members, child bearing, death brings closer to ‘ultimate questions’

Women and the new age: nature and healing role so more attracted to new age, 80% of holistic milie are women.
Less aggressive and goal orientated means women fit into new age

Compensation for deprivation: women more likely to suffer from ill Heath: healing though religion, women more morally conservative attracted to sects, women more likely to be poor, attracted to sects

Question 18

Ethnicity and religiosity, explain trends

Answer 18

Significant Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs belong to ethnic minorities these and black Christians more likely to see religion as important

Black more likely to be seen in Pentecostal churches

African Caribbean Protestants: most religious
White Anglicans: least religious

Question 19

Ethnicity differences in religion, reasons

Answer 19

Ethnic minorities orginate from poor counties with traditional churches producing high levels of belief and practise

Religion offers support and sense of cultural identity in uncertain environments, religion in minorities helps cope with oppression and racism by preserving culture and language.

Black African Americans and Caribbean Christians go to Pentecostal as white churches reject them

Easing into cultural transition can be easier with religion as support and sense of community

Question 20

Age and religious participation, explain trends

Answer 20

General patterns older you are more likely to attend religious service.. Except for 15s and over 65s

Ageing effect and generation effect

Question 21

Theorists in organisations, movements and members

Answer 21

Weber, stark and Bainbridge, Wilson, Niebuhr, Bruce, Miller and Hoffman

Question 22

Define

• churches
• sects

Answer 22

Churches: large organisations, millions ,embers, universalistic, inclusive

Sect: small, exclusive, hostile to wider society, high commitment, poor and oppressed members