Topic 6: organisations movements and members Flashcards
According to Troeltsch, (1912)what is a church?
large organisations, often with millions of members. which claim a monopoly of truth which means that they believe their view is right about the world. More attractive to MC and linked to the state
According to Troeltsch,(1912) what is a sect?
small exclusive groups which are hostile to wider society. Have a monopoly of truth. Draw members from poor and oppressed
According to Niebuhr (1929), what is a denomination and how does it differ both from a church and from a sect?
lie midway between church and sect. Membership is less exclusive, but they do not appeal to the whole of society. Unlike church and sect they are tolerant of other religious organisations and do not claim a monopoly of truth
What is a cult ?
least organised group. Highly individualistic and loose knit based around shared interest and beliefs led by therapists/ practitioners. Tolerant of other organisations
How are churches and sects similar in the way they see themselves? (one of wallis characteristics 1984)
churches and sects claim the monopoly of truth.
How are denominations and cults similar in the way they see themselves? ( one of Wallis characteristics 1984)
Denominations and cults accept that there can be many valid interpretations
How does wider society see churches and denominations?
in wider society churches and denominations are seen as respectable and legitimate
How does wider society see sects and cults?
whereas sects and cults are seen as deviant
According to Bruce, why do some of the above definitions or religious organisations not fit today’s reality?
Bruce (1996) argues that the troeltsch’s ideas do not fit todays reality for example
- the church does not have a religious monopoly today
- before the 16th cen and the reformation the church did have a religious monopoly symbolised by its massive cathedrals
- now sects and cults flourish
- religious diversity is now the norm
- churches have lost their monopoly
Briefly explain and give examples of Wallis’ three categories of NRMs: world-rejecting
highly artificial of the article world. Members must make a sharp break with their former life
Briefly explain and give examples of Wallis’ three categories of NRMs: world-accommodating
seek to restore the spiritual purity of the religion
Briefly explain and give examples of Wallis’ three categories of NRMs: world-affirming
non exclusive, tolerant of other religion
Give three criticisms of Wallis’ classification.
- wallis offers a useful way of classifying the NRM which have developed in recent decades but he ignores the diversity of the beliefs that may exists with NRM
- Wallis himself recognises that real NRMs will rarely fit his neatly into his typology and some such as 3HO (the heathy happy holy organisation) may have features of all three types
- stark and Bainbridge reject the idea of constructing such typologies instead we should use a criterion
Briefly explain Stark and Bainbridge’s two kinds of organisation:
a. sects
result from splits in existing organisations - break away from churches because of disagreements about doctrine
Briefly explain Stark and Bainbridge’s two kinds of organisation:
cults
are new religions such as scientology or imported new religions to a society such as TM
According to Stark and Bainbridge, what benefits do (a) sects and (b) cults offer to their followers?
- sects promise other worldly benefits eg a place in heaven to those suffering economic or ethical deprivation
- cults other this worldly benefits eg good health to richer and more prosperous individuals who are suffering psychic deprivation and organismic deprivation (normlessness and health problems)
Briefly explain and give examples of Stark and Bainbridge’s three types of cult.
a. Audience cults
this is the least organised and have no formal membership. participation may be through the media eg astrology
Briefly explain and give examples of Stark and Bainbridge’s three types of cult.
b. Client cults
based on a relationship between a consultant and client and other personal fulfilment and self discovery
Briefly explain and give examples of Stark and Bainbridge’s three types of cult.
c. Cultic movements
are the most organised and demand a higher level of commitment eg monies
AO3 for religious organisations
stark and Bainbridge make some useful distinctions between organisations. eg they use the idea of a degree of conflict with wider society to distinguish between organisations
Why are marginal groups in society more likely to join sects?
weber (1922) argues that sects tend to draw members from groups who are marginal in society. These groups feel they are not receiving their just economic rewards or social status.
sects offer a solution by offering members a theodicy of disprivilege