Topic 6 - Organisations, Movements & Members Flashcards
Characteristics of churches [3]
- Churches are large organisations, often with millions of members e.g. Catholic Church
- They claim a monopoly of the truth & are universalistic
- More attractive to r/c as they are ideologically conservative and closely linked to state e.g. Queen is head of CoE
Characteristics of sects [3]
- Small, exclusive groups
- Hostile to wider society and expect high levels of commitment
- Draw members from poor & oppressed, with many being led by a charismatic leader
Characteristics of denominations [3]
- Membership is less exclusive than a sect but they don’t appeal to whole of society like a church
- Broadly accept society’s values but are not linked to the state
- Impose some minor restrictions e.g. forbidding alcohol, but are not as demanding as sects
Characteristics of cults [3]
- Highly individualistic, loose-knit and usually small grouping around shared themes & interests
- Usually led by ‘therapists’ who claim special knowledge
- Don’t demand a strong commitment, more like customers
Why do sects die out easily? [3]
- if they were built around a leader e.g. David Koresh’s Branch Davidians, then that leader’s death can end the sect
- If the sect made specific predictions that didn’t come true then that could end them
- If a sect survives and grows it’s more likely to become a denomination
What has happened with religious organisations since 20th Century? [2]
- There has been a decline in traditional churches alongside an increase in NRMs
- Bruce argues NRMs are only important as they appeal to marginalised in society
What are NRM’s?
Refer to sects & cults which have negative associations
3 types of NRM’s [3]
World-affirming NRM: offer spiritual enrichment and personal fufillment
World-accommodating NRMs: focus on the spiritual. They adapt to ensure they can peacefully live within society
World-rejecting NRMs: see the world as evil/corrupt
Why do NRM’s appeal to people? - Marginality [3]
- Sects draw from marginalised members - such groups feel they are disprivleged without social status
- Solution to this: ‘Theodicy of disprivlege’ - religious justification for their misfortune as a test of faith (Weber)
- Historically sects have recruited from the marginalised e.g. Nation of Islam -> but since 1960s this has changed e.g. Moonies
Why do NRM’s appeal to people? - Relative Deprivation [2]
- Someone privileged may feel disadvantaged c.w others -> M/C feel spiritually deprived
- Those who are spiritually deprived break away from churches to form sects -> world-rejecting sects offer spiritual compensation
What is the New Age?
- Covers a wide range of beliefs and activities widespread since the 1980s -> many are loosely organised audience or client cults
e. g. UFOlogy, Crystals, Astrology, Aliens
Why do people join New Age groups? [3]
Rapid social change - modern society produces anomie, and the New Age provides a sense of certainty and truth
The decline of organized religion - New Age is strongest where churchgoing is lowest, in California
Consumerism - ‘pick and mix’ spiritual shopping matches late modern consumerism
Why are women more religious than men? [2]
- Women are closer to issues of life and death so this gives them more of a reason to seek spiritual support
- Women’s domestic role gives them more time to devote to religion, whereas men remained at work
Why are ethnic minority groups more religious? [2]
- Due to marginalisation from society -> leads them to seek justification
- Linked to their identity: black people 2x more likely to attend church and see religion as important (c.w. only 17% white)
Why are older people more religious? [2]
- They are more aware of their own mortality
- Religious was more common when they were younger and so they were socialised to behave as so
