Traditional Typologies - Beliefs Flashcards
What are the 4 types of religious organisations?
- Church
- Denomination
- Sect
- Cult
Who identified churches?
Weber
Who identified sects?
Troeltsch
Who identified denominations?
Niebuhr
When was the traditional typology introduced?
1931
What is the structure of a church?
Bureaucratic with a clear hierarchy and paid officials
What is the world view of a church?
They accept main steam views and are often linked to the state (Queen is head of C of E)
What is the commitment of a church?
Integrate with wider society placing few demands or restrictions on their members
What is the social base of a church?
Embrace all members of society, but mostly m/c. Usually born into the religion
What is a churches attitude to other religions?
Intolerant of all other religions. Claim a monopoly of the truth
What is the structure of a denomination?
Non-hierarchical, no paid officials, no-bureacucratic
- lies half-way between churches and sects
What is the world view of a denomination?
Like churches they broadly accept societies values, but are not linked to the state
What is the commitment of a denomination?
They impose minor restrictions on members such as forbidding alcohol. But membership is pretty loose and inclusive
What is the social base of a denomination?
Membership is self-selecting but they don’t appeal to the whole of society. Lower m/c + aspirational w/c
What is a denominations attitude to other religions?
They are tolerant and do not claim a monopoly of the truth
What is the structure of a sect?
Non-hierarchical but have a charismatic leader
- small, exclusive groups
What is the world view of a sect?
Hostile to wider society
What is the commitment of a sect?
Expect a high level of commitment. Expect members to cut themselves off from the family and friends = total institution (Gottman)
What is the social base of a sect?
They draw their members from the poor and oppressed
What is a sects attitude to other religions?
Extremely intolerant of other beliefs - have a monopoly of the truth
What is the structure of a cult?
The least organised of all 4 types
What is the world view of a cult?
Neither hostile to nor accepting of wider society - indifferent
What is the commitment of a cult?
Do not expect strong commitment. High individualised, loose knit, small grouping around shared interests without an exclusive belief
What is the social base of a cult?
They are usually led by ‘practitioners’ or ‘therapists’ who claim to have special knowledge - requires money = m/c
