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Beliefs in society > Typologies > Flashcards

Typologies Flashcards

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Sociology 101 flashcards
1
Q

What are typlogies?

A

Different religious organisations someone might belong to/believe in.

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2
Q

What are the 4 broad types of religious organisations throughout the world? (a.k.a 4 fold typology)

A
  1. The Church
  2. The Denomination
  3. The Sect
  4. The Cult / New Age Movement
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3
Q

Which religions are called ‘Churches’ by sociologists?

A 
Christianity
Islam
Buddhism
Judaism
Hinduism
Sikhism
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4
Q

What do the 6 world religions have in common?

A
  • a holy text or texts
  • places of worship / pilgrimage
  • a leadership structure
  • moral/ethical codes
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5
Q

Who identified the 7 key characteristics of a Church?

A

First undertaken by Weber then developed by Troeltsch

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6
Q

What are the 7 key characteristics of a Church?

A
  • large, formal organisation
  • a hierarchy of paid officials
  • automatic recruitment
  • tries to appeal to all members of society
  • may have a close relationship with the state
  • accepts wider society
  • claims a monopoly of truth
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7
Q

How does Hinduism and Buddhism differ from Christianity, Islam, Sikhism and Judaism?

A

Hinduism is polytheistic and Buddhists don’t necessarily believe in God.
However the others are monotheistic.

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8
Q

Give 2 criticisms of Troeltsch’s typology (THE CHURCH)

A
  • Doesn’t include the wide variety of religious groups present in modern societies.
  • His classification of religious organisations was mainly limited to churches and sects due to his focus on 16th-century Europe.
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9
Q

Give a strength of Troeltsch’s typology

A

Although his definition was based on Western Christian organisations, it is still applicable to other societies and national faiths. E.g. in Iran there is a close relationship between the state and Islam.

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10
Q

What are denominations?

A

Denominations are generally Christian organisations that have left the Church of England, which itself split from the Catholic Church when Henry VIII wanted a divorce. They aren’t very different to the Church of England and have generally the same beliefs.

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11
Q

Give examples of denominations

A

The Methodist Church, Baptist Church and Quakers

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12
Q

Who provided the first analysis of denominations and what did they say?

A

Neibuhr - said they developed from sects that had originated as breakaway groups from the main church.

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13
Q

According to Neibuhr, which characteristics do denominations share with the church?

A
  • large, formal organisations
  • hierarchy of paid officials
  • tries to appeal to all members of society
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14
Q

According to Neibuhr, how do denominations differ from the church?

A
  • no claim to a monopoly of religious truth
  • accept religious diversity
  • no close relationship with the state
  • may not fully accept wider society
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15
Q

How does Bruce evaluate denominations?

A
  • argues that both churches and sects have drifted towards the characteristics of a denomination. Churches can no longer claim a monopoly and are no longer universal; therefore they are increasingly like denominations.
  • groups such as Jehova Witnesses and Pentecostalists which used to be regarded as sects now tend to be seen as denomination!
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16
Q

What are sects?

A

Small religious organisations that demand high levels of commitment.

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17
Q

What are the different types of sect?

A

Established Sects

Short-lived/criminal/deviant Sects

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18
Q

Describe established sects and give examples

A

More established/not criminal or killer/ not suicidal/ less deviant. These don’t have a single leader and have been around much longer than the first type.
e.g. Jehova’s Witness, Seventh Day Adventists, Moonies, the Amish, Hare Krishna’s
You can be in these and still live in the ‘real’ world, apart from the Amish.

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19
Q

Describe deviant sects and give examples

A

They all have, or had, a single charismatic male leader and live away from society in compounds/remote estates.
E.g. Jonestown, Heaven’s Gate, Branch Davidians, Aum

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20
Q

Identify the 6 key characteristics of a sect

A
  • small organisation, with no professional hierarchy
  • headed by a charismatic leader
  • exclusive membership
  • no automatic recruitment
  • requires total commitment of members
  • opposed to the state and wider society
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21
Q

What do sects and churches have in common?

A

Both claim a monopoly of religious truth

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22
Q

Why are sects opposed to the state and wider society?

A

Sects draw membership from the lower classes, who may feel marginalised by society. Members are required to demonstrate their complete commitment to the sect, which often means withdrawal from society. This means the sect and charismatic leader enjoy a great deal of control over members.

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23
Q

Why are sects often short-lived?

A

Largely due to their reliance on the charismatic leader. As there is no formal organisation, when the leader dies, so does the sect.

24
Q

What are cults/new age movements?

A

The New Age refers to cults that developed from the 1980s onwards.
These are the most flexible type of religious organisations.
Their key focus is on spirituality and personal growth.
There may be no focus on God or Gods.
There may be very little commitment or total commitment!
There are generally no buildings to worship in

25
Q

Give some examples of cults/new age movements

A

some forms of yoga, meditation, feng shui, astrology (Horoscopes), belief in aliens, animal spirits, paganism including wicca and alternative healing practices such as Reiki!
Scientology is called a cultic movement as this is the most developed/structured type of cult.

26
Q

How do Stark and Bainbridge explain sects and cults are different?

A

Sects have broken away from another established religious group within a society, whereas cults have no such previous link.

27
Q

Identify 6 characteristics of a cult

A
  • minimal organisational structure
  • limited formal contact between members
  • no control over members’ lives
  • no claim to a monopoly of religious truth
  • affirm life in this world
  • tend to be short-lived
28
Q

What 3 types of cults did Stark and Bainbridge identify?

A
  1. Audience cults
  2. Client cults
  3. Cultic movements.
29
Q

Explain audience cults and give examples

A

The least organised and least formal type of cult. They don’t require total commitment. Examples include astrology, meditation, tarot, yoga, wicca etc. They often involve little face to face interaction, you can take part by yourself or with others.

30
Q

Explain client cults and give examples

A

If you pay for any cultic activity/therapy session then it is a client cult. Examples include alternative healing like acupuncture and Reiki, yoga sessions and Angel therapy.

31
Q

Explain cultic movements and give examples

A

The most formal and organised cult with a membership list and buildings to go to. Examples include Scientology and Freemasonry. Scientology is very sect-like and may become an established sect one day.
They demand dedication and members take them seriously.

32
Q

Describe Wallis’ distinction between cults and sects

A

Sects are closed and have strict codes of behaviour whereas cults are open and individualistic. They don’t demand high levels of commitment you just have to be open to experiences / their aim is to unlock human potential.

33
Q

Give a reason why some cults are short-lived

A

Because they fail to fulfil their promise to improve the lives of their customers.

34
Q

Give 4 reasons that explain the growth of sects

A
  1. The appeal of the charismatic leader
  2. Marginality (As Troelsch noted, sects tend to draw their members from the poor and oppressed)
  3. Relative Deprivation (This means that you aren’t really deprived but feel that you are. So although middle class people may be financially well off, they feel deprived spiritually so join a sect to compensate for this.)
  4. Social Change (Periods of rapid social change (Industrial revolution/1960s) produces uncertainty. The sect provides certainty! )
35
Q

Which 3 routes can sects take?

A
  1. Stay as a sect (established sect)
  2. Die out
  3. Evolve into a denomination
36
Q

Why do sects “die out”?

A

Some sects die out when the leader dies or they come into conflict with wider society. Examples include Heaven’s Gate, Branch Davidians, Jonestown and Aum.

37
Q

What did Niebuhr say about sects evolving into denominations?

A

When the sect leader dies a more formal group of leaders may take over as it starts to become a denomination. The second generation of followers who were born into a sect may lack the commitment of their parents and choose not to reject the world, so the sect turns into a denomination.
A good example of this process was the Methodist sect which over time has now become the Methodist denomination. (Although it is called the Methodist church!)

38
Q

What were the two main reasons why Barker introduced the term New Religious Movement?

A

Stigma - the media and public tend to use both sect and cult to describe religions they don’t like.

Genuine confusion - sects and cults share common features.

39
Q

What does ‘New’ and ‘Religious’ signify in NRMs?

A

New - religions emerging after WW2

Religious - generally concerned with spirituality, supernatural, life after death etc.

40
Q

What 3 categories of NRM did Wallis introduce?

A

World rejecting NRMs
World affirming NRMs
World accommodating NRMs

41
Q

Describe characteristics of World rejecting NRMs and give examples

A
  • they are critical of the outside world
  • they have a reputation for brainwashing members [friends and family are cut off]
  • They act as total institutions you have to leave your normal life and they control every aspect of your life
  • members are expected to be highly disciplined and be totally committed.
    EXAMPLES: Heavens Gate, Peoples Temple, Branch Davidians
42
Q

Describe characteristics of World affirming NRMs and give examples

A
  • lack the typical characteristics of a religion - e.g. some don’t involve God
  • Generally do not live in a commune / requires very little commitment to belong
  • aim to help the member find fulfillment in the current world and offer help to be more successful
    EXAMPLES: Transcendental Meditation, Scientology
43
Q

Describe characteristics of World accommodating NRMs and give examples

A
  • typically offshoots of existing major churches or denominations
  • neither accept or reject the world as it is, they simply live with it
  • some groups aim to restore spiritual purity to a religion that they believe has lost its commitment / core values
    EXAMPLES: Neo-Pentecostalism, Subud
44
Q

How does Wallis criticise his own theory?

A

Accepts some organisations don’t fit neatly into his NRM typology

45
Q

What 2 criticisms does Beckford make of Wallis’ NRM typology?

A
  • argues that these categories are hard to apply / is any movement truly world rejecting?
  • it doesn’t take account of the vast range of views that may exist within a single organisation.
46
Q

Name 3 reasons for the growth of New Age Movements (NAMs)

A
  • Postmodernity and the New Age (Rejection of modernity)
  • The New Age and modernity
  • Spiritual Revolution
47
Q

Explain how Postmodernity and the New Age lead to an increase in NAMs

A

Drane argued that NAMs grew as a reaction to the failings of institutions in period of modernity.
One feature of postmodern society is a loss of faith or claims to “have truth”. Science promised to bring progress but instead has given us war, genocide, global heating etc, therefore people have lost faith in experts and professionals such as scientists, and are disillusioned with the churches’ failure to meet their spiritual needs. As a result, they turn to the New Age idea that each of us can find the truth for ourselves by looking within.

48
Q

Explain how The New Age and modernity lead to an increase in NAMs

A

Bruce argues that modern society values individualism, which is a key principle of New Age beliefs and also an important value among those in expressive professions (artists)- the group whom the New Age appeals most to.
Also, NAMs make few demands of their followers.

49
Q

What 4 reasons does Heelas suggest for the growth in NAMs?

A
  1. A source of identity - in modern society individuals have many different roles but new age beliefs offer a source of ‘authentic’ identity.
  2. Consumer culture creates dissatisfaction because it never delivers the perfection it promises / but the New Age offers an alternative way to achieve perfection.
  3. Rapid social change in modern society disrupts established norms and values resulting in anomie. The New Age provides a sense of certainty and truth in the same way as sects.
  4. Decline of organised religion - modernity leads to secularisation, thereby removing the traditional alternatives to New Age beliefs.
50
Q

Give 5 reasons for the growth of audience+client cults/NAMs

A
  1. Decline in popularity / appeal of more traditional religions, particularly Christianity in the UK, leads a ‘gap in the market’ for cults to fill.
  2. Cults are an easy religion to take part in. No rules or regulations unlike in churches. Little commitment needed.
  3. Pick and mix appeal - you can combine as many cultic beliefs as you want.
  4. Not patriarchal - hence the appeal to women.
  5. No hierarchy - no bosses to follow!
51
Q

Which 4 weaknesses does Bruce give of the New Age?

A
  1. the problem of scale
  2. socialisation of the next generation
  3. weak commitment
  4. Structural Weakness
52
Q

Which 4 weaknesses does Bruce give of the New Age?

A
  1. the problem of scale
  2. socialisation of the next generation
  3. weak commitment
  4. Structural Weakness
53
Q

Explain “the problem of scale”

A

Even if new age forms of individualised religion are springing up, this would have to be on a much larger scale if it is to fill the gap left by the decline of traditional institutionalised religions. More people have left organised religions than joined the New Age.

54
Q

Explain socialisation of the next generation

A

for a belief system to survive, it must be passed down to the next generation. Women in the holistic milieu are more likely to be childless and in at least 3/4 of marriages with a woman in the holistic milieu, the husband doesn’t share his wife’s beliefs. This reduces the likelihood of transmitting them to their children.

55
Q

Explain weak commitment

A

very few said practices were important in real life

56
Q

Explain Structural Weakness

A

New Age is a cause of secularisation because of its subjective, individualistic nature. It is based on the idea that there is no higher authority than the self.
The New Age:
- lacks an external power to extract commitment
- can’t achieve consensus about its beliefs because everyone is free to believe whatever they wish, so it lacks cohesion as a movement
- can’t evangelise because it believes that enlightenment comes from within, not from someone else.

Beliefs in society (14 decks)

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