Typologies

Question 1

2 differences between church and sect

Answer 1

Churches are universalistic, sects are exclusive.
Churches are dominant, sects are smaller break aways.

Question 2

2 differences between a sect and a cult

Answer 2

Sects claim monopoly of truth but cults do not.
Cults impose some restrictions but are not as demanding as sects.

Question 3

Name the Roy Wallis 3 types of NRM

Answer 3

World rejecting, world accommodating, world affirming

Question 4

World rejecting NRM

Answer 4

Highly critical, members live separate from the world.

Question 5

World accommodating NRM

Answer 5

Neither accept or reject, focus on religious rather than worldly matters.

Question 6

World affirming NRM

Answer 6

Offer spiritual or supernatural powers. They are non-exclusive and tolerant of others.

Question 7

Name 3 types of cult from stark and brainbridge

Answer 7

Audience cult, client cult, cultic movement

Question 8

Audience cult

Answer 8

No formal membership and the least organised

Question 9

Client cult

Answer 9

Provide a service like self discovery

Question 10

Cultic movement

Answer 10

The most organised

Question 11

Name the 3 big causes of growth of NRMs

Answer 11

Relative deprivation, social change and marginality

Question 12

What happens to sects when the leader dies

Answer 12

It dies or becomes a denomination

Question 13

Why do some sects become established

Answer 13

They have been around for hundreds of years e.g Amish

Question 14

Two common themed according to heelas that characterise the new age

Answer 14

Spiritual journey and not being linked to traditional religions

Question 15

What is a New Age movement

Answer 15

A movement that draws on old religious and spiritual practices (specifically Eastern ones) but they are new in western societies.

Question 16

What is a denomination

Answer 16

It’s midway between a church and a sect. It’s less exclusive than a sect but doesn’t appeal to the whole of society

Question 17

What is a cult

Answer 17

It’s an NRM. Usually without a sharply defined belief system and they are les by people who claim special knowledge.

Question 18

2 disadvantages of religious typologies

Answer 18

1. Religious pluralism in the uk means the church classification is irrelevant
2. It is outdated and Eurocentric meaning based on Christianity

Question 19

2 reasons why sects/norms are short lived

Answer 19

Death of leader or changing circumstances or members

Question 20

2 reasons why sects/NRMs are not short lived

Answer 20

Successful in socialising 2nd gen, sects engage more with society and become more like a denomination

Question 21

Similarities/Differences between sects and cults

Answer 21

Both are seen as deviant but cults have more flexible leaders rather than one charismatic person.

Question 22

Name 4 new age beliefs/practices

Answer 22

Spiritual growth, meditation, mindfulness and yoga

Question 23

What does agnostic mean

Answer 23

Not being sure if there’s a god or not

Question 24

What is a theoretical issue

Answer 24

Qualitative/Quantitative/validity/reliability

Question 25

What is a practical issue

Answer 25

Funding,time, access

Question 26

Why do interpretivists object to official statistics

Answer 26

Lacks verstehen and validity

Question 27

What methods do feminists favour and why

Answer 27

Unstructured interviews

Question 28

What does going native mean

Answer 28

Over involvement in a participant observation