week 12

Question 1

Neo-Templar Movement

Answer 1

Contemporary revivalist or reimagined groups inspired by the historical Knights Templar, a medieval Christian military order founded in the 12th century. Group adopt elements of the Knights Templar, such as their symbolism and
imagined rituals, but interpret and apply them in new ways

Question 2

Order of the Solar Temple

Answer 2

1990s Neo-Templar Movement (Belgium, France, Quebec, Australia), members believed they were reincarnated versions of the original
Templars who had been burned at the stake in the 1300s

The two leaders promoted an apocalyptic view, and death being initiating a transition to a higher spiritual plane.

Mass Suicides: The Order of the Solar Temple gained notoriety in the 1990s due to a series of mass suicides and murders involving its members. These events occurred primarily in 1994 to 1997.

Members typically died from immolation, combined with poisoning, asphyxiation, and firearm wounds.

Prior to death, members positioned themselves in ritually inspired designs

Question 3

New Religious Movements and Established
Religions share 5 things

Answer 3

1.) belief supernatural
2.) rituals and practices
3.) sacred objects
4.) community
5.) belief system

Question 4

differences between new religious movements and established religions

Answer 4

1.) syncretism (NRMs often blend from various spiritual traditions)
2.) impending apocalypse vision
3.) reincarnation
4.) single figure authority (NRM)
5.) cosmic evolution (evolution of humanity towards a higher spiritual plane)

Question 5

New religious movements often exhibit

Answer 5

1.) isolationism
2.) control over member’s lives
3.) aggressive recruitment tactics
4.) secrecy
5.) financial exploitation
6.) treatment of dissent
7.) exit difficulty

Question 6

4 defining elements of new religious movements

Answer 6

1. An important set of mysteries, secrets, or
   revelations available only to members (or
   members of certain rank).
2. Membership provides access to an afterlife.
3. Membership requires a ceremony.
4. Your religious community becomes a new family

Question 7

t/f cultures tend to perform more rituals in times of uncertainty

Answer 7

true

stressful events like warfare, environmental threat, and material insecurity are often linked to spikes in ritual activity

Question 8

The Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM) is the

Answer 8

deity of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, or Pastafarianism. A pseudo-religious movement established in 2005 to draw attention to the teaching of intelligent design in the Kansas State School system.