Why do people join non religion movements

Question 1

Marginalisation

Answer 1

Feeling of being socially excluded, more likely to be experienced by those who are poor or ethnic minorities in white-dominated societies

Question 2

World rejecting sects

Answer 2

Seem to be more attractive to the most disadvantaged members of society

Question 3

Troeltsch

Answer 3

Sects tend to be filled with people who have come from impoverished backgrounds, or those who have been victims of racism from wider society

Question 4

Weber

Answer 4

Proposes that poorer people are often attractive to religion because it offers them a theodicy of privilege - religious explanation for their suffering

Question 5

Sects

Answer 5

Good at making members feel like they will be valued + welcomed in the community in a way which they have not experienced in wider society

Question 6

Example

Answer 6

The people’s temple did not discriminate base on race, which made him very popular with black people + more englightend white people, at a time when America was still legally segregating people based on race

Question 7

Evaluation: Marginilisation

Answer 7

This theory does not explain why middle class people may end up joining sects, despite not coming from a position of social exclusion

Does not clarify why some individuals who are marginalised will join sects whilst the majority will turn to mainstream religious organisations instead - something deeper, perhaps rooted in a person’s personan’s or psychological state

Question 8

Releative deprivation

Answer 8

Refers to the feeling of being deprived or disadvantaged in comparison to others

Question 9

Materially wealthy

Answer 9

Experienced by those who are actually quite successful + comparing themselves to those who have more

May feel that there is something missing from their lives - feeling spiritually or socially deprived

Question 10

Wallis

Answer 10

May lead to middle class people joining world rejecting sects, so that they can feel a part of a community, more enriching set of values for them to follow and be fulfilled

Question 11

Stark + bainbridge

Answer 11

That those who feel relatively deprived may be more likely to turn to world-affirming cult activities instead, provide them with the tools needed to improve their social status + overcome their feeling of deprivation

Question 12

Evaluation: relative deprivation

Answer 12

Fails to explain why some who are relatively deprived will turn to world rejecting movements whilst others turn to world affirming ones

Relative deprivation is something which can be felt by anyone, yet the vast majority of people will never respond to this by turning to religion