Why Do People Join NRMs - Beliefs

Question 1

What is the escape reason?

Answer 1

Some groups provide short term solutions for those escaping from difficult situations (family + work)

Question 2

What did Barker find about the escape reason?

Answer 2

Found that the Moonies offered members a substitute family, providing support and comfort

Question 3

What is the secularisation of traditional religions reason?

Answer 3

Some see that traditional religions and wider society have become ritualistic and less spiritual = drawn to NRMs for the their firm beliefs and spirituality

Question 4

What does Bruce argue about the secularisation of traditional religions reason?

Answer 4

Suggests that NRMs arose as a result of people’s loss of faith in traditional religions

Question 5

What is an example of an NRM that the secularisation of traditional religion reason applies to?

Answer 5

West Boro Baptist Church

Question 6

What is an evaluation point of the secularisation of traditional religions reason?

Answer 6

Uncompromised beliefs = can’t last long

Question 7

What is the social deprivation, marginality and theodicy of disprivilege reason? (Weber)

Answer 7

Weber: new religions most likely to emerge among marginal groups in society - offer people a ‘theodicy of disprivilege’
Wilson: marginalisation occurs due to a range of factors including unemployment, discrimination and homelessness

Question 8

What is an example of an NRM that the social deprivation, marginality and theodicy of disprivilege reason applies to?

Answer 8

Peoples temple - offered a socialist heaven

Question 9

What is an evaluation point of the social deprivation, marginality and theodicy of disprivilege reason?

Answer 9

It reinforces marginalisation

Question 10

What is the status frustration reason?

Answer 10

NRMs offer members a form of status which can resolve status frustration

Question 11

What is an example of an NRM that the status frustration reason applies to?

Answer 11

Heaven’s Gate

Question 12

What is an evaluation point of the status frustration reason?

Answer 12

Status in wider society remains limited

Question 13

What is the relative deprivation reason?

Answer 13

People who join NRMs may not be poor, however they feel that in relation to other people they lack something e.g. spiritual fulfilment

Question 14

What is an example of an NRM that the relative deprivation reason applies to?

Answer 14

Transcendental Meditation

Question 15

What is an evaluation point of the relative deprivation reason?

Answer 15

Most people who join will drop out but most likely drop back into society

Question 16

What is the social change reason? (Wilson)

Answer 16

Wilson: Sects emerge when there are rapid periods of social change where people can experience a lack of regulation and integration = anomie - NRMs provide security and comfort

Question 17

What is an example of an NRM that the social change reason applies to?

Answer 17

Children of God

Question 18

What is an evaluation point of the social change reason?

Answer 18

Go from one extreme to another, lack of insecurity to being told what to do

Question 19

What is the protest reason? (Glock + Stark)

Answer 19

Glock and Stark: NRMs emerge in response to a rejection of a specific event or idea in wider society

Question 20

What is an example of an NRM that the protest reason applies to?

Answer 20

Islamic state

Question 21

What is an evaluation point of the protest reason?

Answer 21

Tend to use violence, tend to be the most unpleasant types of NRMs

Question 22

What are the 4 main reasons for the growth in membership of NRMs?

Answer 22

1) Anomie
2) Marginalisation
3) Relative Deprivation
4) Globalisation