Why Do People Join NRMs - Beliefs Flashcards
What is the escape reason?
Some groups provide short term solutions for those escaping from difficult situations (family + work)
What did Barker find about the escape reason?
Found that the Moonies offered members a substitute family, providing support and comfort
What is the secularisation of traditional religions reason?
Some see that traditional religions and wider society have become ritualistic and less spiritual = drawn to NRMs for the their firm beliefs and spirituality
What does Bruce argue about the secularisation of traditional religions reason?
Suggests that NRMs arose as a result of people’s loss of faith in traditional religions
What is an example of an NRM that the secularisation of traditional religion reason applies to?
West Boro Baptist Church
What is an evaluation point of the secularisation of traditional religions reason?
Uncompromised beliefs = can’t last long
What is the social deprivation, marginality and theodicy of disprivilege reason? (Weber)
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
What is an example of an NRM that the social deprivation, marginality and theodicy of disprivilege reason applies to?
Peoples temple - offered a socialist heaven
What is an evaluation point of the social deprivation, marginality and theodicy of disprivilege reason?
It reinforces marginalisation
What is the status frustration reason?
NRMs offer members a form of status which can resolve status frustration
What is an example of an NRM that the status frustration reason applies to?
Heaven’s Gate
What is an evaluation point of the status frustration reason?
Status in wider society remains limited
What is the relative deprivation reason?
People who join NRMs may not be poor, however they feel that in relation to other people they lack something e.g. spiritual fulfilment
What is an example of an NRM that the relative deprivation reason applies to?
Transcendental Meditation
What is an evaluation point of the relative deprivation reason?
Most people who join will drop out but most likely drop back into society
What is the social change reason? (Wilson)
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
What is an example of an NRM that the social change reason applies to?
Children of God
What is an evaluation point of the social change reason?
Go from one extreme to another, lack of insecurity to being told what to do
What is the protest reason? (Glock + Stark)
Glock and Stark: NRMs emerge in response to a rejection of a specific event or idea in wider society
What is an example of an NRM that the protest reason applies to?
Islamic state
What is an evaluation point of the protest reason?
Tend to use violence, tend to be the most unpleasant types of NRMs
What are the 4 main reasons for the growth in membership of NRMs?
1) Anomie
2) Marginalisation
3) Relative Deprivation
4) Globalisation
