Why do People Join Particular Organisations (Members) ? Flashcards
What are the 3 reasons as to why people are likely to join a particular group?
- marginalisation
- relative deprivation
- impact of social change
According to Troeltsch, how does marginalisation lead to people wanting to join a particular organisation?
Sense of feeling socially excluded. Especially the poor or those from ethnic minority backgrounds. It is for this reason world rejecting cults seem to be more attractive. Notes that members seem to be victims from racism in society.
According to Weber, how does marginalisation lead to people wanting to join a particular organisation?
Religion is attractive to poorest in society due to theodicy of disprivilege, they want a religious explanation for their suffering. For example, Jim Jones promoted the Peoples Temple which did not discriminate on race e.c.t.
Evaluation of the view that marginalisation is a reason why some people join religious organisations?
Does not explain why middle class, white people join religious organisations
According to Stark and Bainbridge, how does relative deprivation lead to people wanting to join a particular organisation?
Refers to being disadvantaged compared to others. Can be experienced by anyone. Furthermore, those who are extremely well off may feel that something is missing in their lives such as a spiritual being. Leads to the middle class joining world rejecting movements that offer an alternative explanation about life. Alternatively may turn to world affirming movements which provide them with the tools to improve their social status and fortunes
Evaluation of the view that relative deprivation has lead to some people joining religious movements?
Fails to explain why some turn to world rejecting movements whilst some turn to world affirming ones.
According to Wilson, how does social change lead to people wanting to join a particular organisation?
Claims that sect activity grows in periods of social change. Because of heightened risk of anomie in these times, where people do not know norms and values. Turn to religious movements to comfort them. During the 1800s (Industrial Revolution) people felt dissatisfied with Anglican Church so turned to Methodism which began as a sect
According to Bruce, how does social change lead to people wanting to join a particular organisation?
People turning to sects and cults is a response of modernity and secularisation. Many people have become dissatisfied with how society has changed and its desire with materialism, makes people join world affirming cults and sects which gives them a sense of spiritual fulfillment.
Or turn to world rejecting sects which are very conservative and shield them from modern society
Evaluation of the view that social change has lead to people joining religious organisations?
Society is always in a period of social change
What are “New Age Movements”?
Growth of spiritual beliefs and practices which have emerged since the 1980s
What are the 2 explanations for a growth in New Age Movements?
- Heelas (2008), self spirituality
- Bruce (2009), later stages of a modern society
According to Heelas (2008), how has a growth in self spirituality lead to a growth in New Age Movements?
Notes that people have rejected authoritative religions and instead focus on self spirituality. Drane (1999) notes that it is a symptom of living in a postmodern society because people are challenging meta-narratives, for example people turning away from science and religion and are more focussed on their own truths as individuals
According to Bruce, how has being in a late modern society lead to a growth in New Age Movements?
Late modernity is characterised by individuality. People use NAM to express their spirituality and individuality. NAM pick and choose aspects on different traditional religions. For example, meditation is used from Buddhism. Because of lots of different identities, NAMs allow people to create an authentic identity of themselves
Consumerism and NAMs means people are required to shop around and spend money on services and can also be used as an alternative to organised religion which has lost popularity.
