Topic 6: Organisations, Movements, + members
Types of R organisations
Church + Sect TROELTSCH Denomination + Cult NIEBUHR New R Movements Sects + Cults STARK + BAINBRIDGE
Churches Denominations (methodism) World rejecting NRM Sects
- large organisations run by lay midway between churches + sects - vary greatly in size - results from schism's splits in existing
bureaucratic hierarchy of - memberships are less - they are clearly religious organisations
professionals exclusive than a sect organisations with a clear notion of - promising otherworldly benefits to those
- they claim a monopoly of the - don't appeal to the whole of God suffering economic deprivation or ethical
truth society like a church - highly critical of the outside world + deprivation by contrast
- they are universalistic aiming - like churches they broadly - expect or seek radical change to - they break away from churches usually
to include the whole of accept societies values but achieve salvation members must because of disagreements about doctrine
society although they tend to are not linked to the state make a sharp break with their cults
be more attractive to the - they impose some minor former life - new religions such as Scientology
higher classes because they restrictions on members such - members live communally with - cults tend to offer these worldly benefits to
are ideologically conservative as for bidding alcohol, but restricted contact with the outside more prosperous individuals who are
- closely linked to the state for they are not as demanding as world suffering psychic deprivation + organismic
example the British sovereign sects - the movement controls all aspects deprivation
is head of both the church of - unlike both church + sect, of their lives + is often accused of 1) audience cults
England + the state they are tolerant of other brainwashing them - least organised + do not involve formal
- they placed few demands on religious organisations + do - they often have conservative moral membership /commitment
their members not claim a monopoly of the codes for example about sex - little interaction between members
Sects truth participation maybe through the media (UFO
- small exclusive groups Cults World accommodating NRM cults)
- they are hostile to wider - the least organised type of R - break aways from existing 2) client cults
society organisation mainstream churches or - based on the relationship between a
- they expect high levels of - they are highly individualistic denominations such as neo- consultant + client
commitment they draw their loose knit Pentecostals who split from - provide services to their followers in
members from the poor + - a small grouping around some Catholicism promising personal fulfilment + self-
oppressed shared themes + interests - don’t accept nor reject the world discovery
- led by a charismatic leader usually without a sharply defined - focus on religious rather than 3) cultic movements
- similarity with churches + + exclusive belief system worldly matters seeking to restore - most organised + demand a higher level of
sects is the belief that they - led by practitioners who claim the spiritual purity of religion commitment than others
have a monopoly of R truth special knowledge like - new Pentecostals believe that other - movement aims to meet all its members R
denominations cults are usually Christian R have lost the Holy Spirit needs unlike followers of audience + client
tolerant of other organisations + cults not allowed to belong to other R groups
, beliefs World affirming NRM (Moonies)
Similarities + Differences WALLIS - Cults do not demand strong - lack collective worship + not highly - client cults become cultic movements for
commitment from followers who organised their most enthusiastic followers such as
1) How they see themselves - are often more like customers or - their follower’s access to spiritual/ Scientology
churches + sects claim that their trainees than members they have supernatural powers (Scientology)
interpretation of faith is the only little further involvement with - accept the world as it is optimistic +
legitimate one denomination + the cult once they have acquired promise followers’ success in terms
cult accept there can be many the belief of mainstream goals + values (career
valid interpretations - many cults are wild affirming + personal relationships)
2) How they are seen by wider claiming to improve this world - non-exclusive + tolerant of other R
society – churches + but claims to offer additional special
denominations are seen as knowledge that enable followers to
respectable + legitimate unlike unlock spiritual powers + achieve
sects + cults are seen as deviant success / overcome problems
© BRUCE : TROELTSCH ideas of church as unhappiness / illness
having R monopoly was true until the - psychologising religions offering this
protestant reformation since sects + cults worldly gratification
have flourished - followers are often customers rather
than members + entry is through
training
- movements place few demands on
their customers + they carry on
normal lives
© STARK + BAINBRIDGE: reject typologies
distinguish R organisations using one
criterion the degree of conflict between R
groups + wider soc
Types of R organisations
Church + Sect TROELTSCH Denomination + Cult NIEBUHR New R Movements Sects + Cults STARK + BAINBRIDGE
Churches Denominations (methodism) World rejecting NRM Sects
- large organisations run by lay midway between churches + sects - vary greatly in size - results from schism's splits in existing
bureaucratic hierarchy of - memberships are less - they are clearly religious organisations
professionals exclusive than a sect organisations with a clear notion of - promising otherworldly benefits to those
- they claim a monopoly of the - don't appeal to the whole of God suffering economic deprivation or ethical
truth society like a church - highly critical of the outside world + deprivation by contrast
- they are universalistic aiming - like churches they broadly - expect or seek radical change to - they break away from churches usually
to include the whole of accept societies values but achieve salvation members must because of disagreements about doctrine
society although they tend to are not linked to the state make a sharp break with their cults
be more attractive to the - they impose some minor former life - new religions such as Scientology
higher classes because they restrictions on members such - members live communally with - cults tend to offer these worldly benefits to
are ideologically conservative as for bidding alcohol, but restricted contact with the outside more prosperous individuals who are
- closely linked to the state for they are not as demanding as world suffering psychic deprivation + organismic
example the British sovereign sects - the movement controls all aspects deprivation
is head of both the church of - unlike both church + sect, of their lives + is often accused of 1) audience cults
England + the state they are tolerant of other brainwashing them - least organised + do not involve formal
- they placed few demands on religious organisations + do - they often have conservative moral membership /commitment
their members not claim a monopoly of the codes for example about sex - little interaction between members
Sects truth participation maybe through the media (UFO
- small exclusive groups Cults World accommodating NRM cults)
- they are hostile to wider - the least organised type of R - break aways from existing 2) client cults
society organisation mainstream churches or - based on the relationship between a
- they expect high levels of - they are highly individualistic denominations such as neo- consultant + client
commitment they draw their loose knit Pentecostals who split from - provide services to their followers in
members from the poor + - a small grouping around some Catholicism promising personal fulfilment + self-
oppressed shared themes + interests - don’t accept nor reject the world discovery
- led by a charismatic leader usually without a sharply defined - focus on religious rather than 3) cultic movements
- similarity with churches + + exclusive belief system worldly matters seeking to restore - most organised + demand a higher level of
sects is the belief that they - led by practitioners who claim the spiritual purity of religion commitment than others
have a monopoly of R truth special knowledge like - new Pentecostals believe that other - movement aims to meet all its members R
denominations cults are usually Christian R have lost the Holy Spirit needs unlike followers of audience + client
tolerant of other organisations + cults not allowed to belong to other R groups
, beliefs World affirming NRM (Moonies)
Similarities + Differences WALLIS - Cults do not demand strong - lack collective worship + not highly - client cults become cultic movements for
commitment from followers who organised their most enthusiastic followers such as
1) How they see themselves - are often more like customers or - their follower’s access to spiritual/ Scientology
churches + sects claim that their trainees than members they have supernatural powers (Scientology)
interpretation of faith is the only little further involvement with - accept the world as it is optimistic +
legitimate one denomination + the cult once they have acquired promise followers’ success in terms
cult accept there can be many the belief of mainstream goals + values (career
valid interpretations - many cults are wild affirming + personal relationships)
2) How they are seen by wider claiming to improve this world - non-exclusive + tolerant of other R
society – churches + but claims to offer additional special
denominations are seen as knowledge that enable followers to
respectable + legitimate unlike unlock spiritual powers + achieve
sects + cults are seen as deviant success / overcome problems
© BRUCE : TROELTSCH ideas of church as unhappiness / illness
having R monopoly was true until the - psychologising religions offering this
protestant reformation since sects + cults worldly gratification
have flourished - followers are often customers rather
than members + entry is through
training
- movements place few demands on
their customers + they carry on
normal lives
© STARK + BAINBRIDGE: reject typologies
distinguish R organisations using one
criterion the degree of conflict between R
groups + wider soc
