Characteristics of Religious
Organisations
Church
- Closely involved and related to the state.
- Large membership.
- Monolithic organisaton – aim to be the only form of religious organisaton
recognised by the society.
- Inclusive – an individual is considered a member of a church if born into a society
which a church is the major religious organisaton.
- Few membership tests or entry qualifcatons.
- Aligned with the ruling powers of society – tend to support the politcal and
economic objectves of ruling class. Accommodate to secularisaton.
- Dominaton – wants worldwide control.
- Aspires to be a supra-natonal organisaton – operates in many countries.
- Hierarchal – leaders are wealthy and powerful.
- The church has given way to a loose coaliton of denominatons.
Denominatons
- Established religious group.
- Geographical widespread membership.
- Unites a group of individual congregatons into a single administratve body.
- Doesn’t identfy with the state 0 approves separaton between church and state.
- Membership is less exclusive – voluntary, but ofen given at birth.
- Impose minor restrictons on members.
- Doesn’t claim monopoly of the truth.
- Compromise with society and makes no atempt of dominaton.
- Tolerant of other religious organisatons – usually have to coexist.
- Ideological infuence.
- Middle-class and some working-class members.
Sects
- Small, exclusive groups.
- Voluntary membership – offers an identty to members, feelings of superiority.
- Hostle towards wider society – seen as deviant.
- Ostracised – in some cases sects have been prosecuted and forced into exile.
- Intolerant – assume that they have the true path to salvaton.
- High level of commitment.
- Emotonal worship
- Ascetc – experiental, very strict rules, great stress on obedience.
- Members are typically deprived, poor and oppressed.
- Ideological and social infuence over members.
- Charismatc leader – claim a divine relatonship with od.
- Believe they have monopoly of the truth.
- Non-hierarchal.
Organisations
Church
- Closely involved and related to the state.
- Large membership.
- Monolithic organisaton – aim to be the only form of religious organisaton
recognised by the society.
- Inclusive – an individual is considered a member of a church if born into a society
which a church is the major religious organisaton.
- Few membership tests or entry qualifcatons.
- Aligned with the ruling powers of society – tend to support the politcal and
economic objectves of ruling class. Accommodate to secularisaton.
- Dominaton – wants worldwide control.
- Aspires to be a supra-natonal organisaton – operates in many countries.
- Hierarchal – leaders are wealthy and powerful.
- The church has given way to a loose coaliton of denominatons.
Denominatons
- Established religious group.
- Geographical widespread membership.
- Unites a group of individual congregatons into a single administratve body.
- Doesn’t identfy with the state 0 approves separaton between church and state.
- Membership is less exclusive – voluntary, but ofen given at birth.
- Impose minor restrictons on members.
- Doesn’t claim monopoly of the truth.
- Compromise with society and makes no atempt of dominaton.
- Tolerant of other religious organisatons – usually have to coexist.
- Ideological infuence.
- Middle-class and some working-class members.
Sects
- Small, exclusive groups.
- Voluntary membership – offers an identty to members, feelings of superiority.
- Hostle towards wider society – seen as deviant.
- Ostracised – in some cases sects have been prosecuted and forced into exile.
- Intolerant – assume that they have the true path to salvaton.
- High level of commitment.
- Emotonal worship
- Ascetc – experiental, very strict rules, great stress on obedience.
- Members are typically deprived, poor and oppressed.
- Ideological and social infuence over members.
- Charismatc leader – claim a divine relatonship with od.
- Believe they have monopoly of the truth.
- Non-hierarchal.
