Beliefs 1 (Typologies of Religion) – Essay Plans
Analyse two ways in which churches and denominations may differ from sects and cults (10
marks)
Sects & cults can exists in a state of conflict with society:
Many sects take a world rejecting approach – frequently reject society and its values.
Whereas churches and denominations generally accept dominant norms and take a
world-accommodating attitude.
For example, the People’s Temple sect became so world-rejecting that it relocated to
Guyana in South America in a bid to get away from society and its values.
Contrasts to seeing churches on every corner.
However, cults are similar to churches in the sense that there is not huge commitment.
For example, going to church on special occasions – cults for small periods of time.
Open membership vs closed:
Churches have a universalistic and inclusive membership – appeal to a wide range of
society, however, tend be over-represented by higher-status groups.
Sects have a closed membership and often require a lot of commitment to get into. More
representative of deprived and marginalised classes.
For example, the church of England claims that 26 million people have been baptised.
However, membership of churches is declining making it similar to that of sects.
For example, in England the church membership is meant to decline to 2.53 million by
2025.
The Unification Church, a sect, estimates a range of 1-3 million in more than 150
countries – showing membership levels really aren’t that different.
Outline and explain two reasons why some people join sects (10 marks)
Charismatic leader:
People usually drawn away from a church by a charismatic leader – forms a new deviant
group called a sect – magnetic personality draws them to believe in the cause.
For example, Jim Jones – People’s Temple, was charismatic enough to convince nearly
1000 people to move to Guyana.
He eventually also convinced them to kill themselves for his cause.
However, some people are put off by joining sects as their deviance is generally not
accepted in society.
As well as this, people may be sceptical to join a sect due to the loss of charismatic
leaders and the fear of them dying.
Secularisation:
Bruce – people are less attracted to traditional churches because they now want to
attract masses and therefore, are more accepting of divorce and other…
However, some disagree with this forward movement and want to go back to its
religious roots – those who want this may break way and form a sect.
Offers salvation.
For example, Jehovah’s witness – focal on 2nd coming of Christ.
However, some sects world-rejecting nature makes them unappealing. Elaborate.
Analyse two influences on whether a religious sect or cult is short of long lived (10 marks)
, Beliefs 1 (Typologies of Religion) – Essay Plans
Sect – death of charismatic leader:
Personal magnetism that originally attracts members to the sect.
When the leader dies, there is less attraction and hope to the cause.
For example, Jim Jones was so charismatic and influential that when decided to die, his
sect died along with him as there was no movement without their leader.
However, Stark & Bainbridge sectarian cycle shows that sects can continue after the loss
of a charismatic leader.
They say that someone can take over and continue the movement. For example, when
Rev Sun Myung Moon died his son continued to lead the unification organisation his
father had founded successfully.
Cults – increased religious diversity in postmodern societies:
Postmodern society – fragmentation or wide diversity of beliefs.
Postmodernists see belief as a personal matter and something that is open to
fluctuation.
As consumer tastes change, so do popularity of cults.
For example, Scientology is open to anyone and allows online subscription that can be
cancelled at any time.
People can freely leave whenever they want – if its not working or if they feel they have
completed their progress. Therefore, … short lived.
However, this isn’t the case for sects – once you’re in them, they are hard to leave. For
example, Mormonism and the 2 year ‘retreat’.
Analyse two ways in which churches and denominations may differ from sects and cults (10
marks)
Sects & cults can exists in a state of conflict with society:
Many sects take a world rejecting approach – frequently reject society and its values.
Whereas churches and denominations generally accept dominant norms and take a
world-accommodating attitude.
For example, the People’s Temple sect became so world-rejecting that it relocated to
Guyana in South America in a bid to get away from society and its values.
Contrasts to seeing churches on every corner.
However, cults are similar to churches in the sense that there is not huge commitment.
For example, going to church on special occasions – cults for small periods of time.
Open membership vs closed:
Churches have a universalistic and inclusive membership – appeal to a wide range of
society, however, tend be over-represented by higher-status groups.
Sects have a closed membership and often require a lot of commitment to get into. More
representative of deprived and marginalised classes.
For example, the church of England claims that 26 million people have been baptised.
However, membership of churches is declining making it similar to that of sects.
For example, in England the church membership is meant to decline to 2.53 million by
2025.
The Unification Church, a sect, estimates a range of 1-3 million in more than 150
countries – showing membership levels really aren’t that different.
Outline and explain two reasons why some people join sects (10 marks)
Charismatic leader:
People usually drawn away from a church by a charismatic leader – forms a new deviant
group called a sect – magnetic personality draws them to believe in the cause.
For example, Jim Jones – People’s Temple, was charismatic enough to convince nearly
1000 people to move to Guyana.
He eventually also convinced them to kill themselves for his cause.
However, some people are put off by joining sects as their deviance is generally not
accepted in society.
As well as this, people may be sceptical to join a sect due to the loss of charismatic
leaders and the fear of them dying.
Secularisation:
Bruce – people are less attracted to traditional churches because they now want to
attract masses and therefore, are more accepting of divorce and other…
However, some disagree with this forward movement and want to go back to its
religious roots – those who want this may break way and form a sect.
Offers salvation.
For example, Jehovah’s witness – focal on 2nd coming of Christ.
However, some sects world-rejecting nature makes them unappealing. Elaborate.
Analyse two influences on whether a religious sect or cult is short of long lived (10 marks)
, Beliefs 1 (Typologies of Religion) – Essay Plans
Sect – death of charismatic leader:
Personal magnetism that originally attracts members to the sect.
When the leader dies, there is less attraction and hope to the cause.
For example, Jim Jones was so charismatic and influential that when decided to die, his
sect died along with him as there was no movement without their leader.
However, Stark & Bainbridge sectarian cycle shows that sects can continue after the loss
of a charismatic leader.
They say that someone can take over and continue the movement. For example, when
Rev Sun Myung Moon died his son continued to lead the unification organisation his
father had founded successfully.
Cults – increased religious diversity in postmodern societies:
Postmodern society – fragmentation or wide diversity of beliefs.
Postmodernists see belief as a personal matter and something that is open to
fluctuation.
As consumer tastes change, so do popularity of cults.
For example, Scientology is open to anyone and allows online subscription that can be
cancelled at any time.
People can freely leave whenever they want – if its not working or if they feel they have
completed their progress. Therefore, … short lived.
However, this isn’t the case for sects – once you’re in them, they are hard to leave. For
example, Mormonism and the 2 year ‘retreat’.
