Outline and explain two reasons why sects tend to recruit members from particular social groups
(10)Sects tend to recruit people from the working classes. Troeltson argues sects tend to draw their
members from the poor and oppressed and those who are marginal to society. They are offered a
solution through the theodicy of disprivilege - a religious explanation and justification for their suffering,
for example a test of faith. These people are recruited by sects as they feel they are not receiving their
just economic rewards and so seek radical change in the world rejecting new religious movements.
People marginal to society may like the high commitment, exclusive sects as they are left out of
mainstream society. For example, in the 20th century the Nation of Islam recruited successfully among
disadvantaged blacks in the USA. However, since the 1960s the sect-like world rejecting new religious
movements has received many well educated, young, middle class whites. However, Wallis argues this
does not go against this view as they are still marginal to society.
Sects also tend to recruit from women. Stark and Brainbridge argue this is because sects offer women
compensators that appeal to them as they are more likely to be frustrated or deprived. Sects offer
women organismic deprivation which stems from physical and mental health problems. Women are
more likely to suffer ill health and thus seek the healing that sects offer. Another is ethical deprivation
where women tend to be more morally conservative and thus are more likely to regard the world as
being in moral decline so sects often share this view. Finally, social deprivation as sects attract poorer
groups and women are more likely to be poor. However, with the social class of women increasing this
may not remain the case for much longer.
Item A
Churches are generally seen as traditional and conservative in their beliefs. They also tend to have a
strict hierarchy of power. The characteristics of churches are different from those of New Age
movements.
Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways in which the characteristics of churches are different
from those of New Age movements. (10)
One way churches are different from New Age movements is their beliefs. Like stated in the item,
churchers are seen as “traditional and conservative in their beliefs”. Churches are seen as holding the
absolute truth and their version of faith is the only correct one. The Catholic Church holds very traditional
values such as banning abortion and contraception, as well as homosexuality and divorces. On the other
hand, the New Age beliefs focus on detraditionalization. New agers seeking the spiritual have turned
away from traditional ‘external’ churches and instead look inside themselves to find it. The New Age
belief in positive thinking with an emphasis on creative, imaginative and compassionate activities such as
healing. Individuals possess an optimistic view of the self and discovering a “god within”. It is an
individual journey that believes in self-improvement and empowerment. However, churches are now
adapting their beliefs to suit a more postmodern society by lessening its restrictions on relationships for
example.
Another way they are different is the hierarchy of power. Churches tend to have a “strict hierarchy of
power” with large organisations of millions of members. The catholic church is run by a hierarchy of
professional priests, who claim a monopoly of the truth. Priests have no other job and are completely
dedicated to the church. On the other hand, the New Age rejects the spiritual authority of external
traditional sources such as priests and instead values personal experience. People in the New Age are all
seen as equal on their own individual journey of discovery. The structure of the New Age is much more
informal and fluid.
(10)Sects tend to recruit people from the working classes. Troeltson argues sects tend to draw their
members from the poor and oppressed and those who are marginal to society. They are offered a
solution through the theodicy of disprivilege - a religious explanation and justification for their suffering,
for example a test of faith. These people are recruited by sects as they feel they are not receiving their
just economic rewards and so seek radical change in the world rejecting new religious movements.
People marginal to society may like the high commitment, exclusive sects as they are left out of
mainstream society. For example, in the 20th century the Nation of Islam recruited successfully among
disadvantaged blacks in the USA. However, since the 1960s the sect-like world rejecting new religious
movements has received many well educated, young, middle class whites. However, Wallis argues this
does not go against this view as they are still marginal to society.
Sects also tend to recruit from women. Stark and Brainbridge argue this is because sects offer women
compensators that appeal to them as they are more likely to be frustrated or deprived. Sects offer
women organismic deprivation which stems from physical and mental health problems. Women are
more likely to suffer ill health and thus seek the healing that sects offer. Another is ethical deprivation
where women tend to be more morally conservative and thus are more likely to regard the world as
being in moral decline so sects often share this view. Finally, social deprivation as sects attract poorer
groups and women are more likely to be poor. However, with the social class of women increasing this
may not remain the case for much longer.
Item A
Churches are generally seen as traditional and conservative in their beliefs. They also tend to have a
strict hierarchy of power. The characteristics of churches are different from those of New Age
movements.
Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways in which the characteristics of churches are different
from those of New Age movements. (10)
One way churches are different from New Age movements is their beliefs. Like stated in the item,
churchers are seen as “traditional and conservative in their beliefs”. Churches are seen as holding the
absolute truth and their version of faith is the only correct one. The Catholic Church holds very traditional
values such as banning abortion and contraception, as well as homosexuality and divorces. On the other
hand, the New Age beliefs focus on detraditionalization. New agers seeking the spiritual have turned
away from traditional ‘external’ churches and instead look inside themselves to find it. The New Age
belief in positive thinking with an emphasis on creative, imaginative and compassionate activities such as
healing. Individuals possess an optimistic view of the self and discovering a “god within”. It is an
individual journey that believes in self-improvement and empowerment. However, churches are now
adapting their beliefs to suit a more postmodern society by lessening its restrictions on relationships for
example.
Another way they are different is the hierarchy of power. Churches tend to have a “strict hierarchy of
power” with large organisations of millions of members. The catholic church is run by a hierarchy of
professional priests, who claim a monopoly of the truth. Priests have no other job and are completely
dedicated to the church. On the other hand, the New Age rejects the spiritual authority of external
traditional sources such as priests and instead values personal experience. People in the New Age are all
seen as equal on their own individual journey of discovery. The structure of the New Age is much more
informal and fluid.
