Sociology - Beliefs in Society -
Organisations, Movements and Members
What are the four main categories of religious organisation? - ANS -- churches
- denominations
- sects
- cults
What are the characteristics of a church ? - ANS -- eg, Catholic Church or Church of England
- Bureaucratic , there's a Hierarchy
- universalistic, aims to involve all of society
- inclusive, low demands on followers
- most likely higher classes,
- monopoly over truth, not tolerant
What are the characteristics of denominations ? - ANS -- eg, Methodism
- bureaucratic but on a smaller scale than churches
- accept societies views but not linked to state
- minor restrictions on followers
- less exclusive than sect but more exclusive than churches
- most likely working class
- tolerant, no monopoly
What are the characteristics of sects ? - ANS -- eg, Protestantism or Jehovas Witnesses
- charismatic leader , hostile relationship with society
- high level of commitment
- exclusive
- most likely working class and oppressed
- not tolerant, monopoly of the truth
What are the characteristics of cults ? - ANS -- eg, meditation or yoga
- poorly organised, highly individualistic
- world affirming and inclusive
- relaxed , most likely middle class or women
- tolerant, no monopoly
What is Wallis's theory on the definition of religious organisations ? - ANS -- he created his own
TYPOLOGY regarding how religious organisations ought to be defined
- Wallis identifies three types of NRM that have emerged since 1960s
What are the three types of NRM defined by Wallis? - ANS -- world accommodating NRM
- world affirming NRM
, - world rejecting NRM
What is a World-Accommodating NRM? - ANS -- they're often breakaways from existing
mainstream churches or denominations
- neither accept or reject the world
- they focus on religion rather than worldly matters, seeking to restore the spiritual purity of
religion
- followers have normal lives
- eg, Neo-Pentecostalists believe other Christian religions have lost the Holy Spirit ,
DENOMINATIONS
What is a World-Affirming NRM? - ANS -- non exclusive and tolerant of other religions, but
claim to offer additional knowledge or techniques that enable followers to unlock their own
spiritual powers
- they accept the world as it is, they are optimistic and attempt to enhance lives of followers
- eg, Scientology
CULT
What is a world rejecting NRM? - ANS -- religious organisations with a clear notion of god
- they're highly critical of the outside world and seek radical change
- to achieve salvation, members must take a sort break from their former life
- literal interpretation of sacred texts and morally conservative
- eg, people's temple
SECTS
What is Stark and Bainbridges theory on the definition of cults? - ANS -- cult = loose knit
organisations with few demands
- looked to concept of the new age
- encourage people to embark on a journey of self discovery and personal fulfilment
- 3 Types: audience, client and cult movements
What is an Audience Cult? - ANS -- least organised and involve little interaction between
followers
- participation may be through media
- no formal membership
- eg, interest in horoscopes,UFO Cults,astrology
What is a client cult? - ANS -- based on relationships between consultants and consumers
- consultants provide specialist services to provide spiritual fulfilment
- preciously they included contact with the dead but emphasis has swayed to therapy promising
personal fulfilment and self discovery
- eg, meditation
Organisations, Movements and Members
What are the four main categories of religious organisation? - ANS -- churches
- denominations
- sects
- cults
What are the characteristics of a church ? - ANS -- eg, Catholic Church or Church of England
- Bureaucratic , there's a Hierarchy
- universalistic, aims to involve all of society
- inclusive, low demands on followers
- most likely higher classes,
- monopoly over truth, not tolerant
What are the characteristics of denominations ? - ANS -- eg, Methodism
- bureaucratic but on a smaller scale than churches
- accept societies views but not linked to state
- minor restrictions on followers
- less exclusive than sect but more exclusive than churches
- most likely working class
- tolerant, no monopoly
What are the characteristics of sects ? - ANS -- eg, Protestantism or Jehovas Witnesses
- charismatic leader , hostile relationship with society
- high level of commitment
- exclusive
- most likely working class and oppressed
- not tolerant, monopoly of the truth
What are the characteristics of cults ? - ANS -- eg, meditation or yoga
- poorly organised, highly individualistic
- world affirming and inclusive
- relaxed , most likely middle class or women
- tolerant, no monopoly
What is Wallis's theory on the definition of religious organisations ? - ANS -- he created his own
TYPOLOGY regarding how religious organisations ought to be defined
- Wallis identifies three types of NRM that have emerged since 1960s
What are the three types of NRM defined by Wallis? - ANS -- world accommodating NRM
- world affirming NRM
, - world rejecting NRM
What is a World-Accommodating NRM? - ANS -- they're often breakaways from existing
mainstream churches or denominations
- neither accept or reject the world
- they focus on religion rather than worldly matters, seeking to restore the spiritual purity of
religion
- followers have normal lives
- eg, Neo-Pentecostalists believe other Christian religions have lost the Holy Spirit ,
DENOMINATIONS
What is a World-Affirming NRM? - ANS -- non exclusive and tolerant of other religions, but
claim to offer additional knowledge or techniques that enable followers to unlock their own
spiritual powers
- they accept the world as it is, they are optimistic and attempt to enhance lives of followers
- eg, Scientology
CULT
What is a world rejecting NRM? - ANS -- religious organisations with a clear notion of god
- they're highly critical of the outside world and seek radical change
- to achieve salvation, members must take a sort break from their former life
- literal interpretation of sacred texts and morally conservative
- eg, people's temple
SECTS
What is Stark and Bainbridges theory on the definition of cults? - ANS -- cult = loose knit
organisations with few demands
- looked to concept of the new age
- encourage people to embark on a journey of self discovery and personal fulfilment
- 3 Types: audience, client and cult movements
What is an Audience Cult? - ANS -- least organised and involve little interaction between
followers
- participation may be through media
- no formal membership
- eg, interest in horoscopes,UFO Cults,astrology
What is a client cult? - ANS -- based on relationships between consultants and consumers
- consultants provide specialist services to provide spiritual fulfilment
- preciously they included contact with the dead but emphasis has swayed to therapy promising
personal fulfilment and self discovery
- eg, meditation
