Organisations,Movements and Members

Types
1. Churches- large with millions of members, place few demands, have a hierarchy of clergy, claim a monopoly of truth and are linked to the state
2. Sects- Small exclusive organisations, demand real commitment, have a charismatic leader and claim a monopoly of truth
3. Denominations- mid way between a church and a sect, less exclusive, accept societies values, not linked to the state, impose minor restrictions
4. Cults- Not organised, individualistic, small loose knit group
5. World Affirming- Scientology,TM. They offer a spiritual and supernatural look for its followers promising success. They are often 'customers'
6. World rejecting- Moonies, Branch Dividians. Have a clear understanding of God, are critical of the outside world. You have to give up your previous life and fully commit to the movement's rules.
7. World Accommodating- Pentecost. Usually are breakaway's from traditional churches, focus on religion rather than worldly maters, members have normal lives.
Stark and Bainbridge
1. sects are the result in the split of an organisation which offers worldly benefits to economic or ethical suffers
2. Cults are new or imported religions which offer benefits to those suffering health or psychic problems
  1. subdivide
    1. Audience cults - least organised with no formal membership
    2. Client- A consultent/client relationship with therapies offered
    3. Cultic movements- high level, exclusive cult claiming to meet all members needs
Explaining
1. Marginality
  1. Weber says sects appeal to underprivileged groups
    1. provides a solution to lack of status by offering a religious explanation
    2. They thrive and recruit from the marginalised poor
2. Relative Deprivation
  1. it is possible for some to feel deprived from others when intact they are not in terms of wealth, but spirituality
    1. want a sense of community
    2. these usually break away from the tradition religions to join sects- Stark and Bainbridge
3. Social Change
  1. Wilson believes periods of rapid change have undermined established norms making anomie
    1. the effected people turn to sects
      1. world rejecting NRM's-social change in the 60's gave young people freedom and an individualistic way of life. More attractive than a tradition church.
      2. world affirming NRM's- have grown due to modernity as it brings about identity and promises of worldly success.
4. New Age
  1. Heelas believes audience and client cults cover about 2000 different activities from yoga to crystals.
    1. self spirituality
    2. De-traditionalisation
    3. Source of identity, consumer culture, social change, decline in organised religion
5. Postmodernity
  1. Drane- people have lost faith in experts and in the established churches as they do not meet spiritual needs
  2. Bruce- Modern society values individualism and is concerned with human potential.
Social Groups
1. Gender
  1. Bruce- 2x more females in sects than men
    1. women are more heaing and caring
  2. Miller and Houghman- women are ore religious as they are socialised into the qualities religions look for
2. Ethnicity
  1. higher rate of religiosity in minority groups e.g. Muslims and Black Christians because of...
    1. Country of origin
    2. Cultural Defence
    3. Cultural Transition
3. Age
  1. under 15's more likely to attend church
  2. over 65's not so much because of ill health
  3. The ageing effect

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Organisations,Movements and Members

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