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| Question | Answer |
| The Church (Troelsch) | Large, formal, organisations- hierarchy of paid officials, carries out social functions, financially secure. Universal appeal- support the norms and values of those in power, attempt to appeal to all members of society, members are usually born into the faith. Tied to the state- large organisations with wide influence, involved in government. |
| The Sect (Troelsch) | Small organisations- handful to a few thousand members, no bureaucratic structure. Alternative values- withdraw from wider society, may oppose the values of wider society, demand intense loyalty. |
| Denominations (Niebuhr) | Hierarchy like Churches. Appeal to as wide audience. Support dominant norms and values. Do not have universal appeal. Represent a significant minority rather than a majority. |
| World-rejecting New Religious Movements (NRMs) (Wallis) | Strict moral codes. Demand great loyalty. Live away from the outside world. Radically critical of the outside world. E.g. the People's Temple and Jonestown massacre (1978). |
| World-affirming NRMs (Wallis) | Accept the world as it is. Hold mainstream norms and values. Focus on helping followers with mainstream goals. Not demanding. E.g. transcendental meditation. |
| World-accommodating NRMs (Wallis) | Breakaways from existing religions. Focus on religious matters; aim to restore former purity. Neither affirm nor reject wider society. E.g. neo-charismatic churches and the gift of the Holy Spirit (speaking in tongues). |
| Cults (Bruce) | Beliefs do not usually involve a god/gods. Tolerate other belief systems. Lack clear organisation. Members 'buy in' like customers. |
| General typology of religious organisations (Wallis) | Respectable Vs deviant. Uniquely legitimate Vs pluralistically legitimate. |
| Respectable Vs deviant | Respectable: conform to the dominant values and norms of society. Deviant: reject the dominant values and norms of society. |
| Uniquely legitimate Vs pluralistically legitimate | Uniquely legitimate: believe that only they hold the ultimate truth. Pluralistically legitimate: recognise other belief systems right to exist. |
| Sects and Cults (Stark and Bainbridge) | Sects: broken off from existing religions, conflict with wider society. Cults: offer new/novel beliefs. |
| Audience cults (Stark and Bainbridge) | Little commitment required. Often exist to entertain. E.g. astrology. |
| Client cults (Stark and Bainbridge) | Offer services to improve members' lives. Members often seen as customers who 'buy in'. E.g. transcendental meditation. |
| Cultic movements | High commitment needed. The cult dictates lifestyle. E.g. members may live away from wider society in a commune. |
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