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Sociology- New Religious Movements - Coggle Diagram
Sociology- New Religious Movements
WALLIS 1984
world rejecting NRM
similar to sects
e.g. the moonies, children of god
highly critical of outside world
salvation = break with former life
live communal with restricted access to outside world
popular with marginalised groups who lack power
world accommodating NRM
similar to demoninations
breakaways from mainstream churches
neither accept or reject world
seek to restore spiritual purity of religion
members lead convention lives
world affirming NRM
similar to cults
scientology, transcendental meditation
accept the world as it is
non-exclusive
tolerate other religions
few demands on members
largely attract middle class
EVALUATION
not clear on whether categories on teachings or members
NRM rarely fit into categories
Stark and Bainbridge
1 criterion for distinction
= degree of conflict or tension
sects= other world benefits (heaven)
cults = this world (benefits)
GROWTH IN RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS
Marginality
Weber 1922
sects arise in marginalised groups
search for genuine ways to satisfy spiritual needs
'theodicy of dispriviledge' = explanation and justification of suffering and disadvantages
EVALUATION:
/-historically sects have been formed by marginalised groups= Islam
x-1960 world rejecting recruit mainly affluent, white, young people
Relative Deprivation
middle classes may feel spiritually deprived even if theyre materially well off
middle class may turn to sects for sense of community
Glock and Stark 1995
social = lack of power
organismic = experienced bu those who suffer physically and mentally
ethical = perceive world to be in moral decline
psychic = searching for more
Social Change
changes create 'anomie' and then those most disrupted turn to sects
e.g. methodism offered sense of community after industrial revolution
Bellah 1964
1960 USA
rise in sect= 'crisis of meaning'
youths turned away from materialism of parents and to drugs and pop culture
children of god
Bruce 1995
sects= response to anxiety around scientific rationalism + secularisation
less demanding and fewer sacrafices
DYNAMICS OF SECTS
Niebuhr 1929
world rejecting come into existence because of split from church
usually short lived =
second generation= lack of commitment to parents religion
'protestant ethic' effect = members accept world so abandon world rejecting views
death of leader = collapse + from bureaucratic leadership = denomination
hostility to wider society = die out diets hostility = moral panics
SECTARIAN CYCLE = Stark and Bainbridge
stage 1: schism = tension between needs of the deprived and privileged leads to schism
stage 2: initial fervour = charismatic leader and tension between sects beliefs
stage 3: denominationalism = protestant work ethic and coolness of second gen
stage 4: establishment = sect becomes more world accpeting and tension to society reduces
stage 5: further schism= zealous, less privileged members break away and form new sect
ESTABLISHED SECTS
wilson 2008
conversionists = aim to convert large numbers of people
adventists= saved and hold themselves separate from corrupt world around them
sects have existed by socialising generations into religion and keeping them apart form world
globalisation will make it harder to keep themselves separate from the world
GROWTH IN NEW AGE MOVEMENTS
characteristics
Heelas1996
self spirituality
detraditionalisation
world affirming aspects to help people succeed
world rejecting aspects to help achieve enlightenment
postmodernist
Drane 1999
loss of faith in meta-narratives
people have lost faith in express as science has brought wars and genocide
turning to new age as we can find better world in ourselves
modernists
Bruce 19995
individualism
'expressive professions' value human potential
softer versions of eastern religions (Buddhism)
'pick and mix' spiritual religions as they are less constraining