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BELIEFS (2) - RELIGIOUS ORGANISATION, NAMs - Coggle Diagram
BELIEFS (2) - RELIGIOUS ORGANISATION, NAMs
ORGANISATION
CHURCHES
STRUCTURE: bureaucratic, employing ppl; a hierarchy from ppl to God (the pope is in charge
ATTITUDES TO OTHER BELIEFS: claim monopoly of truth, and are intolerant of other beliefs
ATTITUDES TO WIDER SOCIETY: are a conservative force, accept norms + values of society, have ties w/ the state
MEMBERSHIP: have the largest, but is recently declining; inclusive, universal - accepts all
COMMITMENT: low commitment, few demands, individuals contribute to society still
DENOMINATIONS
STRUCTURE: paid bureaucracy, professional clergy + lay-clergy (unpaid), have a hierarchy
ATTITUDES TO OTHER BELIEFS: tolerant, don't claim monopoly of truth - denominations are one against many
ATTITUDES TO WIDER SOCIETY: accept norms + values of society w/ exceptions; methodists discouraged from drinking, gambling, and usually have no links to the state
MEMBERSHIP: large, inclusive; ppl born in usually identify with it for the rest of their lives, and aren't universal - more w/c, lower m/c supporters
COMMITMENT: high-lvl expected, but not expected to be evangelical; part of society
SECTS
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ATTITUDES TO OTHER BELIEFS: claim to have monopoly, not tolerant
ATTITUDES TO WIDER SOCIETY: reject norms + values (e.g. amish, who reject technology); some engage in behaviour society is against, sometimes suppressed; hostile to mainstream; can be conservative force/ social change, no links to state
MEMBERSHIP: small, exclusive - needs invites
COMMITMENT: total commitment, give up income, property, contacts, sometimes names; often accused of brainwashing, not part of society
CULTS
STRUCTURE: rarely bureaucratic, offer services
ATTITUDES TO OTHER BELIEFS: tolerant, beliefs are vague anyways, so claim no monopoly
ATTITUDES TO WIDER SOCIETY: enhance/ improve people's daily lives, offer practical services
MEMBERSHIP: small, short-lives, membership from middle classes
COMMITMENT: little involvement, informal, ppl are consumers/ clients rather than members
EVALUATION
BRUCE: both churches + sects have drifted towards characteristics of denominations; churches don't claim monopoly anymore and aren't universal
ALDRIDGE: groups like mormons have an ambiguous position; in the US, they're just seen as a denomination, but in the uk considered more deviant + a sect
many definitions overlap, making it difficult to accurately define any organisation effectively
NAMs
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WHY PEOPLE JOIN
DRANE: the appeal of NAMs is shift to postmodern society - less faith in metanarratives, decline of mainstream religions -> new age religions are the only spiritual solution
science has only produced war, genocide, environmental destruction + global warming, so ppl lose faith in experts, turning to new age so they can find the truth for themselves
BRUCE: modern society values individualism, a key principle of new age
consumer culture may lead to feelings of disappointment about not being able to become the ideal self, so turn to NAMs as a way of self-improvement
BRUCE sees NAMs as an opportunity for 'pick and mix spiritual shopping', reflecting consumerist ethos of capitalist society