TYPES OF RELIGIOUS ORGANISATI
(Troelsch)Church and Sects
The sociologist Troelsch distinguished between 2 main types of organisations. This was the church and the sect. (Troelsch)
Churches were larger with a bureaucratic hierarchy rather than having one leader. They are mainstream claiming a monopoly of the truth and more passive to wider society. They were more applicable to the middle class. (Catholic Church)
However, sects were seen as small, exclusive groups. Unlike churches they are hostile to wider society and expect a high level of commitment. Members are usually drawn from the poor or oppressed and led by a Charismatic leader. (Jehovah’s Witnesses)
Churches and Sects both claim they are the only true or legitimate faith.
(Niebuhr)Denominations and Cults
The sociologist Neibuhr goes further to identify 2 more additions. These are denominations and cults. (Neibuhr)
Denominations are described like Methodism as lying midway between churches and sects. Thus it’s less exclusive as sects and doesn’t appeal as much to wider society. They do impose some minor restrictions such as forbidding alcohol but are not as demanding as sects.
Cults are the least organised. They are led by practitioners or therapists who claim special knowledge. These groups are tolerant of other religions and their beliefs. They do not demand a strong commitment from followers who are more like customers or trainees than a member. Most cults claim they try to improve life in this world.
Wallis identifies similarities and differences between religious organisations. This is by:
· How they see themselves, Churches and Sects claim they are the only true or legitimate faith.
· How they are seen by wider society, Wallis describes how Churches and Denominations are seen as respectable and legitimate by wider society. However Sects and Cults are seen as deviant. (Wallis)
From Cathedrals to Cults
The sociologist Bruce criticizes Troelsch’s idea of religious organisations does not fit today’s reality. This is because Troelsch’s idea of the Catholic Church applies more to the 16th century than today because diverse religious groups and institutions have flourished all over. The Catholic Church has lost its monopoly so sects and cults have managed to spread making religious diversity the norm.
World Rejecting NRM’s
Similar to Troelsch’s idea of Sects, Wallis describes they vary greatly in size to a handful of members from 100’s to 100’s of thousands. They have several characteristics:
· They are clearly religious organisations with a notion of God.
· They are highly critical of the outside world seeking radical change.
· They often live in communities with fellow members which can lead them to become brainwashed by the group.
· They have conservative moral codes, for example about sex. (Wallis)
World Accomodating NRM’s
These are the breakaways from existing mainstream religions. They neither accept nor reject the world focusing on religious matters rather than political or worldly ones. They seek to restore the spirituality of religions, for example Neo Pentecostal religion which has a direct emphasis on personal experience with God through baptism. (Wallis)
World Affirming NRM’s
Usually are cults that have been described as psychologising religions. They are led by therapists who claim to offer additional and special knowledge about the world so followers can unlock spiritual or supernatural powers. They support achievement in society whether it would be by status or material wealth. (Scientology) (Wallis)
Example of Doomsday Cults
The Solar Temple- They are a secret society continuing the myth of the existence of the Nights Templar. Their beliefs are about preparing for the second coming of Jesus Christ referred to as their Solar God King who would unify all Christian Churches and Islam.
They are quite a radical group. One of their leaders Di Mambro ordered a murder on a fellow member’s son. He claimed his son was the anti-christ and had him stabbed repeatedly many times by other cultists. They have also been the cause of mass suicides and murders in places such as France and Switzerland.
DYNAMICS OF SECTS AND CULTS
DENOMINATION OR DEATH(Neibuhr)
Niebuhr argues that sects are world rejecting religions that have come into place because of schisms. This is splitting up from an established church because of disagreement with some of its religious doctrine. He argues that sects are usually short lived and they would probably die out. Three reasons for this are:
· The second generation- They will probably lack the commitment to carry on following the faith.
· The Protestant Ethic Effect- Sects practice asceticism which is hard work and saving. This tends to make them prosperous and up worldly mobile so it tempts them to compromise with the world. Thus they either leave or abandon the world rejecting beliefs.
· Death of charismatic leader- Many people will often leave sects upon the leaders death. A new leader may impose different views.
THE SECTARIAN CYCLE (Stark and Stanbridge)
Stark and Stanbridge see religious organisations as moving through a cycle.
· The 1st stage is schism, because there is tension between the deprived and privileged members of the church.
· 2nd stage is initial fervour where a charismatic leader will arise causing great tension between the sect’s beliefs and those of wider society.
· The 3rd stage is denominalisationism in which case The Protestant ethic effect that makes the fervour disappear because the second generation lack commitment.
· 4th Establishment, becoming more world accepting coming to terms with world.
· 5th Further Schism.
ESTABLISHED SECTS (Wilson)
Wilson argues that not all sects would follow the patterns outlined such as the sectarian cycle or denomination or death. Whether or not they do so will depend on what the sects will do to be saved. He distinguishes between 2 types of sects:
· Conversionist Sects- They aim to convert a large number of people in society so they are likely to grow into larger and more formal denominations.
· Adventist Sects- This is sects who wait the second coming of Jesus Christ such as Jehovah’s Witnesses. To be saved they believe they must separate themselves from the corrupt world around them; this separation prevents them from compromising and becoming a denomination.
In summary, Wilson argues that some sects have survived over many generations such Pentecostalists, Mormons, Adventists and Quakers making them established sects. Contrary to Niebuhr’s predictions, their parents succeeded into giving their children high levels of commitment keeping them apart from the wider world. Wilson also argues that globalisation will also make it difficult for future sects to keep themselves separate from the outside world.
GROWTH OF A NEW AGE (Heelas)
Since the 1980’s, Heelas argues that beliefs and activities have become more widespread. Many of them are audience or client cults. Examples of categories of these religions and beliefs include Astrology, UFO’s, Yoga and Meditation. They are extremely diverse and have 2 common themes:
· Self Spirituality- Finding it away from tradition where religion is more focused on the individual than based on the community.
· Detraditionalisation-Rejecting spiritual authority from religious authority figures or sacred texts. Instead their values are with personal experience with spirit and religion.
Explanation of the Growth of New Religious Movements
Since the 1960’s, there has been rapid growth in the number of sects and cults and the number of followers belonging to them. For example there is an estimated of over 800 NRMs and over half a million people belonging to them. Sociologists have offered three main explanations for this:
· Marginality
· Relative Deprivation
· Social Change
(Weber) Marginality- As Troelsch notes sects tend to draw their members from the poor and oppressed. Max Weber explains that sects draw out members from groups who are marginal to society, that is they are disprivileged not receiving status or economic rewards. Weber points out that these religions offer a theodicy of disprivilege which is an explanation of their suffering usually pointed out as a test of faith or hold out the promise of rewards in the future for example. (Max Weber) (Theodicy of Disprivilege)
(Wallis) Relative Deprivation- Wallis argues that the middle class could be spiritually deprived due to being materially wealthier. This might make them believe and perceive themselves as lacking in moral values. Thus they turn to sects for a sense of community. For example, Christ claims in the Bible that “it is harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven than it is for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.”
By contrast, the privileged need no compensators because they are also attracted to religions which are world accepting churches that express their status and bring further success in achieving earthly rewards. (Wallis)
(Wilson) Social Change- Wilson argues that periods of rapid social change in society can disrupt and undermine the established norms and values. It produces anomie or normlessness. Thus those who are the most affected by the disruption may turn to sects as a solution.
For example, the dislocation created by the industrial revolution in the late 18th century led to the birth of Methodism in the early 19th century. This is because this religion offered a sense of community, warmth and fellowship at a time it was needed. (Wilson)
THE GROWTH OF NRM’s(BRUCE)
World Rejecting NRM’s- Attract the young because social changes from 1960’s gave them more freedom allowing a counter culture to develop. It allowed for alternative ideas to develop and world rejecting NRM’s were attractive because they offered young people a more idealistic way of life. Bruce argues that a failure of counter culture to change the world led to a disillusioned youth turning to religion instead.
World Affirming NRM’s- Bruce argues the growth is due to a response to modernity. Work no longer provides a meaning or source of identity it did in the past. Before the Protestant Ethic gave work a religious meaning for some people but now it doesn’t because we are expected to achieve even though we may lack opportunities to do so.
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