Tues2 March 10 th : Types of religious organisations HOMEWORK: Types of religious organisations notes and revision cards Thurs2 March 12 th : Types of religious organisations Thurs1 March 19 th : Types of religious organisations HOMEWORK: Types of religious organizations essay Mon2 March 23 rd : Types of religious organisations & Religiosity and social groups Tues2 March 24 th : Religiosity and social groups Thurs2 March 26 th : Postmodernity and religion

Religious organizations, including cults, sects, denominations, churches and New Age movements, and their relationship to religious or spiritual organizations and movements, beliefs and practices

What is the difference between: 1.A church 2.A denomination 3.A sect 4.A cult

Roy Wallis (1976) - divided organizations into respectable (uniquely legitimate or pluralistically legitimate) or deviant Respectable Deviant Uniquely legitimate ChurchSect Pluralistically legitimateDenominationCult

Church

1.The church - Ernst Troeltsch (1931) – refers to a large religious organization. Individuals are born into it. A church might try to be universal but in reality substantial minorities don’t belong. It usually ‘stabilizes and determines the political order’. Churches are often closely related to the state. Likely to be religiously conservative and support the status quo.

Denominations

2. Denominations Stark and Bainbridge (1985) – an organization that shares several but not all the supposed features of a church – a watered down church.

H.R Niebuhr (1929) – a denomination does not have universal appeal – 2005 – 289,000 attending Methodists, 287,600 attending Pentecostal and 254,800 Baptist. - Denominations are not so closely linked with the upper classes. - Denominations don’t identify with the state - they do not claim a monopoly on religious truth (Steve Bruce – most important distinction) - usually conservative

Sects

# Sects are groups that are formed as an offshoot of an existing religion. Troeltsch (1981) Diametrically opposed to the church -Smaller and more integrated -Connected with the lower classes or at least from those opposed to the state -They reject the values of the world -Members might be expected to withdraw from the world outside the group -They are expected to be deeply committed to their beliefs -Members join as adults voluntarily and adopt the lifestyle of the sect – they exercise a stronger control over individuals -Monopoly of the truth -No hierarchy of paid officials – usually there is one single charismatic leader

Roy Wallis (1976) – views sects as deviant groups which see themselves as uniquely legitimate. Sects tend to break away from the dominant group in society because of a disagreement. Some of these groups which broke away would be accepted as denominations but deviant groups were seen as sects.

The People’s Temple – Branch Davidians Amish: Mormons: IaoBHJ3m0https:// IaoBHJ3m0

Bryan Wilson (1985) Seven different types of sects Conversionist; Revolutionary; Introversionist; Manipulative; Thaumaturgical (miracles/personal messages from God); Reformist; Utopian

STARTER: Church, denomination, sect or cult?

An offshoot of an existing religion They reject the values of the world Usually there is one single charismatic leader

STARTER: Church, denomination, sect or cult? Refers to a large religious organization individuals are born into it it usually ‘stabilizes and determines the political order’.

STARTER: Church, denomination, sect or cult? A ‘loosely knit group organized around some common themes and interests but lacking in any sharply defined and exclusive belief system’.

STARTER: Church, denomination, sect or cult? Does not have universal appeal don’t identify with the state usually conservative

Homework case studies

Roy Wallis: The Elementary Forms of New Religious Life (1984) From the early 60’s, there was a large growth of the number of religious organisations in society. Many of them didn’t fit into the traditional church-denomination-sect-cult typography Wallis coined the term “new religious movement” to cover them. He identifies between three different kinds of NRM.

Three type of NRM: 1) World-affirming 2) World-rejecting 3) World-accommodating Roy Wallis: The Elementary Forms of New Religious Life (1984)

World-rejecting new religious movements Troeltsch – characteristics A definite conception of God Ideology is critical of the outside world In order to find salvation, members have to take a sharp break from conventional life. Organisations such as these act as total institutions (Goffman). Limited contact with the outside world is broken for fundraising and spreading the word Many are puritanical Vary massively in size Mainly based around a communal lifestyle

World-accomodating new religious movements Often breakaways from existing mainstream churches such as Pentecostalists They neither accept or reject the world They focus on religious rather than worldly matters Members tend to lead conventional lives

World affirming NRMs Accept the world as they see it Can be successful by following dominant life but by adding a spiritual element Non exclusive EG: Transcendental Meditation – based on Hindu faith – Beatles:

World affirming NRMs Wallis – most world affirming NRMs are cults. Cults are like sects in that they have religious beliefs that are widely regarded as deviant, but, unlike sects, cults tolerate the existence of other religions. Cults are loosely structured, tolerant, and non-exclusive. They have a rapid turnover in membership.

Cults

Bruce (1995) ‘mysticism’ - a highly individualistic expression, varying with personal experiences and interpretations. A cult is a ‘loosely knit group organized around some common themes and interests but lacking in any sharply defined and exclusive belief system’. - Tend to be individualistic -Tolerate other beliefs -Often no concept of heresy because their beliefs are so vague

-Stark and Bainbridge (1985) sees them as novel within a society and that there is an overlap between New Age movements and cults – cults are new religions within a society and are unconnected to existing religions:

1.Audience cults – least organized and involve little face to face contact – usually through mass media – EG: astrology 2.Client cults – more organized and offer services to its clients – scientology claims to clear repressed memories of painful experiences: Cult movements – more involvement – single religion only – The Reverend Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church is one example: We will look at the Moonies shortly…

Why might you join a cult?

Why have they grown? Weber (1922) – likely to arise amongst marginalized groups who don’t feel they are receiving what they deserve. A theodicy of disprivilege – an explanation of why they are in this situation and how to escape it. Bryan Wilson (1970) war, natural disaster or economic collapse can create fertile ground for sects and cults to emerge.

Why have they grown? 1960s – targeting of marginalized groups – Nation of Islam:

Why have they grown? On the whole, most NRMS are made up of white middle class Americans and Europeans - but Wallis argues that these people are still marginalized in some way.

Why have they grown? Relative deprivation might explain why these white middle class members join these groups because whilst they are not objectively poor, they might feel poor in comparison to other members in society (Stark and Bainbridge and Wallis)

Bryan Wilson (1970) sects and cults develop: During periods of rapid social change ( He gives the example of the Methodist movement which he says was in response to urbanization and industrialization. Why have they grown?

Bruce (1995) – Why have they grown? Modernization Secularization Traditional institutions have weakened, so people have sought alternatives. In a more secular world, cults have become more popular - require fewer sacrifices & less commitment than churches & sects.

Why have they grown?

Wallis (1984): Longer period in education – longer childhood – so more young people with more freedom Technology was believed to be the solution to poverty etc Radical political movements were developing in the 60s Why have they grown?

A dangerous cult? Read the Daily Mirror article and highlight the key points

The Unification Church goes by the name "Association of Families for Unification and World Peace," or "Family Federation for World Peace and Unification." However, the Unification Church operates under numerous names and business fronts.names

Now add a bit of spiritism, a pinch of numerology, a dab of physics and a dash of anti-communism; mix it all together, using a Korean Messiah, and you have the recipe for one of the newest religious movements sweeping America -- the Unification Church, founded by Rev. Sun Myung Moon. James Bjornstad, The Moon Is Not the Son (Bethany Fellowship, 1976).The Moon Is Not the Son

Meet Reverend Moon: The charismatic leader

“Jesus Christ is trying to follow me, my footsteps, all the way. He stayed in Paradise, because he did not marry. But I gave him marriage. Don’t you want to meet the wives of Buddha, Confucius and Muhammad? They sent letters of gratitude to me from spirit world. They pledge that even if their religion disappears, they will follow me. Can you imagine anyone in this world claiming to have married those past saints? The rings I prepared for their marriage cost a great deal per couple. Did I do that because I am crazy? Did I ask you to donate to cover that?”

Eileen Barker (1984) – 7 year longitudinal study – study during media moral panic (see headlines such as ‘Moonies have captured my son’ – focus on how and why people joined the Moonies – verstehen – practised both quantitative and qualitative – triangulation or methodological pluralism – participant observation; in depth interviews; questionnaires

She found that the Moonies were very inefficient at keeping members; they are not brainwashed; most come from happy and secure backgrounds; usually middle class; many join because the religion offers a solution to their needs; like the warm family atmosphere

Beckford (1985) interviewed 26 ex members, 35 parents and 26 activists in campaigns against cults. Interested in societal reaction. 0z2rKY

New Age Movemen ts

Why is it different? New Age spirituality is characterized by an individual approach to spiritual practices and philosophies, and the rejection of religious doctrine and dogma. Feminine forms of spirituality, including feminine images of the divine, such as the female Aeon Sophia in Gnosticism, are deprecated by patriarchal religions

Age of Aquarius Akashic records Alternative medicine Ancient astronauts Angels Animism Ascended master Astral projection Astrology Atlantis Cosmic ordering Crystal healing Earth Changes Earth mysteries Ecofeminism Energy Environmentalism Faith healing Feng shui

New Age Movements: 1) Phenomena of the 1980s and 1990s 2) Include elements of traditional religions, but close to cults 3) Broad in terms of types and level of commitment 4) Tend to be m/c and female 5) No formal structure

New Age Movements: Heelas (2008): 2,000 activities 146,000 practitioners in UK Many are audience or client cults Self-spirituality Detraditonalisation

Bruce highlights three themes: 1) New Science: NAMs are in conflict and reject claims of science 2) New Ecology: NAMs see the planet as a living organism, any action has an impact 3) New Psychology: NAMs see the ‘self as sacred’

Millenarian Movements 1) Examples shows how religion may inspire activism and social change 2) Anticipates immediate collective salvation 3) Close connection to Christianity 4) Associate with those in deprived positions 5) Related to apocalypse

Why new age movements ?

THE POSTMODERN AGE? John Drane (1999) -Postmodern society has lost faith in metanarratives -Science has failed to make a better world

THE POSTMODERN AGE? Steve Bruce (1995) -We are in the late modern world -Individualism is the key aim -New age beliefs are often softer beliefs of eastern religions -Few demands on followers -Pick and mix shopping

THE POSTMODERN AGE? Heelas (1996) 1.Source of identity in fragmented world 2.Consumer culture 3.Social change 4.Decline of organized religion

KEY REVISION QUESTIONS 1.What is the difference between a church, denomination, sect or cult 2.Why are sects and cults considered deviant? 3.Why might sects and cults be used as evidence of secularisation? 4.What are the three types of cults? 5.What are the three types of NRMs according to Wallis? 6.Why are people turning to NRMs? 7.What did Eileen Barker think of the so called Moonies? 8.What are new age religions? 9.Why are people turning to new age religions specifically?

Critically examine sociological views of new religious movements in society today. 33 marks