NRMs & NAMs

• new religious movements

  -not much in common with established churches but some draw on traditional faiths

  -NRMs contain controversial social movements that threaten the life of themselves & wider society

  -sometimes supported by highly respected people

  -NRMs are mainly cults & sects

  -Wallis: ideas & beliefs of NRMs are hybrid - combine different belief systems to theirs

  -a closed system
• Barker (1989)

  -NRMs consist of some of these characteristics:

  -charismatic leader

  -religious/spiritual beliefs

  -involve young adults

  -high turnover of members
• Millenarian movements

  -existing society is evil

  -other worldly forces = intervene to create a new world

  -Aldridge: will be a collapse of the current world and a new, perfect world is created

  -different beliefs around what the new world will look like e.g., the second coming of Christ
• Heaven's Gate

  -example of a NRM & millenarian movement & sect

  -had a charismatic leader

  -influenced people to commit suicide

  -moving from this world to the next
• NRMs: AO3

  -more inclusive term for sects & cults - do not play into the media

  -influenced people to return to religion

  -had a positive impact on mainstream christianity e.g., making services more interactive (charismatic leader)

  -NRMs are not new but has been a large growth since 1960s
• NAMs

  -not religious, focus on spirituality

  -world affirming

  -combine religious & paranormal traditions. Some are conventional (star signs), some are obscure

  -spread their message through media and shops e.g., crystal shops

  -consumer oriented

  -similar to cults
• examples - sect & cult

  church of latter day saints:

  -sect: closed belief system

  -world rejecting

  -believe in different levels of heaven

  -believe young girls are owned by the church

  
  

  Lifespring:

  -cult: open belief system

  -world affirming

  -focus on wellbeing
• sociologists - new age movements (+ example)

  -Heelas (1996): NAMs = 2 characteristics: self-spirituality; detraditionalisation

  -Bruce: NAMs have 5 features: emphasis on the self; everything is connected; self is the final authority; global cafeteria; therapy

  -example: astrology
• types of cults

  -audience cults: no formal membership, little interactions

  -client cults: more organisational, sell courses & therapy e.g., spiritualism

  -cultic/cult movements: most organised, committed members e.g., scientology
• world accommodating; world affirming; world rejecting

  -accommodating: focus on religious issues, broke away from churches & denominations

  -affirming: lack features of a typical religion

  -rejecting: clearly religious, conservative ideology
• example: Moonies

  -world rejecting (sect)

  -critical of outside world

  -Barker: studied why people joined the religion. Mixed methods. Mostly middle-class who didn't agree with mainstream norms & values
• Lifespan of sects

  Neibuhr: schism happen (break away from church); sect = created; sect = short lived; dies or becomes domination. 3 reasons: 2nd generation = not committed; 2nd generation = less critical of world; leader dies.

  -Stark & Brainbridge: schism happens; initial fervour (cross with world); denominationalism (fervour dies); establishment (become world accepting)
• AO3 - lifespan

  -Wilson: not all sects follow the lifespan outlined.

  -Adventists don't compromise.

  -Amish don't compromise.

  -Wilson: sees that golbalisation will make it harder for sects to separate from the mainstream world as info is spread easier.
• Growth of NRMS

  -disillusion with an established church/denomination: think the original religion has compromised their beliefs. Common in 1980s with evangelical denominations.

  
  

  -social change: turn to religion when anxious about social change. 19th century USA = Jehova's witnesses. 1960s-70s: world rejecting NRMs - young people = uni educated = more experimental with belief systems. Reject parents culture. 1990s: increase in world rejecting NRMs because of millennium e.g., Heavens Gate. Postmodernism: increase in (affirming) NRMs as people are disillusioned with meta-narratives.

  
  

  -types of deprivation: economic; status; organismic; ethical.

  
  

  -appeal of world affirming NRMs: decrease in traditional religion, interest in NAMs & cultish movements. 3 reasons: more uni educated; idea of inner spiritual perfection; turn to NAMs for answers.
• cathedral to church: Bruce

  -C15: one dominant church (catholic)

  -C16-17: more religious freedom

  -C18-19: scientific belief system

  -C20-21: choice in belief
• Jonestown - example

  -had a charismatic leader

  -small group

  -appeal to WC

  -world rejecting

  -no hierarchy

  -monopoly of truth