Religious organisations (NAMs, NRMs etc)

Created by

paige

Cards (26)

Definition of a church 
Large, established organisation that has a formal structure and a significant degree of integration into broader society
> promote social conformity and are inclusive
eg Roman Catholics, Jewish, Muslims
Definition of a denomination 
an organisation that is smaller than a church but still respects broader social order but doesn’t demand same level of total commitment as a sect.
> formed as a break away from a church
> coexist peacefully with other religious groups and society
eg The Methodist church
Definition of a sect 
a smaller, more exclusive religious group that has broke away from a larger organisation due to disagreements of beliefs or practices
> reject broader society and its norms + require high commitment
> usually voluntary membership with charismatic leaders
eg Jehovahs Witnesses and Amish
Definition of a cult 
new/unorthodox religious groups formed around a charismatic leader or new set of beliefs
> small with a loose organisational structure
> focus on individual experience, spiritual growth
> challenge established norms and values
eg Scientology and Heavens Gate
Definition of World-Affirming NRMs (Wallis) 
accept and affirm norms and values of wider society and aim to help individuals achieve success, happiness or spiritual fulfilment
> non exclusive and tolerant of other religions
eg Scientology
Definition of World-rejecting NRMs (Wallis) 
Highly critical of outside world and reject norms and values whilst viewing world as corrupt and evil
> demand high levels of commitment as members lie communally
> charismatic leader and strict behavioural rules
eg the moonies and the peoples temple
Definition of World-Accommodating NRMs (Wallis) 
don't reject or affirm the wider world - focus on spiritual/religious matters and claim individuals can achieve a deeper connection to divine without radical change
eg Neo-Pentecostalism (from Catholicism)
what NRM are young people most likely to join? 
world-rejecting
> lack commitment, unattached, looking for radical solutions, inclined to rebel, may be dissatisfied with the world
What NRM are mc married people most likely to join? 
world-affirming
> look for certainty and success, look for spirituality in material world, need for security
why have NRMs grown? 
Relative deprivation
Marginalisation
Social change
Pragmatic motives
Spiritual void
relative deprivation to grow NRMs 
Stark and Bainbridge:
people feel deprived compared to others (media)
> mc struggle to keep up with those who have more - feel stressed
> turn to spirituality for support
eg. ’harder for a rich man to enter heaven than a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
Marginalisation to grow NRMs 
Weber:
feeling on the outskirts of society (poverty, discrimination)
> sects appeal - offer acknowledgement of suffering and explains why
> reward promised for keeping faith despite difficulty
Theodicy of disprivilege - explanation and justification for suffering
Social change to grow NRMs 
Wilson:
> anomie (loss of norms) creates uncertainty and insecurity
> most affected by disruption turn to sects as a solution
Bruce:
due to social change in modernisation and secularisation
> church and strict sects require too much commitment - join cults as they’re less demanding
Pragmatic motives to grow NRMs 
people join groups to simply seek happiness
> sects or NRMs that offer a calm, stress free, simple life appeal
Spiritual void to grow NRMs  
some people join groups to fill a spiritual part of life missing from mainstream
> feel something missing from life, look for in spirituality
Niebuhr - why sects don’t last 
1 . 2nd gen break away, have less commitment
2 . Successful sects members tempted to join mainstream world
3 . Charismatic leaders die
Stark and Bainbridge (sectarian cycle) 
1 . Schism - tension = break away by some
2 . Initial fervour - charismatic leader forms new sect
3 . Denominationalism - fervour (intense feeling) cools
4 . Establishment - new group settles, more accepting
5 . Further schism - another break-away
Wilson criticised sectarian cycle w 2 responses: 
1 . Coversionist sects - aim to convert large numbers of people, more likely to grow and become denominations
2 . Adventist sects - 7th day Adventist or Jehovahs Witnesses - believe they must remain separate from the world to prevent becoming corrupted by the world
Definition of new age movements (NAMs) 
diverse spiritual practices and beliefs that offer alternatives to traditional religions, emphasising personal growth, self-spirituality and individual experiences
Examples of NAMs 
palm reading
crystals
fortune telling
yoga/meditation
positive affirmations
Trends of NAMs 
increased - 25,000 new religious groups in Europe
(12,000 in UK)
Difficult to estimate as:
> members don’t formally register
> groups have disbanded but organisations still have devotees
> organisations based overseas
> commitment required varies
Heelas and Woodhead 2 themes of growth of NAMs 
1 . self spirituality - looking inside to find contentment
2 . de-traditionalisation - reject hierarchy and interpreted texts
eg UFOs, astrology, crystals, yoga, meditation
Drane and growth of NAMs 
increase due to postmodernity - science as a meta-narrative failed
> people find own way (pilgrims)
Heelas and Woodhead - women and NAMs 
women = more likely to be involved due to natural links to nature + healing
> women are more cooperative and caring and not as aggressive as men
> men look for power in God vs women look for support and care
Holistic milieu - 80% involved in Kendal project = women
> status and healing
Bruce - women and NAMs 
men want to achieve, women want to express and heal
> not postmodern just ’late modernity’
> new age part of choices always been available
Criticisms of NAMs 
> gender stereotyping - individuals may have caring/aggressive traits not related to gender
> what people get from religion = personal and cannot be defined