2.7 Religious Organizations

• A church is defined as a large, formal religious organization with centralized authority
• A cult is often led by a charismatic leader
• The nature of beliefs and practices is a key difference between religious organization types.


  True
• What is the definition of a church in the context of religious organizations?

  Large, formal, centralized authority
• The key differences between religious organizations are their size, level of formality, relationship to traditions, and the nature of their beliefs and practices
• What type of formality characterizes a denomination?

  Semi-formal
• Match the social function of religious organizations with the organization type that exemplifies it:

  Providing meaning and purpose ↔️ Churches

  Promoting social cohesion ↔️ Denominations

  Maintaining social control ↔️ Sects

  Facilitating social change ↔️ Cults
• Cults maintain social control through the influence of a charismatic leader.


  True
• A church is a large, formal religious organization with open membership and centralized authority.


  True
• Match the type of religious organization with its definition:

  Church ↔️ Large, formal with centralized authority

  Denomination ↔️ Large, formal within tradition

  Sect ↔️ Small, tight-knit group separated from mainstream

  Cult ↔️ Small, unconventional group with unorthodox beliefs
• Churches are part of mainstream religion and have orthodox beliefs.
• Denominations often face the challenge of preserving their distinct identity within a broader religious tradition.


  True
• Pluralization in religious organizations involves the growth of diverse religious traditions and the increasing visibility of minority faiths.


  True
• What are religious organizations formally defined as?

  Structured groups promoting beliefs
• What distinguishes a sect from a broader religious organization?

  Strict or extreme beliefs
• Order the types of religious organizations by increasing level of formality:

  1️⃣ Cult

  2️⃣ Sect

  3️⃣ Denomination

  4️⃣ Church
• Sects have broken away from a larger religious tradition
• What is a key characteristic of a cult?

  Charismatic leader
• Churches are typically part of mainstream religion and adhere to orthodox beliefs.

  True
• Cults are often led by a charismatic leader and hold unconventional beliefs.

  True
• Churches maintain social control through centralized authority
• What is a key characteristic of a denomination's relationship to broader religious traditions?

  Part of mainstream religion
• Religious organizations are formal, structured groups that organize and promote religious beliefs and practices
• Sects are characterized by their strict beliefs and extremist practices.


  True
• Churches maintain social control through their centralized authority
• One modern trend in religious organizations is secularization, which refers to the decline of religious influence in society.
• Match the modern trend in religious organizations with its impact:

  Secularization ↔️ Declining membership and influence

  Pluralization ↔️ Increased competition and diversity

  Individualization ↔️ Difficulty maintaining orthodoxy and control
• A denomination is part of a broader religious tradition but has some distinct beliefs.

  True
• Match the type of religious organization with its characteristic:

  Church ↔️ Open membership

  Sect ↔️ Strict beliefs

  Cult ↔️ Unorthodox beliefs
• What is a common characteristic of cults regarding their beliefs?

  Unorthodox beliefs
• A denomination is a large, formal religious organization that is part of a broader religious tradition
• Order the types of religious organizations from largest to smallest in terms of membership size.

  1️⃣ Church

  2️⃣ Denomination

  3️⃣ Sect

  4️⃣ Cult
• Sects often hold more strict or extreme beliefs compared to larger religious organizations
• What type of beliefs do sects typically offer to their members?

  Strict, extreme beliefs
• Order the types of religious organizations from most formal to least formal in terms of structure.

  1️⃣ Church

  2️⃣ Denomination

  3️⃣ Sect

  4️⃣ Cult
• A cult is often led by a charismatic leader and holds unconventional beliefs
• The key differences between religious organizations are their size, level of formality, relationship to broader religious traditions, and the nature of their beliefs and practices
• Match the social function with the type of religious organization that best provides it:

  Providing meaning and purpose ↔️ Churches

  Promoting social cohesion ↔️ Denominations

  Maintaining social control ↔️ Sects

  Facilitating social change ↔️ Cults
• Match the type of religious organization with its key challenge:

  Church ↔️ Maintaining relevance and adapting to social change

  Denomination ↔️ Preserving distinct identity within tradition

  Sect ↔️ Resisting pressure to conform to mainstream

  Cult ↔️ Legitimacy and legal issues due to beliefs
• Arrange the modern trends in religious organizations from the most widespread to the most specific:

  1️⃣ Secularization

  2️⃣ Pluralization

  3️⃣ Individualization