religious organisation

• CHURCH

  inclusive membership - accept everyone in the population

  large scale

  linked to the state and ideologically conservative

  based on a hierachy of truth

  claim MOT and born into the church

  accept society values and attract R/C as priests are mostly wealthy
• CHURCH AO3

  church of england no longer claims MOT

  churches dont always support e/c or state eg/ church of england clashed with conservative in 80s on issues of poverty
• SECT

  eg. peoples temple - small exclusive groups led by charismatic leader

  claim MOT with exclusive membership and total commitment

  reject society norms and want to change them

  intolerant of other groups and attract ethnic and w/c

  'sinister sects'

  ao3 - some may fit this typology some may not
• DENOMINATION

  middle ground of church and sects but closer to church eg. jenovah witnesses

  smaller than church bigger than sect

  not linked to state largely accepting society values but dont celebrate festivals

  no MOT and membership open to all

  attract w/c
• CULT

  eg. scientology

  least organised, inclusive and flexible with no MOT

  emphasise 'inner peace of the individual' rather than external God

  led by practitioners who claim special knowledge to help followers

  individualistic expensive courses to help personal relationships

  attract m/c and women