17. Growth of Movements

• Theodicy of disprivilege


  a religious explanation for their suffering eg. stating it is a test of faith
• What did Weber say about marginality?


  sects tend to arise in groups who are marginalised in society, people who aren't benefiting economically or socially from the current system

  sects offer their members a theodicy of disprivilege

  the Nation of Islam successfully recruited disadvantaged black people in the usa

  however recently world-rejecting nrms have focused more on affluent groups eg. the moonies
• What did Wallis say to criticise marginalisation?


  many of the people in recent sects were still marginalised e.g. through being hippies or addicts so this doesn't contradict weber's view
• What did Wallis say about relative deprivation?


  middle-class people often feel spiritually deprived, especially in a capitalist society that can be perceived as impersonal and lacking in morality

  this promotes sects for their community and spirituality
• What did Stark & Bainbridge say about relative deprivation?


  relatively deprived break away from churches to form sects in response to churches compromising religious beliefs eg. the deprived trying to emphasise the bible's teaching on extreme wealth
• What did Wilson say about Social Change?


  periods of rapid change undermine established norms and produce anomie

  one response to this disruption is to turn to sects which are more constant as they reject changes to religious practice eg. the growth of methodism in response to industrial revolution insecurity
• What did Bruce say about social change (casual cultism)?

  sects and cults are more popular due to the social change of modernisation and secularisation

  people are less attracted to traditional church or strict sects because of the commitment and so prefer 'casual cultism' as it requires less sacrifice
• The growth of NRMs

  world rejecting - wallis - social change gave young people freedom from adult responsibility and led to the creation of a counter-culture, while radical movements created new ideas of the future. these movements offered an alternative way of life

  bruce - the failure of counter-cultures leads to the disillusion that draws people to religion

  worl affirming - bruce - grows as a response to modernity and the rationalisation of work which no longer provides a source of identity unlike the protestant work ethic. these movements provide a sense of identity
• Middle ground movements (Wallis)


  'movements of the middle ground' like the jesus freaks have grown since the 1970s and attracted disillusioned former members of world-rejecting movements because they provide a halfway house between the movement and a conventional lifestyle
• Denomination or death (Niebuhr)


  sects are short-lived and either die out or are compromised to develop into a denomination due to ~

  second generation - born into the sect and lack their parents' commitment

  protestant ethic effect - ascetic sects become upwardly mobile which makes members more likely to compromise with the world

  death of the leader - sects with charismatic leaders collapse after their death or are transformed by a more formal leader
• The Sectarian cycle (Stark & Bainbridge)


  religious organisations move through a cycle (1-2 years)

  1. schism - initial breakaway from an established church

  2. initial excitement - initial passion for the sect's beliefs & tension with the mainstream society

  3. denominationalism - finds its place amongst society & coolness of 2nd generation members lessens the break with the mainstream

  4. establishment - sect becomes more world-accomodating

  5. Members either breakaway to form a new sect, join a mainstream religion or remain (further schism)
• What did Wilson say about established sects?


  some sects have survived over many generations by becoming established sects as they have successfully socialised their children into a high level of commitment contrary to nieburh's theory eg. the amish

  globalisation will make it harder for future sects to maintain separation from the outside world

  however may make it easier to convert members in developing countries where the message is most attractive as shown by the popularity of pentecostalism
• What did Heelas say about the growth of the new age?


  estimates that there are 2000 new age activities and 146000 practicioners in the uk