topic 6- religious organisations

religious organisations

E: Troeltsch- two types of religious org → churches ( large bureaucratic hierarchy) and sects (small exclusive groups) → both believe they have monopoly on truth

R: Niebuhr- denominations are in between → less exclusive but don’t appeal to all of society & cults which are led by a charismatic leader and are world affirming

C: Bruce- view of religious monopoly only applies to catholic church before the 16th century protestant reformation

NRMs

E: Wallis- world accommodating- breakaways from existing churches, want to restore purity to faith, members live normal lives eg. Pentecostalism

world rejecting- similar to sects, critical of outside world, members must break from old life, movement controls life eg. Moonies

world affirming- unlike other religious groups, don’t have collective worship, not organised, limited contact, offer access to spiritual or supernatural powers eg. Scientology

R: world affirming has been most successful → in 2005 Scientology had 165,000 members in the UK compared to 1200 Moonies

C: Stark and Bainbridge- religious organisations should be distinguished by tension or conflict between the group and wider society

deprivation

E: Weber- sects draw members from the oppressed by offering a theodicy of disprivilege → justification for their suffering

R: Stark and Bainbridge- world rejecting sects offer compensation for deprivation experienced in this world

C: Bruce- ignore the role of ideological or moral dissatisfaction with mainstream religion

social change

E: Wilson- periods of change undermine norms and values and create anomie → people turn to sects as a response to the uncertainty

R: Bruce- growth of sects and cults is due to secularisation as they are less rigid and require less commitment

C: Barker- rise of sects often due to charismatic leader and recruitment techniques

long term sects

E: Niebuhr- sects often die out as second generation lacks same level of commitment or death of charismatic leader kills it or it gets a bureaucratic leadership and becomes a denomination

R: Stark and Bainbridge- after sects have been established it is likely to experience denominationalism (due to factors Niebuhr mentions) and becomes more world accepting → some then break away to form sect more true to original message

C: Wilson- many sects eg. Mormonism have been successful in socialising the second generation and have become established sects 

gender differences in religion

E: Greely- women turn to religion as a source of gender identity and that role in taking care of family increases religiosity as they’re concerned with others ultimate welfare 

R: Davie- through child bearing and caring for the elderly women are closer to the ultimate questions

C: Woodhead- explanation leans too much on gender expectations that women are inherently more nurturing and spiritual

women and NRMs

E: Woodhead- women like NRMs as they appeal to the individual sphere and autonomy

R: Brown- NRMs emphasise subjective experiences rather than external authority appeal to womens desire for autonomy 

C: Bruce- w/c women like ideas which give them a passive role like an all powerful God due to their fatalistic ideals 

ethnicity and religion

E: Herberg- high levels of religious participation amongst first gen immigrants to help them transition into new culture

R: Pryce- study of African Caribeans in Bristol → Pentacoastalism helped them adapt to society by encouraging self reliance and giving them a community

C: Bird- can be way to preserve original culture in a racist society eg. founding black churches

age and religiosity

E: Voas and Crocket- those 65+ have highest level of church attendance → as you approach death you are more focused on the ultimate questions and past misdeeds

R: Arweck and Beckford- collapse of religious socialisation means younger gen don’t go to church

C: Davie- religious belief can remain without belonging