Beliefs in Society- NRMs vs NAMs

Growth of NRMs

  • New Religious Movements (NRMs) include cults, sects and denominations of established religious organisations.

  • Gradual drift away from established organisations to denominations from Protestants reformation.

  • Expansion of NRMs in the mid to late 20thC, with increase of sect and cults forming as a response to rapid, wide-ranging social changes in society.

  • Social changes in society have led individuals to find alternatives to established religions.

Marginalisation

  • Weber argued that NRMs developed as a response to the marginalisation of individuals created by existing organisations pushing individuals to the margins of society.

  • Sought out explanations for their disadvantage position in society- “Theodicy of disprivilege”.

  • Often linked to rapid social changes and attitudes in society- e.g. Civil Rights movement.

  • Wallis explains the higher levels of young people in NRMs due to changing morns, values and attitudes of youth clash with the established ideas of mainstream society. E.g. anti-war and anti-capitalist protests.

  • 1960s counter- cultural movements saw increased membership of NRMs as there rejected dogmatic doctrines of traditional Christianity and offered otherworldly experience through alternatives attitudes to drugs, sexuality and freedom, which appealed to young, marginalised Americans.

Deprivation

  • Wallis argued that deprivation in society had led to individuals looking to NRMs for spiritual enrichment.

  • Reaction to materialistic view of capitalist society and inability to obtain- frustration towards towards this society, seeking personal fulfilment.

  • Sense of community offered by NRMs provides individuals with fulfilment that they cannot obtain through materialism.

  • McGuire- deprivation creates the conditions for individuals to turn away from established religions and turn to NRMs for explanations.

  • Stark and Bainbridge argue that schisms form between members of established churches based upon status.

  • Lower status leave and form own religious movements, built upon their own interpretations of religion.

Social changes

  • Wilson argues growth of NRMs are a result of changing social norms.

  • Individuals form NRMs when traditional religion fails to fulfil the needs of its members, as established religion do not change quickly enough for individuals.

  • Bruce argues failings of traditional religion to adapt to modern society led to people moving to NRMs. e.g. views on same-sex marriage.

  • Wallis argued social changes would lead to inevitable growth of NRMs:

Increased levels of education, Extension of youth, technological advancements, and radical political ideologies.

  • More time to challenge traditional ideas, and see new ideas.

Increase of supply of NRMs

  • Stark and Bainbridge take an economic view of the growth of NRMs.

  • Increased demand for NRMs will increase supply of NRMs.

  • Lead to more alternatives for individuals to explore- increasing demand further.

Evaluation

  • Rapid social changes of mid to late 20thC saw growth in NRMs.

  • Economic deprivation can lead to reaffirmation to traditional religious practices- Norris and Englehart- Existential security theory.

  • Social changes brought about by globalisation and growth of religious fundamentalism saw reaffirmation to traditional religious practice globally.

NAMs

  • New Age Movements (NAMs) differ from NRMs- NRMs had a long history of development that stems back to the Protestant reformation and are linked to religious belief systems.

  • NAMs incorporate elements of NRMs but has broader appeal and fewer ties to traditional religious beliefs.

  • Spiritual rather than religious movements.

Examples of NAMs

  • Reincarnation, astrology etc.

  • Shamanism

  • Paganism

  • Influence of Eastern philosophies and practices. e.g. Thai Chi, Yoga, Reiki.

  • Mysticism

  • Psychic healing and clairvoyance

  • Astrology, tarot card reading, runes.

Features of NAMs

  • Movement away from collectivism to individualism and self-improvement.

  • Post-modern ideologies of choosing spiritual practices that lead to reflexivity and enlightenment.

  • Tied to Postmodern era due to rejection of grand narratives put forward by established religions and how individuals can show agency in their beliefs.

  • Connection with nature, self as an extension of natural world.

  • Heelas referred to New age as a “holistic milieu”.

Rejection of modernity

  • Drane argued that NAMs grew as a reaction to the failings of institutions in period of modernity.

  • Distrust of traditional institutions leads individuals to look for personal truths- Heelas.

  • Emphasis on individualism in late modernity allows NAMs to become part of an individual’s identity.

NAMs and Modernity

  • Bruce argued that NAMs are a result if transition away from institutions in modern era.

  • Rejection of experts, individuals choosing to guide themselves based upon their own personal development.

  • Rise of NAMs are a symptom of secularisation- disenchantment.

Spiritual Revolution

  • Heelas et al saw NAMs as part of a spiritual revolution.

  • Individuals developed “subjective life” based upon consciousness and personal fulfilment.

  • Less emphasis on duty or roles and more on personal development.

Evaluation

  • Hervieu-Leger- concept of spiritual shopping supports the pick and mix nature of NAMs.

  • Decline in organised religious attendance correlates with rise in NAMs- highlight reflexivity and individualism increase,

  • NAMs can be seen to be an extension of capitalism into spiritual beliefs and largely confined to middle class- large financial commitments.

  • Spread of NAMs is a middle class phenomenon linked to weber’s Theodicy.