2. Churches – Ernst Troeltsch (1912)
Bureaucratic – closely linked to the sate.
Hierarchal power structure – paid officials
are wealthy and have a large amount of
power & influence within society e.g
Archbishop of Canterbury
Conservative, Worldly accommodating –
accept the dominant norm of society &
generally support the status quo
#Secularisation away from tradition within the
church e.g female bishops & gay marriage.
Universal – requires only a belief, no
demonstrations required.
Religious Monopoly – Claims complete
control over religious doctrine. #Only
applies to the Catholic church before the 16th
century Protestant reformation
3. Denomination – H.R Niebuhr
Breakaway movements from the church.
Democratic - more equality in the division
of authority.
Integrated into the social & economic
structure of society. Worldly
accommodating.
Tolerant of other denominations.
Membership = less exclusive. Doesn’t
appeal to the social majority due to
restrictions e.g Methodism: alcohol
abstinence.
4. Sects – Ernst Troeltsch
Egalitarian – power shared.
Charismatic leader – a face to
promote the fringe belief system.
Intolerant – Exclusive rather than
inclusive.
World rejecting – highly critical of
the outside world.
Outer-worldly – benefits include
entrance to heaven.
Radical –Members expected to
withdraw from a conventional life
in society. They devise their own
societies and live communally.
Attracts marginalised groups.
5. Wilson (‘82) Types of Sect:
Revolutionists – Foresee a second coming
of Jesus Christ and an Armageddon.
Millenarian movement e.g Seventh Day
Adventists.
Introversionists – Withdraw from society,
forming separate societies e.g Amish.
Thaumaturigical – Offer miracles & magic
healing e.g Necromancy, Astrology.
6. Cults – Steve Bruce
Loose structure – they lack rigid
structures such as collective worship
and strict dogmas.
Individualistic – offer opportunities
and success through spiritual
teachings.
Worldly- affirming - Followers
continue to live normal lives.
This-worldly – benefits include
prospering career & relationships.
Tolerant – open membership, sold as
a service.
Attracts the higher socio-economic
class.
Scientology
Tom Cruise
7. Stark & Bainbridge (‘85) 3 types of Cults:
Audience Cults – Individualistic &
organised and usually sustained through
the media e.g Astrology.
Client Cults – organised and provide a
service to clients e.g
clairvoyance/spiritualism.
Cultic movements – overlap with sects.
Offer spiritual & material rewards to
followers e.g Scientology.
#Overlap #Similarities & differences
8. Similarities & Differences
Churches Denominations Sects Cults
How they see
themselves
Intolerant -
Interpretation
of faith is the
only
legitimate
one.
Tolerant –
Multiple valid
interpretation
s
Intolerant-
Interpretation
of faith is the
only
legitimate
one.
Tolerant –
Multiple valid
interpretation
s.
How they are
viewed by
society
Legitimate
and
respectable
Legitimate
and
respectable
Deviant Deviant
# Confusion between sects & cults portrayed by the media. Cults now have
unnecessary negative connotations.
Popularity – Scientology, a world-affirming cult had 165,000 UK members in 2005
compared to 1,200 world-rejecting moonies #+world affirming.
9. Reasons for increase in New
Religious movements (NRMs)
+800 NRMs, with <half a million members.
Marginality – Weber: offers an explanation
for suffering and promises a better
afterlife(theodicy of disprivilege). Bellah:
Black American Muslims found support &
friendship. Abandonment of slave names
and replacement with Muslim names e.g
Cassius Clay -> Muhammad Ali (boxer)
# Barker: study of Moonies. Most members were from
happy, affluent MC backgrounds. <# Counter argument
from Wallis: Marginalised MC hippies & drug use..
10. Relative Deprivation – Materially secure however
spiritually deprived leads to a spiritual vacuum.
Stark & Bainbridge (‘85): When the MC
compromise beliefs in order to mould into a
materialistic society, those who feel relatively
deprived break away from churches to form sects
to safeguard the original intentions of the
message.
E.g economically deprived stress the relevance of
Mark 10:25 – It is easier for a camel to go through
the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter
the Kingdom of God.
Deprived -> world rejecting denominations/sects,
the after life = compensation
Wealthy -> world accepting churches/cults =
further success (#protestant work ethic)
11. Social change – Wilson (’82): In times of rapid
change and anomie, individuals turn to
religious movements that offer security and
certainty e.g 18th Century revolution ->
Methodism -> social solidarity.
Secularisation – Bauman (‘92) Conflicting
ideologies & beliefs in a postmodern world ->
‘crisis of meaning’ ->join NRMs to retain sense
of control.
Globalisation & Media – increased
awareness of NRMs & greater access e.g
magazine horoscopes. Religion becoming
fashionable.
