Download The New Typology

The New Typology
New Religious Movements, The New Age Movement and
Religious Fundamentalism
New Religious Movements
1. NRMS
Learning Objectives
• Explain at least three reasons why it is difficult to measure
membership of NRMs.
Describe three types of NRM:
• World affirming
• World rejecting
• World accommodating
• Identify contemporary examples for each type of NRM
• Explain four reasons for the appeal of NRMs.
L Ron Hubbard
“You don’t get rich writing science fiction. If you want to get rich,
start a religion.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9YQVJXaNK8
What is an NRM?
NRM = “New Religious Movement”
• Sociologists today often use this term in place of ‘sect’ or
‘cult’.
• In 2005, it was estimated that there were up to 25,000 new
religious groups in Europe.
• Over 12,000 UK Citizens (around 0.028%) of the population
were recorded as members of an NRM. However, accurately
measuring membership of NRMs is very difficult.
Discuss: Pairs
You are sociologists, wanting to find out how many people in the
UK are members of NRMs.
• Identify three ways that you could go about this.
• For each way, identify one problem.
Ext:- Identify two further problems in finding out how many people are
involved in NRMs.
Difficulties in measuring
membership
1. Many NRMs do not register their members
2. NRMs are often short-lived – but some followers continue to
practise the beliefs and techniques
3. Many NRMs are based overseas, making it difficult to access
data on UK members
4. Many only require a ‘part-time’ commitment. Casual, parttime members are more difficult to trace than those who
devote themselves full-time.
Homework (Due: Next Lesson)
You need to visit two websites: The first is INFORM, the second
is THE KENDAL PROJECT (there are links to both on the NC
Sociology website; just highlight the ‘Religion in Society’ section
on the top menu).
• Examine both websites and, for each, write a short account
(either on your blog, or for direct submission) describing the
purpose of the website, the views of its makers and at least
one interesting thing you learned from your visit.
The Kendal Project website offers unique opportunities for A Level
Sociology students to conduct a piece of research and have their findings
published. If you want to be involved in this, discuss with me.
Types of NRM
Wallis (1984) divided NRMs into three types:
1. World Affirming
2. World Rejecting
3. World Accommodating
You need to be able to identify all three and be able to
compare and contrast the differences between them.
World-Rejecting NRM
Check your notes:
What similarities
are there
between this type
of NRM and
sects/cults?
• Very critical of the outside world
• Members must show complete obedience to the leadership
(often a single, charismatic leader)
• The only source of salvation and truth
• Millenarian (they expect some kind of divine intervention will
change the world).
Unification Church
Hare Krishna
Aum Supreme
Truth
World-Affirming NRMs
• Accept the world as it is, but show people how to get more
out of the world by unlocking their potential.
• Often very expensive; people pay for enlightenment.
• Often seem more like therapy groups than traditional
religions, helping people find their ‘true’ selves.
• Appeal mainly to the middle-classes, or wealthier people.
Church of Scientology
Transcendental Meditation
World-Accomodating NRMs
• Usually offshoots of existing churches or denominations.
• Encourage members to remain within wider society, even if
critical of society becoming too secular.
• Offer stronger, more direct experiences of God (e.g. speaking
in tongues).
Neo-Pentecostalism
Small Groups: Research /
Presentation
• Transcendental Meditation
• David Koresh & Branch Davidians
• Aum Shinri Kyo (Supreme Truth Sect)
• Church of Satan
• Unification Church (Moonies)
For each of the above, find out what they believe
and identify the features that would enable you
to categorise them as a sect or cult, and/or a
type of NRM (15 mins research – then present)
Written Task – 15 mins
Identify and explain two types of New
Religious Movement [17]
Discuss
• Why do you think NRMs appeal to
people?
• On your mini-whiteboards, identify
three reasons why people might join
an NRM.
The Appeal of NRMs
Reason
Explanation
Pragmatic Motives
•
•
Spiritual Void
•
•
Marginality
•
•
Relative Deprivation
•
•
Promise of financial/romantic success +
happiness
Applies to world-affirming type
Neither science or religion can explain
everything (grand narrative)
People ‘shop around’ for a new belief
system that makes sense to them
People feel that they don’t matter in
society…
…So seek a theodicy that offers ultimate
salvation
People feel their lives lack the fulfilment
that other people enjoy…
…An NRM might offer this fulfillment.
The Appeal of World-Rejecting
Movements
• Wallis (1984) says they appeal to the unattached (people
who are no longer children, but have no adult
responsibilities), caused by extended school-leaving ages
and accessibility to HE.
• They offer radical solutions to social and personal
problems.
• Barker (1984) said the Moonies acted as a surrogate
family.
• These NRMs have high ‘drop-out’ patterns, suggesting
that the needs they fill are temporary.
The Appeal of World-Affirming
Movements
• Appeal most to attached adults.
• Returns magic and wonder to our rational world.
• Enable people to attain personal growth.
Homework
New religions only appeal to
vulnerable people
Write a short (500-1000) word essay or blog evaluating this
statement, using concepts and studies from this unit.
Due: This time next week!
New Age Movements
2. NAMS
Learning Objectives
• Describe the difference between spirituality and religion.
• Describe at least two explanations for the rise of the New Age.
• Identify the key themes of New Age Movements.
• Explain the differences between an audience cult and a client
cult.
The New Age
• The New Age is a spiritual movement that developed (mainly)
in the late 1970s/early 1980s in Western societies.
• The rise and appeal of NRMs can be linked to the New Age…
• …However, the term New Age Movement (NAM) is also used
separately, to describe the growing number of groups who
consider themselves spiritual rather than religious.
Discuss: What’s the difference between being ‘spiritual’ and
being ‘religious’?
Defining Spirituality
(Heelas & Woodhead; 2005)
Life-As
• Conforming to external authority
• Fulfilling duties and obligations
Subjective Life
• Living according to your own
passions, emotions, dreams and
states of mind.
Heelas & Woodhead believe that, in societies like the UK, our culture has shifted
from life-as to subjective life. ‘Life-As’ fits in more with belonging to a religion.
Subjective life equals spirituality – finding meaningful ways to live out your
passions, emotions, dreams, mental states etc.
They use the term holistic milieu to refer to activities that a spiritual but not
religious, and these activities (e.g. meditation) are growing in popularity.
Based on the findings of their Kendal Project, they believe this growth will
continue.
Why is ‘Spirituality’
Increasing?
What do these
things have in
common?
Why is ‘Spirituality’
Increasing?
Resacrilization:
The process by which people reject traditional religious
explanations of spirituality, as well as scientific
explanations of the world in order to achieve personal,
spiritual fulfilment.
This idea can be linked to a growing desire to bring back the
‘magic’ and ‘wonder’ that has been taken away due to scientific
explanations for everything.
Some people turn to cinema, video games, books etc. to counter
this – other make life-changing commitments to spiritual
behaviour.
Features of NAMs
(Aldridge, 2000)
Feature
Explanation
Rejection of scientific methodology
•
They prefer personal truths instead of objective
‘facts’
Questioning of professional expertise
•
They believe so-called ‘professionals’ have
closed their eyes to ancient wisdoms
Rejection of organised religion
•
They do not like the authority structure of
organised religions
Commitment to ecology
•
The are ‘green’ and worship the Earth
Affirmation of feminine imagery
•
They don’t like the way women are treated by
organised religions
New Age movements often see the female as
sacred and use ‘Goddess’ imagery
•
Glossary Check:
How Many Can You Define?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Astrology
Crystal Healing
Cult Apologists
Holistic Milieu
Deprogrammers
Millenarian
Pragmatic Motives
Resacrilization
Speaking in Tongues
Surrogate Family
Tarot Readings
Two Types of NAM
(Bruce,1996)
Audience Cult
Not much face-to-face interaction;
members unlikely to know each other.
Contact mainly via internet/mass media
or occasional conferences.
Produce lots of books and often run
therapy groups.
Client Cult
Offer particular services to followers;
often particular therapies, or face-toface sessions.
Often establish a relationship between
‘consumer’ and ‘seller’.
Also produce lots of books.
Example: Astrology; UFO Believers
Example: Tarot Readings; Crystal
Healing; Psychic Mediums
Written Task
Identify and explain two explanations for the
growth of the ‘New Age’ [17]
(15 mins)
Back to basics…
3. FUNDAMENTALISM
Learning Objectives
• Define religious fundamentalism
• Outline the origins of fundamentalism
• Identify and explain seven features of fundamentalism
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xtfgxo_the-most-hatedfamily-in-america_shortfilms
What is Fundamentalism?
• Bruce (2000) – a religion that calls for a return to the
fundamentals of a faith; claims that a sacred text should
be the basis for regulating a society.
• Fundamentalism is widespread and growing, which
undermines the secularisation theory.
• The term is often used in a derogatory way, to describe
religious fanatics (Davie).
Where does Fundamentalism
come from?
• Bruce (2000) – it is caused when a religious group feels
threatened by modernisation and secularisation. It is more
likely to occur when:
• The religion has a single sacred text
• There is a common enemy (e.g. some Muslim groups regard
the USA as an enemy)
• The religion has no central source of authority (e.g. The Pope
is a central source of authority for Catholics)
• There are many potential recruits who feel threatened or
disillusioned with the world or their society.
Discuss: Do these conditions match what we have
seen of the Westboro Baptist Church?
Where does Fundamentalism come from?
Almond et al (2003) claim the following
factors help:
Pairs: For each of
these, offer one
explanation as to how
it could contribute to
the growth of
fundamentalism
Charismatic Leader
Features of Fundamentalism
Feature
Explanation
Interpret sacred texts literally
The reject liberal ‘intellectualism’; they believe
every word of their holy texts are completely true.
Reject Religious Pluralism
They believe tolerating other faiths waters down
their own; see the world as “us” and “them”
Personally experience God
They define everything as ‘sacred’, therefore
experience their God in everything
Oppose modernity
They do not believe their beliefs should adapt to
the modern world
Promote patriarchal values
The believe their God intends for people to live in
heterosexual societies, with male leaders
Respond to inequality
They offer solutions to desperate or dejected
people
Make use of modern
technology
They use television, the internet, radio, modern
weaponry to spread and enforce their message
Use blank
grid in
workbooks!
Example 1: Christian Fundamentalism
(Ammerman; 2003)
• The ‘Moral Majority’ were part of a revival of Christian
Fundamentalism in the USA.
• The movement arose through fears of developments in the
USA, specifically divorce, internet pornography, adultery in
the White House etc.
• The aim is to bring God to the centre of American society.
Example 2: Islamic Fundamentalism
(Armstrong; 2001)
• Arose because Western ideas and modernisation had failed to
work in Muslim countries.
• Groups within such countries believe they are under threat
from the secular values of the West and so have to fight to
preserve their own values.
Written Task
Religious Fundamentalism is dangerous!
Write a short (500-1000) word essay or blog evaluating this view, using
concepts and studies covered in this unit as well as contemporary examples.
Due in: This time next week!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBA6qlHW8po