Download 3301 OH 13 - J. Scott Kenney

Sociology 3301: Sociology of Religion
Lecture 13: Organized Religion II:
Classifying Religious Organizations
 Since religious groups undergo a great deal of change as they
evolve, sociologists have categorized groups with much
similarity into ideal types: churches, sects, denominations, and
cults/NRMs.
 Weber stated that sects involve 3 traits:
(1) Membership is voluntary;
(2) It is limited to those who “qualify” for membership; and
(3) It involves a substantial commitment by members.
 A church, for Weber, is:
(1) A group that one is typically born into rather than choosing;
(2) Inclusive, encouraging all members of society to join; and
(3) Minimal commitment is required to remain a member.
 Ernst Troeltsch: the central characteristic of the church is its
acceptance of the secular order – including reproduction of its
social hierarchy within. Conversely, the sect tends to reject the
social order and to maintain a prophetic ministry.
 Niebuhr: emphasized the process of evolution between sect and
church and developed the concept of denomination, another type
that represents the midpoint on the continuum between sect and
church.
 Formality and orderliness (lack of spontaneity) were also marks
of the trend toward denominationalism – a reflection of
institutionalization- reflected in the tendency to a more sober,
literate, intellectual, and orderly style of worship as opposed to
the emotional expressiveness of sectarian worship.
 Niebuhr stressed that the existence of different denominations is
not due to mere ideological differences, but social stratification
1
 These formulations assume a high correlation among many
diverse factors. While perhaps accurate for many religious groups
in their day, it is possible to point to many groups now with some
features of the sect and others of the denomination.
 What such exceptions show the problem of all ideal types: a
significant number of groups do not seem to fit all the
characteristics of any one type. Then the question becomes:
which characteristics are most important in classifying a group?
Single-Variable Models
 Some suggest that tension or conflict with the dominant society
should be what distinguishes a sect. How to determine which or
how many conflicts matter? What about their intensity?
 What about how sectarian socialization offsets the potential for
conflict/non-conformity by inculcating societal values?
 What about complexity of organization and degree of
routinization?
 Regardless of the criteria, the trend today is towards simplified
definitions as opposed to the grand schemes of the past.
Yinger’s Multilinear Evolution Model:
* Yinger suggests 3 central social factors:
(1) The degree to which the membership policy of the group is
exclusive and selective or open and inclusive;
(2) The extent to which the group accepts or rejects the secular values
and structures of society; and
(3) The extent to which, as an organization, the group integrates a
number of local units into one national structure, develops professional
staffs, and creates a bureaucracy.
 The first two factors are very closely correlated: groups that
reject secular values tend to be exclusive and selective in their
membership policies (a closed social system). Those that accept
secular values also tend to be inclusive (an open social system).
2
 By using the first 2 factors as one axis of variation and the extent
of institutionalization as the other, Yinger developed a model that
suggests several different types of groups. His 2 dimensional
model can show the progression from sect to church, but also
shows that increased institutionalization may occur somewhat
independently.
 Much has to do with the group’s belief system. One that focuses
on sin and salvation will acculturate easily. Sects whose primary
concern is social evils and injustices are more likely to become
established sects rather than denominational bodies.
Social Conditions that Generate Each Type of Group:
* Niebuhr pointed to 4 factors that foster the emergence of new groups:
(1) Denominations that begin to ignore the original concerns of the
faith for poverty and inequality provide ground for sectarian groups to
arise from those lower in the social order;
(2) Groups that serve as expressions of ethnic values, national loyalties,
or racial identity, in effect providing a “belonging” function;
(3) Churches that get bogged down in bureaucratic structures foster a
desire for groups that are smaller, more informal, and less under the
control of professionals and their institutional constraints; and
(4) Sects can be spawned by a desire for more spontaneity and
emotional expression in worship than found in denominations that are
formal, orderly, and highly intellectual.
 Besides the above, whether and how a sect develops into a
denomination depends on how the larger society responds to the
new group. If it challenges key social values, the larger society
does not have a tradition of religious tolerance, and the sect
adopts a strategy of aggressive militancy, it will either be crushed
or have its antiestablishment posture reinforced as a sect. If
opposite conditions prevail, will be accommodated and become
acculturated rather quickly.
 Other factors that can play a part:
3
-
Separation of church and state
The internal belief system of the group
Ascetic theology
The economy
 Ultimately, the formation and evolution of any group is the result
of many interacting processes. Both internal and external factors
are at work in a group’s in affecting a given group’s
organizational evolution.
New Religious Movements, a.k.a. “Cults”
 The popular media and anti-cult movements use this term to
stigmatize NRMs, leading to much confusion.
 Sociologists have used the term to describe either:
(1) Urban, nonexclusive, loosely associated groups of people who,
as kindred spirits, may either hold some esoteric beliefs relative
to an aspect of reality, or belong to more conventional church
groups; or
(2) The beginning phase of an entirely new religion.
 Many now prefer the term NRM due to the stigma fostered above
for the latter.
 Some new term may also be needed to identify quasi-religious
movements that have little or no sense of group identification or
cohesion (e.g. “audience cults” or “client cults.”)
 Sects present themselves as something old, as returning or reestablishing an old faith. They claim to be the authentic, old faith
renewed. Cults, on the other hand, claim to be something new
relative to the other religious groups in society, often claiming a
new revelation or insight.
* There are several other characteristics common to NRM’s:
4
(1) While sects often place a strong emphasis on the authority of
existing scripture, NRMs more frequently stress mystical, psychic, or
ecstatic experiences, at times supplemented by new scriptures;
(2) The centrality of a charismatic leader in NRM’s.
* 3 ways that NRMs may emerge:
(1) Through the process of spontaneous sub-cultural evolution;
(2) Through the dynamic leadership of a charismatic leader who
genuinely believes in the veracity of his/her teachings; or
(3) Through the leadership of a charismatic “entrepreneur” who sees
religion as a money-making scheme.
 Other key considerations:
- NRMs tend more to appeal to the middle and upper classes and
sects to the lower.
- Relative hostility toward the group by traditional religious groups
in society, combined with the desire for legitimacy within the new
group.
- Both lack organizational complexity and reject at least some of the
values of the secular society. Yet the sect sees itself as one of
purifying the traditional faith, while NRMs represent the initial stage
of the development of a new or syncretistic religion.
- Sects can become denominational in form; NRMs either die out or
institutionalize into a new religion.
- Where traditional religious organizations are weak, NRM formation
is highest. Where religious tradition is strong and church
membership high, NRM formation is less common.
 Ultimately, theories about church to sect transformations are
generalizations about how this change normally occurs. They
may not precisely fit a given group – at least permanently.
5