Typologies of Religious Organisations
What to typologies of organisations tend to be?
'Ideal types'
How does Bruce define a cult?
'Loosely knit group around common interests but lacking any sharply defined belief system'
Give two ways that the People's Temple could be seen as a cult
1) Charismatic Leadership 2) Died out with leader - did not become a denomination
In what three ways does Bruce 1996 question Troeltsch's 1931 definition of a church?
1) Churches today no longer hold a monopoly of truth - tolerates religious pluralism (his definition only applies to Catholicism before Protestant Reformation in 16th Century) e.g. Jehovahs 2) Churches are not always in support of the state - e.g. Liberation Theology in South America (Catholicism Vs Poverty), Shiite Muslims in Middle East 3) Churches do not have the majority of the population - 2005 only 870,000 members of CofE/secularisation/privatisation of religion
In terms of religious organisations, what 3 things are sociologists interested in?
1) Different types of religious organisation 2) How they develop 3) Who joins them
Give three ways in which a sect is the 'polar opposite' of a church
1) Small, voluntary group 2) Children must join voluntarily as adults, not born into a sect 3) Critical of mainstream society
Give four characteristics of a sect, as identified by Troeltsch
1) Small, voluntary group 2) Monopoly of truth 3) Critical of mainstream society 4) Charismatic leadership
Give two reasons why People's Temple may be seen as a sect
1) Strong level of integration 2) World rejecting
List four defining features of a CULT, as referred to by Bruce
1) Tolerant of other religions 2) Charismatic leader 3) Reclusive, often withdrawn from society 4) Usually have 'followers' rather than 'members'
Identify three similarities between a church and a denomination
1) Wallis: Both are world accommodating 2) Both have a hierarchy of paid officials 3) Both identify with all members of society
Identify three differences between a CHURCH and a DENOMINATION
1) denomination requires stronger commitment of their members 2) denominations have some lay preachers 3) denominations do not have universal appeal 4) denominations do not hold a monopoly of truth
What is meant by an 'ideal type'?
A model of a pure type that contains essential features, by doesn't exist in such a pure form in the real world
According to Bruce, what do cults lack?
A sharply defined belief system
What is meant by 'typology'?
A way of classifying groups into or types according to their characteristics
How does Troeltcsch refer to the church?
As a large religious organisation
How do people often enter the church?
Born into it
While it is not possible to establish an ideal type of organisation, what IS it possible to do?
Broadly distinguish between them
Who defines cults?
Bruce
According to Troeltsch, what is the organisational structure of the church?
Bureaucratic Hierarchy of paid officials
What is the structure of a denomination?
Bureaucratic hierarchy of paid officials, but with some lay preachers
Which two types of religious organisation did Troeltsch distinguish between?
Church and Sect
According to Niebuhr, what is a denomination midway between?
Church and a Sect
How does Wallis (1974) see the attitudes towards churches and denominations in wider society compared to sects and cults?
Churches and Denominations seen as legitimate and acceptable; Sects and Cults seen as deviant
How is a church universal?
Encourages all members of society
Who was the first to distinguish between types of religious organisation in 1931?
Ernst Troeltsch
Why can Niebuhr's definition of a denomination not apply to the USA?
He based it on 16th century Europe - cannot describe variety of religious pluralism in USA
Give two examples of a sect
Jehovah's Witnesses People's Temple
What does Bruce see as the defining feature of a denomination?
Lack of monopoly of truth
Why might organisations not fit into an 'ideal type'?
May combine different elements of each type, may change over time
Give an example of a denomination and how they require strong committment
Methodists do not allow alcohol or gambling
What do churches often claim?
Monopoly of truth
How are denominations and cults similar?
Neither have a monopoly of truth
Which sociologist identified typologies of DENOMINATIONS in 1929?
Niebuhr
What kind of characteristics my a typology be based on? (5)
Organisational structure, attitudes towards wider society, relationship with the state, size, type of membership
Give a modern example of how the Church is often closely related to the state
Queen as head of Church of England and head of state
Give two examples of a cult
Scientology Transcendental Meditation
What do denominations broadly accept?
Societies values
What are Churches usually likely to support?
Status Quo
Who criticizes Troeltsch's definition of a church? When?
Steve Bruce in 1996
What is required of a member of a denomination, that wouldn't be required by a member of a church, according to Niebuhr?
Strong committment
What are sects the 'polar opposite' of, according to Troeltsch?
The Church
Who is a church often closely connected to?
The state
What do people not need to demonstrate in order to get into a church?
Their faith (e.g. Protestants Justification by Faith Alone)
Why did sects break away from their original churches?
They disagreed with the interpretation of religion
Why does Troeltsch say churches are usually connected to the state?
They stabilize political order
What do denominations NOT have?
Universal appeal
Although they are inclusivist, who are usually attracted to cults?
Upper wage earners who are dissatisfied with life
Who was Ernst Troeltsch influenced by?
Weber
How would Wallis categorize a sect?
World Rejecting
How does Wallis' typology see Churches?
World accomodating
Explain what is meant by a 'monopoly of truth'
the view of the organisation that only their view of the world is correct
