Types of religious organisation
- Created by: KCharlish
- Created on: 20-05-15 14:59
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- Types of religious organisations
- Church
- Membership - all inclusive, universal, open to all
- Organisation - complex, formal heirachy, professional clergy
- Monopoly of truth, only their teachings
- Accept the norms and values of wider society, closely linked with societies major institutions
- Denomination
- Not universalistic, recruited by self selection family traditions
- Professional clergy, heirachy is less complex than church - no popes/bishops
- Formal worship, less ritual than a church
- no claim on the truth, more tolerant of alternative beliefs, less demanding of their members
- Explicitly separate from the state
- No pressure to commit yourself to particular set of beliefs or regular attendance.
- Sect
- highly exclusive attitude, strong boundaries between themselves and wider society, membership has to be earned, exclude unworthy members
- lack professional clergy, no complex heirachy
- Rival/enemy of the church, claims monopoly of truth
- Critical of wider society, expect members to stand apart from it, discourage contact from non members
- members required to demonstrate strong involvement and commitment, tight social control, expulsion if fail to conform.
- Cult
- open to all, people can join or leave as they wish, no concept of membership
- loose organisational structure, charismatic leader
- no claim on truth, relatively tolerant of other organisations, welcoming of involvement with other groups
- Do not demand high levels of commitment, ask people to be open to the experience.
- Church
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