Belief in Society

• low commitment
• inclusive group so anybody can become a member
• Monopoly- only one way to god
• Hierarchical
• Respectable in society and also has a close link to the state
• World accommodating: accept and support dominat values in society
• Examples: Catholics and Islam 

• No commitment
• Highly individualistic
• Tolerant of others
• Customers rather than members
• Often short lived
• No claim to monoploy of religious truth
• Exampes: Scientology 
• 3 categotries of cult - Stark and Bainbridge
  • Audience - no contact required
  • Client
  • Cultic Movement
• World affirming - accept society as it is
• Examples - Raelians, Scientology 

• No relationship to state
• Reject norms and values of society
• Organisational state - charamastic leader
• Monopoly
• Exclusive membership
• Seen as deviant
• No hierarchial structure
• World rejecting: many reject dominant values in society and replace them with their alternate beliefs 
• Examples: Moonies

• Inclusive so anyone can join
• Don't claim to be monopoly
• Has a hierarchical structure
• Higher commitment than a Church but lower than a sect
• Has no links to the state
• World accommodating: generally accept wider society and its values, but can be more critical of society than churches
• Examples: Methodist 

• Introduced by Barker 
• Reasons:
  • Stimga - sect and cult used as insults to unusal religions
  • Genunine confusion - share commone features
  • Used for any religion that clearly isn't a church or denomination
  • Useful fore religions emerging after WW2
  • Concerned with spirituality, supernatural, purpose of life and life after death
  • A very broad and diverse group

• Key features
  • Emeraged after WW2
  • Monoploistic
  • Leader often charismatic - also the founder
  • Size is relatively small
  • self selecting - first generation but high turnover
  • Attracts young adults 
  • Short lived - world rejecting
  • Leaders dies = group ends
  • Society may be hostile towards the NRM

• Bruce - 5 features of NAMs
  • focus on finding inner selff
  • Everything is connected - holistic
  • Your individual truth is what counts - true to yourself
  • Global criteria
  • Therapy  - make you more successful 

Salvation comes from external Gods who accepts you

Salvation comes from discovering and perfecting your spirtual self

Use God driven holy texts

Uses various sources

Set rituals/services

Informal groups replace sermons

Central organisation

Casual organisation

Have follwers led by strong leaders

Have memebers