Religious organisations

?

Church

  • A well established religious organisation
  • Troeltsch - church refers to a large religious organisation
  • churches usually have four main features:

1. claim of a monopoly over the truth

2. A complex and rigid hierarchy

3. A close relationship to the state

4. Are closely intergrated into mainstream society

  • Bruce - Troetlsch's points dont always apply to todays churches beauces there is religious pluralism
1 of 6

Sects

  • Small radical religious movements
  • people who are disatisfied with mainstream religion can be attracted to a sect
  • they are often formed by people splitting off from a church
  • claim a monopoly over the truth and are intolerant towards other groups 
  • have no complex hierarchy but often have a charismatic leader
  • members follow with total commitment
  • sects are seperate from the state
2 of 6

Denominations

  • They are subsets of churches
  • dont usually claim a monopoly over the truth
  • they have a hierarchy but it isnt usually complex
  • reasonably large membership 
  • members are not usually as loyal as members of the church
  • arent closely connected to the state
3 of 6

Cults

  • Mystic movement and are often wrongly defined
  • Bruce - movements without a fixed set of beliefs
  • emphasise the inner power of the individual ad mysticism
  • cults are usualy loosely knit and dont have a hierarchy
4 of 6

New age movements

  • they are close to cults
  • ideas are often not linked to an organisation but spread through a culture
  • Heelas - New age followers focus on 'self spirituality' and the development of the self
  • Bruce highlights three themes - new science - rejects claims of traditional science, new ecology - concerned for the environment, new pshycology - sees the self as sacred
  • appeal to people who have turned way from traditional relgion 
  • modern society is more individualisti than before 
  • helps people cope with the uncertainties of modernity
  • they can help people find a sense of identity
  • reflect cultural change in mainstream society
  • New age is postmodern
5 of 6

The growth and decline of organisations

  • social change brings about changes in religion
  • competition between churches and denominations can lead to a decline in churches
  • sects grow rapidly but they can deline as rapidly as the begun
  • cults demand less commitment than sects so become more popular in modern day busy worlds
6 of 6

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Sociology resources:

See all Sociology resources »See all Religion and beliefs resources »