7.2.2

New Religious Movements

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New Religious Movements

Wallis argues that new religious movements fit into three different groups based on how they see the world. 

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  1. World affirming movement 

  • Most are cults.
  • Do not denounce other religions.
  • Attempt to be optimistic and enhance the lives of their followers.
  • Attractive for ambitious professionals who seek progression. 
  • Accept the world in its current state, do not seek societal change.
  • Members are usually seen as clients or customers rather than religious believers.
  • Often charge fees for their services and teachings.
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  1. World accommodating movement 

  • Usually denominations.
  • Although not happy with the current state of the world, they wish to make the most of their situation.
  • These movements focus on improving the lives of their followers whilst still conforming to society.
  • They are often popular with vulnerable communities as they can inspire a more determined work ethic or salvation in the afterlife.
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  1. World rejecting movement   

  • Vast majority are sects.
  • Demand social change as they do not agree with the current state of the world. 
  • Often leave old lives behind and create new identities and communities that are marginalised from the mainstream. 
  • Seen as millenarian movements as they focus on the intervention of a divine power to bring judgement on those who are sinful.
  • Have a clear understanding of god and focus on the literal truth of the sacred text – therefore fundamentalist in nature.

Sects

Stark and Bainbridge argue that sects have short life spans. They suggest that sects usually progress through the ‘sectarian cycle’ which has the following 5 stages.

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Stark and Bainbridge

  • Stark and Bainbridge argue that sects have short life spans.
  • They suggest that sects usually progress through the ‘sectarian cycle’ which has the following 5 stages.
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Schism 

  1. Schism:
    • The first stage of a sect’s life occurs when members of a traditional church breakaway and form their own movement.
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Initial fervour

  1. Initial fervour:
    • The sect’s leader establishes their values which often cause conflict with that of wider society.  
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Denominationalism 

  1. Denominationalism:
    • The intensity of the movement cools down over time, especially when the second generation do not have the same beliefs as their parents.
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Establishment 

  1. Establishment :
    • The sect becomes more accepting of the world as it begins to compromise with wider society. 
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Further Schism

  1. Further Schism:
    • Some members that hold the original beliefs become frustrated with the movement and therefore break away to form a new sect.
    • The cycle begins again.     

Reasons for Growth of New Religious Movements

The main reasons for the growth of new religious movements are a response to marginalisation, relative deprivation, and responses to social change.

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A response to marginalisation 

  • Weber claimed that new religious movements tend to attract individuals who do not belong to the majority within a community.
  • New religious movements offer explanations for their circumstances and ways to improve them, as well as creating a community of people with similar beliefs.  
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Relative deprivation 

  • Barker discusses a more recent trend of young middle-class people being attracted to new religious movements such as the ‘Moonies’.
  • Barker notes that in some cases, young middle-class children feel neglected by their career orientated parents and therefore suffer from relative deprivation when they compare their experiences to peers who have strong connections with their parents.
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Relative deprivation cont.

  • New religious movements provide an alternative family to the individual due to the strong sense of commitment and the community that they create. 
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Response to social change 

  • Wilson claims that in times of rapid social change, individuals often feel a sense of confusion and anxiety.
  • This has historically led to increased participation in new religious movements that are current and appeal to the needs of those individuals.  

Jump to other topics

1Theory & Methods

2Education with Methods in Context

3Option 1: Culture & Identity

4Option 1: Families & Households

5Option 1: Health

6Option 1: Work, Poverty & Welfare

7Option 2: Beliefs in Society

8Option 2: Global Development

9Option 2: The Media

10Crime & Deviance

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