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RELS 225 2009-02-02: Joining NRMsRELS 225 2009-02-02: Joining NRMs

Attendance

Announcements

Review of last classISKCON

Joining NRMs

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ReviewReview

Asian Influence in the USA: after 1965 immigration laws changed1893: Hinduism introduced to North America at World Parliament of ReligionsISKCON (Hare Krishna) Mantra; George Harrison & Boy GeorgeHistory of Hare Krishna: medieval Gaudiya Vaishnava; ISKCON 1966 NYCTwo styles of Hinduism: Monism (Philosophical) & Bhakti (Devotional)Medieval Origins: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu initiated sankirtanaA.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada order of sannyasa at age 59.Growth in America: By 1967, Prabhupada establised dozens of centresAppearance: Sikha (signifies surrender to guru and Krishna); Dhoti (Men wear white robe); Sari (Women wear traditional Indian garb); Tilak (Reminder that body is temple of lord.)Practices: Kritan (Chanting for hours to get into a state); Prasadam (All food is an offering to the Lord)Beliefs: Emphasizes orthopraxis over orthodoxy.Teachings: All actions are for Krsna, not for our sense gratification.Krishna: loveable young manNature of humanity: Traditional Hindu view.The Good life: Highly prescriptive, puritanical religion

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Joining NRMs: Who and Why?Joining NRMs: Who and Why?

Stark & Bainbridge say not:Gullible

Losers

Everyone

Not the dregs; more like the best & brightest.

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One early theoryOne early theory

1. What were people lacking?

2. What does the movement offer?

3. Where do they overlap?

That is where the ‘reason’ is to be found.

Derived from deprived classes converting to Christian sects.

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Then: the 60’s NRMsThen: the 60’s NRMs

The converts in the 1960’s were privileged.

So the theory was modified by Glock:

Relative deprivation:Economic

Social

Organismic (health, physical, & mental)

Psychic (love & affection)

Ethical (dissatisfaction with dominant values)

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1965 Lofland & Stark 1965 Lofland & Stark

John Lofland & grad student Rodney StarkBest early work on conversion. Studied a group called “Divine Precepts” (Unification Church)

The very first cell of “Moonies” 12-15 of them.Stark: Recent book Rise of Christianity.Predisposing conditions:

1. Tensions2. Religious orientation3. Seeker (already reading, investigating)

Situational Contingencies:4. Encounter5. Bonds-making6. Bond-breaking7. Interacting

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Who joins?Who joins?

Join through social networks.They liked the people.Left when people disappointed them.

People without:Ideological alignmentOther commitments (family, mortgage)

With history of seekershipPeople looking for rewards & compensations:

NeedsMeaningStatus

Other:hostile environment (Christianity?)Competition

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CharacteristicsCharacteristics

YoungEven younger in the 1970’s

Middle-upper middle classNo appeal to working class

Higher educatedBalanced male-female

Although Moonies started male

More secular religious backgroundsBut large Jewish representation, especially in Zen.

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1984: Two Resources1984: Two Resources

Radical Departures, by Saul Levine.North American psychiatristGood for parents of cult members.800 interviews

The Making of a Moonie by Eileen BarkerBritish sociologistInterviewed/surveyed all Moonie attendees for 10 years.Compared with a control group.

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Levine and Barker’s findings:Levine and Barker’s findings:

BarkerRespectable familiesOverachieversDisrupted at university (disappointed with larger world)

LevineNo more psychopathology than normalOveracheiversQuietly suffering in frustration for yearsIdentify too strongly with parents

They like their parents.Try to please them

No strong romantic relationship in adolescenceNo all-nighters stoned, pondering metaphysics.

90% of joiners left voluntarily in less than 2 years.

Ticket to HeavenTicket to Heaven

Predisposing conditions:1. Tensions2. Religious orientation3. Seeker (already reading,

investigating)

Situational Contingencies:4. Encounter5. Bonds-making6. Bond-breaking7. Interacting

Join through social networks.People without Ideological alignment; Other commitmentsWith history of seekershiphostile environment (Christianity?)CompetitionYoungMiddle-upper middle classHigher educatedBalanced male-femaleMore secular religious backgrounds

In what ways does this movie portray joining a cult in the same way as Dawson?Gullible? Losers? Everyone?

Deprived?

Relative Deprivation theory

HomeworkHomework

For Wednesday:Read

Unification Church, at Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance  Introduction to the Divine Principle (all 4 parts)

Write “Reading Quiz on the Unification Church”

For Monday:Read chapter 5 in Cults and New Religious MovementsWrite online assignment on Chapter 5