The New TypologyNew Religious Movements, The New Age Movement and

Religious Fundamentalism

1. NRMSNew Religious Movements

Learning Objectives• Explain at least three reasons why it is difficult to measure

membership of NRMs.

Describe three types of NRM:• World affirming• World rejecting• World accommodating

• Identify contemporary examples for each type of NRM

• Explain four reasons for the appeal of NRMs.

“You don’t get rich writing science fiction. If you want to get rich, start a religion.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9YQVJXaNK8

L Ron Hubbard

What is an NRM?NRM = “New Religious Movement”

• Sociologists today often use this term in place of ‘sect’ or ‘cult’.

• In 2005, it was estimated that there were up to 25,000 new religious groups in Europe.

• Over 12,000 UK Citizens (around 0.028%) of the population were recorded as members of an NRM. However, accurately measuring membership of NRMs is very difficult.

Discuss: Pairs

You are sociologists, wanting to find out how many people in the UK are members of NRMs.

• Identify three ways that you could go about this.

• For each way, identify one problem.

Ext:- Identify two further problems in finding out how many people are involved in NRMs.

Difficulties in measuring membership

1. Many NRMs do not register their members2. NRMs are often short-lived – but some followers continue to

practise the beliefs and techniques3. Many NRMs are based overseas, making it difficult to access

data on UK members4. Many only require a ‘part-time’ commitment. Casual, part-

time members are more difficult to trace than those who devote themselves full-time.

Homework (Due: Next Lesson)

You need to visit two websites: The first is INFORM, the second is THE KENDAL PROJECT (there are links to both on the NC

Sociology website; just highlight the ‘Religion in Society’ section on the top menu).

• Examine both websites and, for each, write a short account (either on your blog, or for direct submission) describing the purpose of the website, the views of its makers and at least one interesting thing you learned from your visit.

The Kendal Project website offers unique opportunities for A Level Sociology students to conduct a piece of research and have their findings

published. If you want to be involved in this, discuss with me.

Types of NRMWallis (1984) divided NRMs into three types: 1. World Affirming2. World Rejecting3. World Accommodating

You need to be able to identify all three and be able to compare and contrast the differences between them.

World-Rejecting NRM• Very critical of the outside world• Members must show complete obedience to the leadership

(often a single, charismatic leader)• The only source of salvation and truth• Millenarian (they expect some kind of divine intervention will

change the world).

Check your notes: What similarities are there between this type of NRM and sects/cults?

Unification Church Hare Krishna Aum Supreme Truth

World-Affirming NRMs• Accept the world as it is, but show people how to get more

out of the world by unlocking their potential.• Often very expensive; people pay for enlightenment.• Often seem more like therapy groups than traditional

religions, helping people find their ‘true’ selves.• Appeal mainly to the middle-classes, or wealthier people.

Church of Scientology Transcendental Meditation

World-Accomodating NRMs• Usually offshoots of existing churches or denominations.• Encourage members to remain within wider society, even if

critical of society becoming too secular.• Offer stronger, more direct experiences of God (e.g. speaking

in tongues).

Neo-Pentecostalism

Small Groups: Research / Presentation• Transcendental Meditation• David Koresh & Branch Davidians• Aum Shinri Kyo (Supreme Truth Sect)• Church of Satan• Unification Church (Moonies)

For each of the above, find out what they believe and identify the features that would enable you to categorise them as a sect or cult, and/or a type of NRM (15 mins research – then present)

Written Task – 15 mins

Identify and explain two types of New Religious Movement [17]

•Why do you think NRMs appeal to people?

•On your mini-whiteboards, identify three reasons why people might join an NRM.

Discuss

The Appeal of NRMsReason Explanation

Pragmatic Motives • Promise of financial/romantic success + happiness

• Applies to world-affirming type

Spiritual Void • Neither science or religion can explain everything (grand narrative)

• People ‘shop around’ for a new belief system that makes sense to them

Marginality • People feel that they don’t matter in society…

• …So seek a theodicy that offers ultimate salvation

Relative Deprivation • People feel their lives lack the fulfilment that other people enjoy…

• …An NRM might offer this fulfillment.

The Appeal of World-Rejecting Movements• Wallis (1984) says they appeal to the unattached (people

who are no longer children, but have no adult responsibilities), caused by extended school-leaving ages and accessibility to HE.• They offer radical solutions to social and personal

problems.• Barker (1984) said the Moonies acted as a surrogate

family.• These NRMs have high ‘drop-out’ patterns, suggesting

that the needs they fill are temporary.

The Appeal of World-Affirming Movements• Appeal most to attached adults.

• Returns magic and wonder to our rational world.

• Enable people to attain personal growth.

Homework

New religions only appeal to vulnerable people

Write a short (500-1000) word essay or blog evaluating this statement, using concepts and studies from this unit.

Due: This time next week!

2. NAMSNew Age Movements

Learning Objectives• Describe the difference between spirituality and religion.

• Describe at least two explanations for the rise of the New Age.

• Identify the key themes of New Age Movements.

• Explain the differences between an audience cult and a client cult.

The New Age• The New Age is a spiritual movement that developed (mainly)

in the late 1970s/early 1980s in Western societies.

• The rise and appeal of NRMs can be linked to the New Age…

• …However, the term New Age Movement (NAM) is also used separately, to describe the growing number of groups who consider themselves spiritual rather than religious.

Discuss: What’s the difference between being ‘spiritual’ and being ‘religious’?

Defining Spirituality (Heelas & Woodhead; 2005)Life-As Subjective Life

• Conforming to external authority• Fulfilling duties and obligations

• Living according to your own passions, emotions, dreams and states of mind.

Heelas & Woodhead believe that, in societies like the UK, our culture has shifted from life-as to subjective life. ‘Life-As’ fits in more with belonging to a religion. Subjective life equals spirituality – finding meaningful ways to live out your passions, emotions, dreams, mental states etc.They use the term holistic milieu to refer to activities that a spiritual but not religious, and these activities (e.g. meditation) are growing in popularity.Based on the findings of their Kendal Project, they believe this growth will continue.

Why is ‘Spirituality’ Increasing?

What do these things have in common?

Why is ‘Spirituality’ Increasing?

Resacrilization:The process by which people reject traditional religious

explanations of spirituality, as well as scientific explanations of the world in order to achieve personal, spiritual fulfilment.

This idea can be linked to a growing desire to bring back the ‘magic’ and ‘wonder’ that has been taken away due to scientific explanations for everything.Some people turn to cinema, video games, books etc. to counter this – other make life-changing commitments to spiritual behaviour.

Features of NAMs (Aldridge, 2000)

Feature Explanation

Rejection of scientific methodology • They prefer personal truths instead of objective ‘facts’

Questioning of professional expertise • They believe so-called ‘professionals’ have closed their eyes to ancient wisdoms

Rejection of organised religion • They do not like the authority structure of organised religions

Commitment to ecology • The are ‘green’ and worship the Earth

Affirmation of feminine imagery • They don’t like the way women are treated by organised religions

• New Age movements often see the female as sacred and use ‘Goddess’ imagery

Glossary Check: How Many Can You Define?• Astrology• Crystal Healing• Cult Apologists• Holistic Milieu• Deprogrammers• Millenarian• Pragmatic Motives• Resacrilization• Speaking in Tongues• Surrogate Family• Tarot Readings

Two Types of NAM (Bruce,1996)

Audience Cult Client Cult

Not much face-to-face interaction; members unlikely to know each other.

Contact mainly via internet/mass media or occasional conferences.

Produce lots of books and often run therapy groups.

Example: Astrology; UFO Believers

Offer particular services to followers; often particular therapies, or face-to-

face sessions.

Often establish a relationship between ‘consumer’ and ‘seller’.

Also produce lots of books.

Example: Tarot Readings; Crystal Healing; Psychic Mediums

Written Task

Identify and explain two explanations for the growth of the ‘New Age’ [17]

(15 mins)

3. FUNDAMENTALISMBack to basics…

Learning Objectives• Define religious fundamentalism

• Outline the origins of fundamentalism

• Identify and explain seven features of fundamentalism

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xtfgxo_the-most-hated-family-in-america_shortfilms

What is Fundamentalism?

• Bruce (2000) – a religion that calls for a return to the fundamentals of a faith; claims that a sacred text should be the basis for regulating a society.

• Fundamentalism is widespread and growing, which undermines the secularisation theory.

• The term is often used in a derogatory way, to describe religious fanatics (Davie).

Where does Fundamentalism come from?• Bruce (2000) – it is caused when a religious group feels

threatened by modernisation and secularisation. It is more likely to occur when:

• The religion has a single sacred text• There is a common enemy (e.g. some Muslim groups regard

the USA as an enemy)• The religion has no central source of authority (e.g. The Pope

is a central source of authority for Catholics)• There are many potential recruits who feel threatened or

disillusioned with the world or their society.

Discuss: Do these conditions match what we have seen of the Westboro Baptist Church?

Where does Fundamentalism come from?Almond et al (2003) claim the following factors help:

Lack of

Education

Social Inequality

High Levels of

Migration

Economic ProblemsWestern Imperialism (e.g.

UK/USA aggressively entering other countries)

Chance Events (e.g.

poor harvest) Charismatic Leader

Pairs: For each of these, offer one explanation as to how it could contribute to the growth of fundamentalism

Features of FundamentalismFeature Explanation

Interpret sacred texts literally The reject liberal ‘intellectualism’; they believe every word of their holy texts are completely true.

Reject Religious Pluralism They believe tolerating other faiths waters down their own; see the world as “us” and “them”

Personally experience God They define everything as ‘sacred’, therefore experience their God in everything

Oppose modernity They do not believe their beliefs should adapt to the modern world

Promote patriarchal values The believe their God intends for people to live in heterosexual societies, with male leaders

Respond to inequality They offer solutions to desperate or dejected people

Make use of modern technology

They use television, the internet, radio, modern weaponry to spread and enforce their message

Use blank grid in workbooks!

Example 1: Christian Fundamentalism (Ammerman; 2003)

• The ‘Moral Majority’ were part of a revival of Christian Fundamentalism in the USA.

• The movement arose through fears of developments in the USA, specifically divorce, internet pornography, adultery in the White House etc.

• The aim is to bring God to the centre of American society.

Example 2: Islamic Fundamentalism (Armstrong; 2001)

• Arose because Western ideas and modernisation had failed to work in Muslim countries.

• Groups within such countries believe they are under threat from the secular values of the West and so have to fight to preserve their own values.

Written Task

Religious Fundamentalism is dangerous!

Write a short (500-1000) word essay or blog evaluating this view, using concepts and studies covered in this unit as well as contemporary examples.

Due in: This time next week!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBA6qlHW8po