Revision:AQA Sociology Religion - New Religious Movements

TSR Wiki > Study Help > Subjects and Revision > Revision Notes > Sociology > AQA Sociology Religion - New Religious Movements

NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS

From the early 60’s, there was a large growth of the number of religious organisations in society. Many of them didn’t fit into the traditional church-denomination-sect-cult typography, and Wallis coined the term “new religious movement” to cover them. He identifies between three different kinds of NRM.

World rejecting –Similar to cults, extremely critical of mainstream society, members follow with total commitment and usually requires a change in lifestyle. For example, the Aum Shinrikyo, the Unification church.

World affirming – Similar to “client cults”. Offer a service, and claim to allow people to achieve their ‘full potential’. They require little commitment (apart from the cost), and members can live a normal life. They do not oppose mainstream society. For example, EST, Transcendental meditation.

World accommodating – These NRM’s neither fully accept, nor fully reject mainstream values. They often stem from traditional religion, and attempt to revive traditions/beliefs which they have been lost in society. Neo-Pentecostalism for example, attempts to revive the worships of the Holy Spirit.

NEW AGE MOVEMENTS

?

Also See

• Religious Pluralism
• The Secularisation of religious institutions
• New Religious Movements
• Religion - a conservative force and an initiator of social change?

Comments

• Suitable for: OCR A2 Sociology
• Written by: 8owman
• From this thread.