Evaluate the view that NRMs are a response to social disorganisation and change.
NRMs are new religious movements which are an overarching idea that embraces both cults and sects; the term was coined by Barker as a neutral term as cults and sects are usually portrayed negatively by the media which can cause moral panic so sociologists such as Barker and Wallis came up with NRMs. However, Hadden and Bromley point out the concepts cult and sect, used by sociologists, have precise meanings and therefore are free of prejudice so there shouldn’t be new terms for it, but this is not always understood by the general public and therefore we needed new terms for such groups.
The emergence of NRMs has risen in the last 50 years and it is estimated that …show more content…
Wallis argues that this has occurred due to the gradual lengthening of education and wider accessibility of higher education. They might act towards social disorganisation because they are unaware of the age of which to become an adult therefore they seek help from NRMs to help fill a void as NRMs offer radical and immediate solutions to social and personal problems. Barkers “Making of a Moonie” showed that most members came from middle class houses with parents working for public services, the members wanted to find support and comfort within the sect whilst also fulfilling their desire to serve the community; there are high patterns of dropout rates from NRMs which suggest that the need for sects to fulfil is …show more content…
However, they appeal more to the underprivileged as it offers them a theodicy of salvation whereas they only get few rewards in this world. Whereas cults consist of an overwhelming amount of middle classes as the working classes may not be able to afford it. Bruce says that the middle classes want spiritual growth as they already have material goods. Wallis identified 3 types of NRM: world affirming NRMs which are more common with the middle class and middle aged, world rejecting NRMs which are usually sects and are more common with the working class, unattached groups as the rejecting groups may regulate the individual’s identity, Weber pointed out that world rejecting are also more appealing to ethnic minorities as they are a marginalised group so they find status through theodicies offering salvation; world rejecting groups also appeal more to young people. World accommodating NRMs which are more orthodox and mainstream. NRMs, and also NAMs, may fill a person’s spiritual void which Drane argues is a result of the Western societies turning against modern institutions and belief systems so they look for different ways to fill the
NRMs are new religious movements which are an overarching idea that embraces both cults and sects; the term was coined by Barker as a neutral term as cults and sects are usually portrayed negatively by the media which can cause moral panic so sociologists such as Barker and Wallis came up with NRMs. However, Hadden and Bromley point out the concepts cult and sect, used by sociologists, have precise meanings and therefore are free of prejudice so there shouldn’t be new terms for it, but this is not always understood by the general public and therefore we needed new terms for such groups.
The emergence of NRMs has risen in the last 50 years and it is estimated that …show more content…
Wallis argues that this has occurred due to the gradual lengthening of education and wider accessibility of higher education. They might act towards social disorganisation because they are unaware of the age of which to become an adult therefore they seek help from NRMs to help fill a void as NRMs offer radical and immediate solutions to social and personal problems. Barkers “Making of a Moonie” showed that most members came from middle class houses with parents working for public services, the members wanted to find support and comfort within the sect whilst also fulfilling their desire to serve the community; there are high patterns of dropout rates from NRMs which suggest that the need for sects to fulfil is …show more content…
However, they appeal more to the underprivileged as it offers them a theodicy of salvation whereas they only get few rewards in this world. Whereas cults consist of an overwhelming amount of middle classes as the working classes may not be able to afford it. Bruce says that the middle classes want spiritual growth as they already have material goods. Wallis identified 3 types of NRM: world affirming NRMs which are more common with the middle class and middle aged, world rejecting NRMs which are usually sects and are more common with the working class, unattached groups as the rejecting groups may regulate the individual’s identity, Weber pointed out that world rejecting are also more appealing to ethnic minorities as they are a marginalised group so they find status through theodicies offering salvation; world rejecting groups also appeal more to young people. World accommodating NRMs which are more orthodox and mainstream. NRMs, and also NAMs, may fill a person’s spiritual void which Drane argues is a result of the Western societies turning against modern institutions and belief systems so they look for different ways to fill the