NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS and NEW AGE MOVEMENTS

NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS and NEW AGE MOVEMENTS

1. NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS

   • WALLIS
     • World Rejecting
       • Similar to cults, which are extremely critical of mainstream society.
       • Members have to be completely committed
       • EXAMPLE: The People's Temple
     • World Affirming
       • Offer a service- allow people to achieve their 'full potential'
       • EXAMPLE: Scientology
       • Require a little commitment from its members
     • World Accommodating
       • Stem from traditional religion and attempt to revive beliefs which have been lost in society
       • EXAMPLE: Neo-Pentecostalism

2. NEW AGE MOVEMENTS

   • Reasons for the growth in New Age Movements
     • Marginality- (Weber) Marginalised groups in society may feel they are dis-privileged. Sects offer a solution
     • Relative deprivation- subjective sense of being deprived. Middle class people are materially well off, however they may feel spiritually deprived. They may therefore break away from churches to form sects.
     • Social change- Rapid change disrupts and undermines established norms and values.
   • Difference between 'New Religious Movements' and 'New Age Movements'
   • EXAMPLES
     • Astrology
     • Meditation

3. The New Age is a spiritual movement. It's about being spiritual rather than religious

4. New Religious Movements is often used in place of sects and cults.