Explaining the growth of religious movements – Everything you need to

know

There has been a rapid growth in the number of sects and cults. There are three explanations
for this.

Nation of Islam recruited disadv. Black people Sects tend to arise to those
who are marginal to
society- they may feel
as if they are deprivileged
MARGINALITY- WEBER and are not receiving the
economic rewards they
deserve

sects recruit from

the marginalised poor
Sects offer a solution to this problem
By offering members a theodicy
Of disprivilege Theodicy of
Disprivilege =
A religious explanation for
Their suffering. Can be
Described as a ‘test of faith’

Sees growth
as a result of Periods of rapid change
modernisation Disrupt norms and
and secularisation Values = anomie

people are less In response to

Social Change- Wilson/ Bruce
attracted to Insecurity those who are
traditional churches most affected by
bc they demand commitment disruption
People prefer cults as they
Are less demanding EG. Dislocation created by industrial revolution
Led to Methodism, which offered a sense of
Community and clear norms and values and
Promise of salvation. They successfully recruited
Large numbers of new industrial working class
Relative deprivation- Wallis/
Stark & Bainbridge
 Read Item I below and answer the question that follows.
14
Item I

Social change can involve periods of increased poverty and higher numbers of people living in such
conditions. Individuals may feel uncertainty in times of rapid social change. Social change may lead
to the growth of sects.

Applying material from Item I, analyse two ways in which social change and other reasons may lead
to the growth of sects. [10 marks]