Upload
alvin-warren
View
215
Download
3
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Cults and New Religious Movements
Cults and New Religious Movements
Comprehending Religious Violence
IntroductionIntroduction
Remember our definition of religion:– “Any socially organized pattern of beliefs and practices
concerning ultimate meaning that assumes the existence of the supernatural.”
Religion is an expression of an “ultimate concern”– The ultimate concern is the most important thing in the
universe for an individual or group Identifying a groups’ ultimate concern helps us
understand how they might be motivated to commit violent acts
Religious ViolenceReligious Violence
Researchers have linked three features of NRMs to outbreaks of violence– Apocalyptic beliefs or at least world rejecting
beliefs– Charismatic Leadership– Processes of social encapsulation that may lead
to problems of symbolic boundary maintenance
Apocalyptic BeliefsApocalyptic Beliefs
Apocalyptic beliefs are prophecies about the ultimate end of history
A number of behavioral consequences logically follow from the belief that one is living in the end times– Conventional rules, norms and even laws become relative– Preparation to deal with violent times and the persecution of
the group by others– Opponents are demonized– The world is viewed in dichotomous terms (good vs. evil)– Instills a level of enthusiasm for the cause
Charismatic leadership is rooted in the perception that others have of the leader– Leader is viewed as having exceptional powers or
qualities
It is non-institutional or anti-institutional Charismatic leadership is difficult to maintain
– Must maintain a balance between exposure and secrecy– Charismatic leaders often practice segregation to
maintain this secrecy
Charismatic LeadershipCharismatic Leadership
Leaders use at least 6 strategies to maintain their charismatic authority– Doctrines and policies might be changed suddenly– The leader may seek constant reaffirmation of loyalty– Opposition is demonized– Leaders often attack the teachings of competitors for
authority– May test the loyalty of their followers, heighten the
emotional dependence of followers, and separating couples or other close pairings to maintain control over members
– Change the location of their group by moving it
Social EncapsulationSocial Encapsulation
All social systems must:– Receive and respond to feedback– Maintain system boundaries
These can be both symbolic and real
Interference with these can lead to dysfunction and perhaps violence
Isolation often prevents NRMs from receiving feedback and heightens the threat they feel from incursions on their boundaries
Wessinger and Religious ViolenceWessinger and Religious Violence W suggests that a NRM is most likely to commit
religious violence when:– Members perceive that they are being persecuted by outside
forces – They perceive they are failing to achieve their ultimate concern
W suggests that it is helpful to distinguish between three types of groups– Fragile millennial groups that initiate violence due to internal
weaknesses and cultural opposition– Assaulted millennial groups that are attacked by law
enforcement agents because they are perceived as dangerous– Revolutionary millennial groups possessing theologies of
violence