SOC 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: New Religious Movement, Energy Medicine, Anabaptism
14 Feb 2019
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
More than an opiate: intro to sects, cults & new. Groups headed by charismatic leaders that reject and are isolated from mainstream society. New religious movements (nrms) is a less critical name for cults. Religions are like markets and ppl "rationally" select what beliefs they follow and groups they join. The idea that religious ideas are based on the amount of religious choice in a pop. (supply driven) Assumes that joining a religion is always a "rational" decision, therefore disregarding any potential for coercion and violence in a person"s decision to join or stay in a groups. You are most likely to join the religious group you are born into. Ppl are often coerced into these religions and rational choice has no way of calculating coercion. Religion is an "opiate" and ppl join groups to escape their everyday struggles. Theories of religion need to account for "everyday miracles" that might make-up religious life.
