Exam 7: Organized Religion: Churches, Sects, Denominations, and Cults

Members being born into a group rather than becoming members through conversion or spiritual experience contributes to which of the following dilemmas of institutionalization?

The institutional need to elaborate concrete policies and procedures is in conflict with the desire to be flexible and respond to ad hoc needs and issues as they may arise.This is the

A central issue in defining a NRM or cult is

Groups such as Islamic Fundamentalists, some Protestant Christians, and some groups within Judaism become so caught up in rules and regulations that they lose sight of the ideals and values on which their religion was originally founded.This describes which dilemma of institutionalization?

In terms of open systems theory, which of the following is the most closed type of social system?

To insure conformity to the values and norms of the group, religious organizations sometimes resort to excommunication.However, religious groups which exercise this option may risk alienating members; thus it is important in most cases to persuade members to cooperate voluntarily.This is the

Which of the following is a part of the symbolic dilemma?

Your textbook summarizes the conclusion of a number of sociologists in saying that "religion both needs most and suffers most from ."

Discuss the concepts of sect, denomination, and ecclesia (church). A)Give a brief definition of each. B)Describe the social processes that contribute to the formation of each.

According to Troeltsch and Niebuhr, universal or inclusive acceptance of people in the larger society into the religious organization is a characteristic of

A secondary matter may take on primary importance for some members of a religious group, thus subverting the original sense of mission.This instance would illustrate the

Despite similarities, sects and NRMs have somewhat different forces that shape their development.Which of the following is NOT supported by evidence regarding these two types of groups?

Regarding institutional dilemmas, we can conclude that

Sects and NRMs are alike in a number of ways.The one statement listed below that is NOT true is

A main, long-standing criticism of the church/sect typology is that

Which of the following is NOT true of charismatic authority?

Niebuhr identified four elements that he believed contributed to the break-off of sects from denominations.Which of the following is NOT one of these?

The Shakers had to transform abstract concepts and principles into concrete ethical codes of conduct so that common members knew how to conduct their everyday lives.In so doing, the rules became inflexible and absolute, and some members began to think the rules themselves were the essence of the religion.This is an example of the

The organizational genius who largely institutionalized Christianity was

Social characteristics (of groups and of the larger society in which the groups exist) can influence the likelihood of religious schisms and the character of each group's evolution.All of the following are identified in your textbook as factors that can influence the nature of religious schisms EXCEPT