World Religions Chapter 14 New Church Movements.pptx

World religion

1. STRAYER UNIVERSITY Dr. William C. Morrison, Jr. Professor World Religions REL 212 Slides in this presentation come from Cengage Learning: Van Voorst , R. (2013). Relg : World . Boston, MA: Wadsworth.

2. Encountering New Religious Movements: Modern Ways to Alternative Meanings

3. Cults and Sects Sect - a new, small group that emerged from within an established religion Cult – a religious group that is extreme in its dedication to its beliefs Often involves living communally or semi-communally under the control of an authoritarian leader Often carries connotation of a false and/or dangerous religion

4. More names… Alternative religious movements New religious movements Marginal religious movements Emergent religions New religious movements

5. Common Features of New Religious Movements

6. Religious responses to the modern world Arise the modern world and address modern concerns in new ways Countercultural Move against mainstream currents of society Founded by a single, magnetic, powerful leader Often believed to have extraordinary or supernatural powers and insights Can spring up quickly and disappear as quickly

7. Tightly organized with high intensity Countercultural movements give rise to strong demands on loyalty and commitment of followers Start small but can become international movements Address specific needs Needs specific to those who cannot be satisfied through more traditional religions or modern secularism

8. New Religious Movements in the World Today: A Survey

9. NRMs In The Western World Wide diversity of history, teachings, and practices Some fall under more than one category of classification: Apocalyptic – shaped by the belief that the end of the world is near and a new earth with a perfect society will replace the old one Millenarianism – belief in some forms of Protestantism that Christ will establish and lead a thousand-year reign of peace on earth

10. New Age : eclectic, often unrelated group of beliefs and practices aiming to bring the individual to a state of higher consciousness Apocalyptic movements can sometimes turn violent: 1978 Jim Jones’ People’s Temple, Jonestown, Guyana: Mass suicide/murder of 913 men, women, and children 1987 David Koresh’s Branch Davidians, Waco, Texas Charged with child sexual abuse and arms dealing; 80 members killed in conflict with federal authorities

11. “ Scientific ” NRMs: Christian Science, UFO Groups, and Scientology

12. Many claim to reveal “scientific truths” not yet acknowledged or discovered by official scientific community Christian Science founded by Mary Baker Eddy The mind is the source of health and sickness; to cure the mind leads to cures in the body UFO Groups – “contact movements” Understanding, Inc. Amalgamated Flying Saucer Clubs of America and Aetherius Society The Raëlians founded by Claude Vorilhon (Raël)

13. 1970s – Heaven’s Gate founded by Marshal Applewhite (Do) 1996 – Applewhite declared that the mother-ship would be arriving in the tail of the Hale-Bopp comet to gather the “mature plants (followers)” before the Earth was destroyed All committed suicide together in order to free their spirits for transport to the alien ship UFO groups often express traditional religious themes in the language of science, science fiction, and biological evolution.

14. Nature NRMs: Neo-Paganism, Wicca, & Druidry Generally anti-scientific groups that oppose the alienation of humans from nature that science promotes Offer a return to and participation in meaningful rhythms of the natural world Wicca – NRM of modern witchcraft drawing on religious articulations of ideas and sentiments in the modern ecological movement and feminism Tend to center on the figure of a Goddess and the “female principle” as the leading force of nature

15. NRMs in Asia Movements emerging in Asia after 1850 reflect colonial impact of the West Chinese NRMs arose soon after the first Opium War (1839-1842) in response to Western imperialism, poverty, and the work of Protestant missionaries Taiping Tianguo “Heavenly Kingdom of the Great Peace” founded by Hong Ziuquan mixed evangelical Christianity, Confucianism, and popular Taoist traditions

16. 1858 – Chinese Emperor legalizes Western Christian Missionary work Later NRMs grew out of popular Taoism predating the Opium Wars Yiguan Dao (Unity Sect) – syncretistic blend of White Lotus millenarian tradition and shamanic spirit writing Zhihui Tang (Compassion Sect) – spirit writing group established in 1949 Taiwan Qi Gong – “energy working” – ancient tradition of spiritual and physical conditioning Promotes health by energizing flow of qi through the body Falun Gong – most controversial Qi Gong group

17. 1800s Japan Rapid political, social, and cultural changes contribute to formation of new religious entities – New Religions Most have roots in Buddhism, Shinto, and Neo-Confucianism Tenrikyo and Konkokyo Gedatsu-kai Perfect Liberty Church Dancing Religion, Johrei Aum Shinrikyo – radical doomsday religion responsible for 1995 nerve-gas attack in Tokyo

18. Soka-Gakkai: lay Buddhist “Value Creation Society” Teachings rooted in Nichiren: stresses values of beauty and goodness, and benefits of chanting invocation to the Lotus Sutra Unification Church – founded in Korea by Sun Myung Moon in 1954 Openly identifies Moon as the Second Messiah who married Hak Ja Han, thus the two became the “ True Parents ” of an ideal family, and who can realize perfection and lead humanity to a perfect state Vietnam – Cao Dai: attempts perfect synthesis of Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Confucianism, Hinduism, Taoism, and shamanism

19. A North American NRM: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS)

20. One of several churches originating in a movement begun by Joseph Smith Jr. (1805-1844) in New York state, 1830 Name Mormon derived from the Book of Mormon published by Smith Differs from Christianity in its: Understanding of God Emphasis on family life Belief in continuing revelation Missionary work

21. History 1827 – the angel Moroni appears to Smith and tells him of “seer stones”: Engraved golden plates Smith translated from “Reformed Egyptian” language into English as the Book of Mormon Contained story of Israelite family that migrated to America centuries before Jesus Christ and were taught by prophets similar to biblical ones

22. Departed from competing Protestant denominations in its proclamation that, through Smith, God had restored the “true church” Smith received revelations of new and traditional teachings from the Book of Mormon and practical help from Moroni Started communalist society named “Zion” in Missouri; tensions with neighbors forced relocation to Illinois Smith’s repression of Mormon dissidents in 1844 led to his arrest He and his brother, Hyrum, killed by an angry mob on June 27, 1844

23. Council of the Twelve Apostles assumed power after Smith’s death Brigham Young appointed as successor 1846-47: Increasing anti-Mormon violence leads to 1,100 migration to Utah Efforts to gain statehood rejected-then-blocked by church’s announcement of its practice of “plural marriage” 1890 – President of LDS church, Wilford Woodruff, announces church’s abandonment of polygamy in the U.S. 1896 – Utah admitted to the Union as 45 th state

24. More than 150 independent groups formed to follow new prophets, practice polygamy, or continue other practices abandoned by the mainstream LDS church. 1990s Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or “Community of Christ” “Temple Lot” faction competed with Reorganized Church 1847 – polygamous community led by James Strang established in Michigan Openly polygamous groups in Arizona, Mexico, and Salt Lake City

25. Scripture 1611 King James Bible The “first canon” Book of Mormon Story of ancient Americans descended from ancient Hebrews Pearl of Great Price Doctrine and Covenants Revelations on doctrines and community life Declarations deal with end of polygamy and admission of blacks to the priesthood

26. Doctrines “Articles of Faith” – doctrinal statement affirming belief in God, the eternal Father; in his son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Spirit Three considered to be distinct divine beings rather than united as a single deity God was once similar to a human, but became divine Christ came to earth to bring salvation, but salvation still comes by one’s own actions and the grace of God in Christ Faithful members of the church may receive God’s fullness and become gods themselves Christ will establish a millennial kingdom upon his return to earth

27. Institutions, Practices, and Structure of the LDS Church

28. No distinction between clergy and laity At age 12, all worthy males become deacons in the Aaronic priesthood Priests at age 16; may enter Melchizedek priesthood as elders at age 18 Baptismal rite of initiation, repentance, and obedience considered essential for salvation Administered to children at age 8 and to adult converts – may be taken by proxy for those who died without knowledge of the truth Essential temple ceremonies: Baptism for the dead Endowment Sealing

29. Ethics flow from the New Testament Moral commands particular to LDS include prohibitions against alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine Promote education and strong work ethic Outer clothing must be modest Temple garment – garments – underclothing worn by members who have gone through endowment in the temple

30. Structure of the LDS Church “General Authorities” – primary spiritual and ecclesiastical leaderships First Presidency, Council of Twelve Apostles, and First Quorum of Seventy All are ‘sustained in office’ by vote of confidence at bi-annual General Conference Regional level: individual churches gathered into stakes of 4-5,000 members Ward – local church with no more than a few hundred members under a bishop

31. The Church of Scientology International movement developed by writer L. Ron Hubbard (1911-1986) in 1950 Introduced ideas through “Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health” (1950) Stated goal: to analyze human mental/emotional problems and offer means to overcome them Later broadened focus to more explicitly religious approach – Scientology Church of Scientology formed in 1954

32. L. Ron Hubbard’s Life & Teachings 1932 Dropped out of George Washington University 1933 married and settled into career as writer of western fiction, horror, and science fiction Interests in exploring and seafaring influenced operation of Scientology church

33. Ended WWII in a naval hospital in Oakland, CA – began quest for a “science of the mind” Wrote “The Original Thesis” and “Dianetics” –these and unpublished writings became scripture The basic principle and goal of human life is survival in and enjoyment of this good world Actions that lead to survival are good and yield pleasure Actions against survival are destructive and “perpetuate negative mental states”

34. The mind in normal state makes correct survival-oriented judgments If not fully functioning, then the “reactive mind” containing engrams – negative emotional states – takes over Auditing : one-on-one counseling process in which an “auditor” helps one deal with engrams E-meter : instrument that measures small electrical current; aids identification of engrams Clear : the mind free of engrams “Exteriorization” – separation of the individual consciousness from the body, led Hubbard to see his thetan – real spiritual self that can exist apart from the body

35. Thetans originated billions of years ago with the original Cause (God) whose purpose was the creation of effect The Cause created thetans first; their interaction created MEST: matter, energy, space, and time Thetans fell into the MEST and were trapped, causing them to lose creative abilities and self-memory Through church efforts, members remember themselves as spiritual beings and how engrams inhibit their free functioning as thetans Operating Thetan (OT) levels – indicates a fully-conscious, well-functioning thetan

36. Dynamics – larger realities than the individual thetan Symbolized in an eight-pointed cross Earliest stages of auditing – individual learns dynamic of survival; later learns 3 other survival dynamics: Family, tribe/nation, all humankind First four realms of survival expanded to include 4 greater units: Animal kingdom, physical universe of MEST, spiritual universe of thetans, and infinity or God

37. Organization of the Church 1966 – Hubbard resigns from leadership to develop Operating Thetan (OT) levels Flag Service Organization of dedicated members entrusted with teachings Flag Ship Service Organization quartered on ship Freewinds provides highest level of OT training Sea Organization – fraternal religious order comprised of most dedicated Scientologists

38. Scientology operates mainly through local churches and missions Oversight done by Church of Scientology International (CSI) – coordinates activities of the movement and promotes church internationally Religious Technology Center (RTC) has ultimate authority for teachings Charged with ensuring church procedures are followed fully and “spiritual technology” used correctly

39. Controversy & Present Status Introduction as “mental therapy” drew criticism: Accused of practicing medicine without a license and disputed Dianetic’s understanding of the human mind Church developed strong opposition against the use of medicine to treat mental illness 1958 – IRS begins action against the church for the practice of selling counseling services 1963 – FDA raids Washington, D.C. church 1966 – church creates Guardian’s Office to defend the church 1970s – action of Guardian’s Office leads to arrest and conviction of officers for multiple crimes

40. Despite many lawsuits, church granted tax-exempt status as a “genuine” religion Problems persisted: Several former members charged church with financial fraud, illegal practice of medicine, harassment of journalists, and vindictive actions against former members 1997 & 2009 – investigation by German domestic intelligence agency regarding allegations that church is a totalitarian organization 2009 – French court convicts church officials of fraud