What are sects? Discuss their role in multi-religious societies with empirical examples. (UPSC CSE Mains 2018 - Sociology, Paper 1)
Sect is a part of wider religion. As in Buddhism there are two sects Hinyan and Mahayan and in Hindu religion there is Shaivism, Shakt and Vaishnava. So there are different sects in Christianity. Max Weber argues that sects are most likely to arise within groups which are marginal in society. Members of groups outside the main stream of social life often feel they are not receiving either the prestige and/or the economic rewards they deserve. One solution to this problem is a sect based on what Weber calls a ‘theodicy of dispreviliged’ (a theodicy is a religious explanation and justification). Such sects contain an explanation for the disprevilige of their members and promise them a ‘sense of honour’ either in the afterlife or a in a future ‘new world’ on earth.
When people choose to segregate themselves from a larger social structure in this manner, sociologists refer to this as sectarianism. The general purpose of a sect is to create a social structure that will permit the deviant belief system of the sect to persist and even thrive. The new social structure results in a schism, or division between the two groups. A deviant belief system is not necessarily bad; it is simply one that deviates from and is in tension with the accepted standards of the larger social structure. To better understand sect definition and meaning, consider some general characteristics of sects:
- They are a sub-society of a similar, larger social structure but with key differing beliefs.
- They function as a sheltering community for the deviant beliefs associated with them.
- They tend to validate their deviant belief systems by claiming their beliefs are authentic alternatives to the heretical beliefs of the larger group with whom they are in tension.
- Because outside influences can threaten the belief system, members tend to isolate themselves from other social structures, including the larger structure from which they broke away as well as from family and friends outside the group. This is especially true when the deviant belief system is radical and harmful, as with some cults.
Sects tend to arise during a period of rapid social change. In this situation traditional norms are disrupted, social relationships tead to lack consistent and coherent meaning and the traditional ''universe of meaning'' is undermined. Thus Bryan Wilson sees the rise of Methodism as a response by the new urban working class to the ''chaos and uncertainty of life in the newly settled industrial areas''. He argues that, ''newly emergent social groups are, at least in the, context of a society in which the religious view of the world dominates, likely to need and to evolve new patterns of religious belief to accommodate themselves to their new situation''. In a situation of change and uncertainty, the sect offers the support of a close-knit community organization, well defined and strongly sanctioned norms and values and a promise of salvation. It provides new and stable ''universe of meaning'' which is legitimated by its religious beliefs.
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