Religious Groups, Psychosocial Covariates of

Varieties of Religious Groups

Religious groups appear to show tremendous diversity in the specific beliefs they espouse. Nevertheless, when one examines the effects of religious groups on individuals and on society, important similarities emerge among those groups. The most basic distinction to recognize is that of formal versus informal religious groups. Social scientists place religious groups along a continuum ranging from informal, unorganized social movements such as social networks and friendship groups to highly structured institutional systems such as churches, synagogues, and mosques (Kearl & Gordon, 1992). Formal denominational [Page 926]groupings provide a stable substructure for the religious expression of the individuals involved. Marking the border between formal and informal religious groups are various renewal movements, which bring heightened levels of emotion to extant churches and which periodically lead to new denominations (Melton, 1999). Although informal religious groups have been recognized, formal religious groups have garnered the greatest degree of attention in terms of their effects and social dynamics.

Social scientists who reside mainly in North America and Europe have focused primarily on Christianity because of its role in shaping Western society. In this context, church-sect theory is used to differentiate religious organizations in terms of their orientation toward their social environment. A church is classified as being conservative to the social order, maintaining broader societal norms, while a sect displays some degree of tension with its social environment because of its focus on personal perfection and fellowship among members (McGuire, 1997). Cults, also known as “new religious movements” by those who study them, are in even greater tension with society by virtue of their unusual practices and beliefs. This continuum reflects the institution's support of society's prevailing norms and mores.

Religious groups play many important roles in society, perhaps none more important than that of socialization. Next to kinship or family groups, religion provides the single greatest force for social integration by capitalizing on a person's need for immortality (Kearl & Gordon, 1992). Religious groups attempt to improve society through sanctioning personal behavior, a function performed by teaching values and norms that unify the culture and promote harmony within the society (Hoge, 1996). This is facilitated by family, friends, and authority figures within the group who demonstrate desirable behavior and punish undesirable behavior. Through a fear of rejection, deference to others who are believed to have a better understanding of matters, and other means, religious groups have particular influence over behaviors that can be publicly observed by group members. In this regard, emotionally laden methods of dealing with deviance have been considered more effective than rational methods. Socialization also is affected by a strong collective identity that is crystallized when threatened by out-groups (Argyle & Beit-Hallahmi, 1975).

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