Throughout the world there are many religious movements with lots of different rules and beliefs. Religious movements can range from anything from a sect which demand strict rules for specific members to cults who do not demand such strict rules and have more freedom for their members.
One reason for these new religious movements appealing to others is the practical reasons. For religions such as Catholicism the main mass is on a Sunday. In our modern society sport is very popular and it tends to take place on Sunday. This means that people who may play sport or work may not be able to attend this mass and so cannot feel part of their religion which reduces social solidarity and cohesion as certain members may not feel they are part of the community. This shows how new religious movements will appeal to these people as they do not require you to attend mass on a Sunday but just of a time of your choosing when it best suits you, this means members can work their religion around their jobs making it more appealing.
Another reason that is put across by Webber is that it is the people who are categorised under the bottom of the social hierarchy that are more likely to be part of these movements. Webber says these groups develop a ‘Theory of Disprivilege’ meaning a religious explanation for why they are in their position in society. As sects normally promise a privileged afterlife these underprivileged people (mostly proletariats) feel that they belong to something bigger than everyone else, because of this promise of salvation they see themselves as superior to anyone who is not a member of their sect. This shows how to the proletariats these new religious movements appeal very much so as they promise them a better afterlife a place in which they can be free from the oppression they receive in the capitalist workplace.
However it is not just the disadvantaged