strategy

Developing new religions

Description:
Organizing religious movements which share a preoccupation with a material and spiritual salvation realizable in this world; charismatic leadership; and simple, popular forms of worship and participation. Direct access from the individual to the sacred is emphasized. Membership is drawn from across former hereditary and geographical boundaries.
Context:
While membership is drawn from across former hereditary and geographical boundaries, most participants are lower middle class. Considerable psychological and social support is provided by small groups for individual members. The new religions of Japan have had a phenomenal growth in the post-World War II period. They include Soka-gakkai, Reiji-kai and many others. The new religions have roots in Shinto, Buddhist, Confucian and Christian traditions.
Claim:
It is clear that such movements mobilize massive numbers of people, providing the community networks which urban crowding and impersonality tend to destroy.
Counter Claim:
Unlike geographical communities of past centuries, these communities based on new religions focus around a group of ideas, a basis far more transient and potentially explosive.
Broader:
Developing
Type Classification:
D: Detailed strategies
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
GOAL 1: No PovertyGOAL 2: Zero HungerGOAL 3: Good Health and Well-beingGOAL 4: Quality EducationGOAL 5: Gender EqualityGOAL 6: Clean Water and SanitationGOAL 7: Affordable and Clean EnergyGOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic GrowthGOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and InfrastructureGOAL 10: Reduced InequalityGOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and CommunitiesGOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and ProductionGOAL 13: Climate ActionGOAL 14: Life Below WaterGOAL 15: Life on LandGOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong InstitutionsGOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal