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Presentation and Paper Assignment #2: Assessing a Religious Group

Paper Due: May 15th

Presentations take place: May 6 - 15

Religious Group Profile #2: Non-Christian Groups

Basics: Create a profile of a religious group outside of the US mainstream by compiling several content areas. You may work with your research partners as much as desired, but everyone must turn in their own report.

Unlike the report #1, this report does not require visiting a religious group in person, provided you can view a video of their services online.

Content: The key areas of content are listed below.

Creativity: You are creating an attractive profile of your religious group. I expect you to include visuals, formatting or even charts/graphs if appropriate to "punch up" your report.

Length: I expect a report of, at minimum, fifteen pages. However, take the space you need to provide the necessary content. If you utilize many images, etc. your report could easily be much longer.

Content Areas

NOTE: You do not need to follow the order listed here. Organize information as you see fit and as makes sense for your group.

1. Name and group type

a. Define your group as a church, sect, or cult within the U.S. content and explain why

2. Visuals

a. Include key visuals throughout the report

b. Distinctive symbols/icons?

c. Typical place of worship?

3. History/Origins/Structure

Briefly describe the history/origins of your group, including information such as:

a. founder(s)

b. key places, dates or events

c. Describe the leadership structure of your group. Does it have a hierarchical system of authority (such as having Bishops, Archbishops, etc?). How does one become a priest/rabbi/minister/pastor of the religion?

4. Teachings

What are your organizations key religious teachings? Provide a good snapshot about what they believe, which may or may not include answers to the following questions:

a. What is the nature of God? What is God like according to the organization?

b. What sort of "eternal" rewards does the group offer? Do believers go to Heaven?

c. How does one achieve those rewards? Must one be baptized? Simply be a member of the church? Live a holy life?

d. How exclusive is the group? Must one be a Southern Baptist to get to Heaven? Is it good enough to be a Christian of any type? Does everyone go to Heaven?

e. Is there a punishment system in place? Is there a Hell? A devil?

5. Practices & Lifestyle

What are your organization's key practices? What are members expected to do? What are they expected to avoid doing? Provide a good snapshot of what it takes to be a member in good standing.

a. Behaviors expected of members? Tithing? Regular attendance? Proselytization (sharing faith with others)? Mission work? Volunteering for the group? Distinctive styles of dress?

b. Behaviors that are discouraged? Premarital sex? Homosexuality? Smoking? Drinking?

c. Strength of requirements and prohibitions. Every group wants members to attend every week, but do they enforce it? Would a member be kicked out of the group if they cohabitated or just whispered about?

d. Any key holidays for the group?

6. Worship

Using observations of the group, videos and/or information from the group's website, describe what a typical service at this church is like.

a. Key rituals

b. Nature of the service - liturgical/predictable? Emotional and spontaneous?

c. The nature of the religious message

d. Characteristics of the attendees

7. Public Image

a. Does your group have a public image? Have they been portrayed in the media either positively or negatively?

b. Are there major myths, distortions or perhaps "disputed" claims about your group?

c. How do you think the "average" American would feel about your group?

8. Likelihood of Growth

a. Using the 10 factors outlined in class and in the article "Why the Jehovah's witnesses grow so rapidly: A theoretical application," make a prediction for the group's future success

b. For each factor, briefly explain the factor, then explain how your group appears to be doing on this factor

c. Based on your overall assessment, predict what you think will happen with the group in the future

d. NOTE: Even if you are studying a group such as Buddhists, you are finding examples of that group in the United States and assessing their likelihood of success in this environment.

e. NOTE: For many groups, it will not be possible to find information on some factors. It is OK to indicate that, for example, "We could not locate any information on how the group socializes young members." This is only problematic if you cannot find information for the majority of factors.