1986/06/01 by Kirpal Singh Khalsa · 16 citations
Social Sciences · #Religion, Society, and Development #Religion and Society Interactions #Politics and Conflicts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Middle East #Ideology #Legitimacy #Institutionalisation #Participant observation #Resource (disambiguation) #Sect #Movement (music) #Sociology #Public relations #Resource mobilization #Political science #Law #Social science #Social movement #Aesthetics #Philosophy #Politics
paper · doi:10.2307/1385479
published in Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 25(2), 233 (Wiley)
openalex publication_date 1986/06/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2025/11/06
This paper examins the financial activities, ideological foundations and goals of three new religious movements. The movements are: 3HO Foundation, Divine Light Mission and Vajradhatu. Research methods include participant observation, taped interviews, analysis of movement literature and examinations of group financial records. Results indicate that worldly success has become a religiously significant venture for at least two new religious movements. Within these groups there is a high degree of successful entrepeneurial and professional activity. There is also organizational and ideological support from the movements' leadership to the membership to become rich. Several interpretations are offered including historical precedent, sect-church transformation, institutionalization, a search for legitimacy and leadership influences. Resource mobilization is argued to be the most effective theoretical approach. Accordingly, movement direction is determined by rational leadership decisions in a practical attempt to realize projected goals and to promote group maintenance and survival.