TRANSFORMATIVE MOVEMENTS |
Transformative Movements are those which employ radical means to support or expand covenantal organization and lifestyles
Transformative movements include movements such as
Unification ChurchThe Family
International Society of Krishna Consciousness
Branch Davidians
Orientation of Transformative Movements – Create innovative covenantal
forms as the basis for both contractual and covenantal relationships. Permit
limited contractualism within predominantly covenantal organization
MYTH
Construct myths that challenge and replace the myths that legitimate existing institutions so as to bring those institutions under religious authorization
Family – Existing family relationships are depicted as based on a physical, legal connection rather than a spiritual foundationConstruct myths that create dramatic discontinuity between the transcendent and everyday realms by creating discontinuity between the divine plan for humans and the organization of the current social order. Sacralize community (covenantal bonds) and embeddedness in spiritual community as the natural condition of humans.Economy -- The established economic structure is depicted as based on laws of the market rather than spiritual community.
Government – The established political system is depicted as based on human political priorities rather that as moral leadership reflecting divine priorities
Religion – Established churches are depicted as having become corrupted and fallen from their true divinely ordained purpose
Bureaucracy – Established organization is depicted as undermining responsiveness to divine revelation
Technology – Conventional technologies are depicted as operating independently of divine intent
Construct myths that define salvation as reunification with deity
and freedom to carry out
divine purpose
Construct myths that employ covenantal symbolism
FamilyMembers as children and leaders as parents
Heart over mind
RITUAL
Extensive ritualization of everyday life to maintain continuous connection with the transcendent
Extensive ritualization of everyday life to maintain distance from conventional society
Create ritualistic demonstrations of the power of the movement and of covenantal bonding
WitnessingFundraising
Provisioning
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
Create organizational forms that eliminate institutional differentiation and incorporate all institutional forms in a communal organization
FamilyEducation
Economy
Government
Create organizational forms that remove individuals that remove
individuals from established institutional networks and engage in identity
transformation
New NameNew birth date
New family
New lineage