A Sociological View of Authority in Religious Organizations

The student of religious organizations is confronted with interesting problems when dealing with the concept of authority. Authority has importance in the organizational life of a religious group, just as it is a significant sociological variable in any organization. However, authority is also a the...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Bartholomew, John Niles (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Springer 1981
In: Review of religious research
Year: 1981, Volume: 23, Issue: 2, Pages: 118-132
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Parallel Edition:Non-electronic
Description
Summary:The student of religious organizations is confronted with interesting problems when dealing with the concept of authority. Authority has importance in the organizational life of a religious group, just as it is a significant sociological variable in any organization. However, authority is also a theological concept, and one about which religious groups are frequently quite deliberately articulate. After reviewing some of the definitional issues in both the sociological and the theological literature, this essay explores some empirical evidence on variations in the forms and expressions of authority in different American religious organizations. These variations are considered in terms of different polities, different levels of the organizations, and differing levels of action being undertaken by the organizations, for which authority is invoked.
ISSN:2211-4866
Contains:Enthalten in: Review of religious research
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.2307/3511923