Abstract
There are numerous examples of what Max Weber referred to as the routinization of charisma—the message of a charismatic leader being institutionalized in order for the message to continue in time. Another definition is that an institution is an organization or other formal social structure that governs a field of action. Sociologists have a long-standing interest in institutions because they wish to explain social order. Oxford Bibliographies Jonathan Turner (1997: 6): “a complex of positions, roles, norms and values lodged in particular types of social structures and organizing relatively stable patterns of human activity with respect to fundamental problems in producing life-sustaining resources, in reproducing individuals, and in sustaining viable societal structures within a given environment.” Again, Anthony Giddens (1984: 24) says: “Institutions by definition are the more enduring features of social life.” Institutions are marked by stable and predictable rule-based performance of functions and tasks. Institutions have a definite structure and institutional culture. Institutions also utilized individual and group sanctions to ensure compliance. The issue becomes what happens to the message of a religious leader such as Christ or Mohammed when their message gets adopted as the official ideology of an institution. While institutions are necessary to preserve the message, being institutionalized also changes the message to conform to the needs and demands of the institution. This paper examines the conflict between message and institution in organized religions is the West. How do institutions affect that message? The conclusion is the message invariably gets distorted by the institution.
Presenters
John RayProfessor, Liberal Studies/Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, Montana Technological University, Montana, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Religion, Institution, Message
