Toward a Theory of Religious Organizations

Four dimensions of variation in religious organizations are identified: bureaucratization, professionalization, integration, secularization. The religious organization is conceptualized as an open system within which structural arrangements are determined by structural compatibility, direction of ex...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal for the scientific study of religion
Authors: Benson, J. Kenneth 1937- (Author) ; Dorsett, James H. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Wiley-Blackwell [1971]
In: Journal for the scientific study of religion
Further subjects:B Insulation
B Clerics
B Social issues
B Popes
B Communities
B Secularization
B Seminary
B Pastors
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
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Description
Summary:Four dimensions of variation in religious organizations are identified: bureaucratization, professionalization, integration, secularization. The religious organization is conceptualized as an open system within which structural arrangements are determined by structural compatibility, direction of external pressure, and exposure to external pressure. Bureaucratic structure is incompatible with professional structure; professional structure is compatible with integration and secularization, while bureaucratic structure is incompatible with those dimensions. Pressures toward bureaucratization and professionalization are located in denominations. Pressures toward integration and secularization are located in communities. Exposure to external pressures involves power-dependence relations (affecting denominational sources) and membership heterogeneity (affecting community sources).
ISSN:1468-5906
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal for the scientific study of religion
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.2307/1385302