Introduction
This research will mainly focus on two religious organizations these are The Westboro Baptist Church and The Woodlands United Methodist Church. These religious organizations are located here in the United States and they command a large following of faithful who attend these churches to seek the word of God who have been flocking them over the years to get the word of God. From my research I have carefully studied these two churches and how they conduct their services and also studied the church goers highlighting the differences and similarities between them. I have included both the contacts and the addresses for these religious organizations at the end of this proposal and all other relevant information about them. The Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) based in Topeka, Kansas was established by Pastor Fred Phelps in the year 1955 and it still in existence up to today as a primitive Baptist Church. However, the church WBC is not related with any Baptist denomination that we know of today since it is somehow different from other Baptist denominations that are present here in the United States.
- What is the theological orientation of this religion?
- How does this religion engage in environmental issues?
- What are some of the ideologies held by the religion?
- How does this religion engage in environmental issues?
- How have minorities impacted this religion since its inception?
- Does this religion include women in leadership positions?
- How have women influenced the leadership dynamics of this religion?
- In what ways does this religion influence its younger generations through its educational system?
Westboro Baptist Church on the other hand has several extreme ideologies from the research that I carried out. The church has been in the public limelight for its extreme views against several issues key among them is the church’s dissent towards homosexuality. These extreme views have made the church to be referred to as a “hate group” with the Anti-Defamation League monitoring its actions that are viewed as derogatory to most people in the society. This church is not related to any Baptism denomination that we know of. It started in 1954 by Fred Phelps who was hired by the East Side Baptist Church as a pastor to the church but after some time he broke down all forms of communication with the East Side Baptist.
The Church has over the years been involved in protest activities dating back to the year 1991against gays. The members of this church engage in picketing on a daily basis moving nationally to do their picketing. Their picketing mainly occurs in funerals of gay victims of murder, gay-bashing and others who succumbed to complications related to HIV/AIDS. The church has also held some protests against Jewish people and has been involved with picketing against these Jewish especially those in America. The church holds the view that churches such as the Roman Catholic Church and Islam are all related to devil worship. They also claim that all other churches that support homosexual activities are also involved in devil worship.
Significance of the study
Not all religious organizations share the same set of beliefs, but regardless of this, religion traverse all human societies. Religion has traditionally played a significant role in societies and human experience, shaping human response to their surrounding environment. Religion has always been a key pillar to the growth and integration of society’s world over and religion has greatly shaped the destiny and fate of many societies. Owing to the significant role of religion on societies around the world we have come up with this study to help us in understanding the history and organization structure into which members of these religious organizations are socialized. From the research questions used I am able to successfully carry out this case study and achieve good results that will give a picture of how these religious organizations operate. This study will also help us understand how religion has shaped or influenced how people react to the environments in which they live. It is the importance of religion that has made us carry out this study in an effort to find out its influence on several matters that are affecting us. This study has greatly improved my understanding of church organizations and the differences that exists between them as much as they all bow down to one God.
Literature review
This study will draw much of its information from the Johnstone’s book “Sociology of Religion” and a collection of relevant sociology literature on religion. This compilation of literature will provide a comprehensive understanding of sociologist view of religion as a social institution and a belief system. It gives a brief history of religious organizations, how these organizations function as well as discuss the two religious organizations considered in this study. This study also provides us with an objective examination and study of religion from social and cultural context. It helps us understand how religious organizations operates, their differences and similarities in all the activities they are involved with.
Methodology
The data for this study will be collected through observation and research on information about the two churches. This will involve attending church sessions for the two religious organizations during weekends and during church sermons. Some information will be collected through holding conversation with the church members. Research will involve collecting information from the web about the churches, their practices, beliefs, and membership profiles. All these information is to be collected in a systematic manner and stored to help us in coming up with a conclusive result that will reflect the two churches mainly based on their similarities and differences.
Limitations
The study will require more time to collect information about each religion while noting down important facts from them and checking how related they are. It will involve attending church sessions to study how they are carried out and everything that go on during these services. I will also interact with members of each religion to gather crucial information that will be used in the report. From my preliminary studies, I was intrigued to find out that the Woodlands United Methodist Church hold some of its services at night. I also discovered that most of the Westboro Baptist Church members believe calamities such as tornado and Hurricane Katrina are forms of punishment of the United States for supporting gay rights and for engaging in all other ungodly acts that have angered the Lord. The church members believe that God punishes people for their wrongdoings with calamities and accidents and this is their explanation to the fact that the country has been experiencing more cases of calamities and accidents recently. The Woodlands United Methodist church on the other hand did not hold any strong views on homosexuality.
Conclusion
Works cited:
Bates, Larry. Psychology of Religion.” Sociology of Religion Class (SOC 495). University of North Alabama. 2008. Print.
Johnstone, L. Ronald. Religion in Society: A Sociology of Religion. 8th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson/Prentice Hall. 2007. Print.
Appendix: Address
The Woodlands United Methodist Church
Phone: +1 281-297-5900
Westboro Baptist Church
3701 West 12th Street
Topeka, KS 66604-1730
(785) 273-0325
