A Neo-Durkheimian analysis of a new religious movement: The case of Soka Gakkai in Italy

Abstract

Soka Gakkai is one of the world's fastest-growing religious movements and Italy figures among the western nations where this religious group has been most successful. This article aims at explaining this success-story: why has Soka Gakkai, and particularly its Italian affiliation, grown so rapidly in recent years? This research question gives the opportunity to assess the applicability of the economic theory of religion to the growth of new religious movements. Hence, in order to explain the expansion of Soka Gakkai, this work begins with an examination of the adaptive strategies developed by a Japanese organization in the Italian religious market. It is claimed, however, that a rational choice explanation cannot stand on its own and that we must take into account the dynamics of pre-contractual solidarity that promote trust, especially when the expected benefits promised by this organization to its adherents do not materialize. Moreover, these solidarity dynamics generate intense emotional gratification that works as a highly motivating incentive to sustain members' commitment and to prevent them from dropping out. This pre-contractual solidarity is actively produced and continuously reproduced by means of ritual interaction along the lines suggested by Collins's theory.My goal is to bring real theories into sociology, not to found a new theoretical sect. So, rather than suggest that rational choice theories are the future of sociology, I would suggest that, for the future of sociology, theory is the only rational choice.

Effervescence and Solidarity in Religious Organizations

“…The finding regarding barriers to outsiders is again consistent with research that has noted compatibility between IR theory and rational choice theories of religion (Collins ; Barone ; Baker ; Wollschleger ). Rational choice and organizational strictness theories have considerable overlap with IR theory.…”

“…These studies all use IR theory to examine how micro-level emotional dynamics impact broader organizational phenomena. Of particular interest to the current study, Barone (2007), Baker (2010), and Wollschleger (2012) all show ways that IR theory informs rational choice theories of religion. Baker (2010), for example, demonstrates that behavioral strictness is linked to enthusiastic styles of worship.…”

“…Sociologists of religion possess important conceptual resources for studying rituals and emotions, and so it is surprising that the subfield has been “particularly slow to catch up with the growing interest in emotion” in sociology, more generally (Riis and Woodhead :207). A handful of recent studies, however, have begun to make up for this deficiency (Baker ; Barone ; Heider and Warner ; Summers‐Effler ; Wellman, Corcoran, and Stockly‐Meyerdirk ; Wollschleger ). These studies all use IR theory to examine how micro‐level emotional dynamics impact broader organizational phenomena.…”

“…Movements with high levels of symbolic solidarity improve their chances of achieving their goals, from student protests to large-scale political movements (McAdam 1986;Snow et al 1986;Hirsch 1990;Summers-Effler 2010). Barone 2007;Heider and Warner 2010;Summers-Effler 2010;Wellman, Corcoran, and Stockly-Meyerdirk 2012;Wollschleger 2012). These studies all use IR theory to examine how micro-level emotional dynamics impact broader organizational phenomena.…”

“God Is Like a Drug…”: Explaining Interaction Ritual Chains in American Megachurches

“…Collins's (2010) theory of interaction rituals may be especially relevant for the study of religion as religious interaction rituals typically entail all four ritual ingredients. Some research has been done applying the theory to religious rituals (Baker 2010;Barone 2007;Heider and Warner 2010;Wollschleger 2012). For example, Wollschleger (2012:899) found that congregations in which worship services produce more collective effervescence have higher rates of church attendance because "people will continue to return to rituals that give them a high level of EE."…”