Comparative Analysis Of The Ranjeesh Movement And Great Britain Societies

This assignment will compare two different societies the Ranjeesh movement and Great Britain, illustrating sociological concepts, and explaining their cultures, norms, values and inequalities. I’ll be showing that there are systematic differences between the two societies, and identifying that they have shared and dissimilar cultures; are organised but also unequal and stratified. Sociological perspectives will be applied including Functionalisms view on parts of society; disputing this perspective is Marxism, disputing both is Interactionism which I will also be outlining.

Sociological concepts are social organisations including religion, government, economic systems etc. Social values are what you as an individual believes in and what is important to us to define us as a person and also to benefit the community. Social inequality is unequal opportunities in things such as work, education, laws and cultural resources, due to race, background, beliefs, gender and social class. Crossman (2018). Social norms are behaviours which are considered normal and acceptable in society and taught by the family and through education according to functionalists.

Functionalism is a macro structure and was created by Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) he believes society has a ‘collective conscience’ and must share common values, norms and beliefs for it to function properly. Functionalists believe that like the human body society has to work together to make a whole, and has a ‘functional prerequisites – basic needs that must be met if society is to survive’. It is believed that factors such as family, laws, religion and education all contribute to the successful order creating ‘value consensus’. According to Thompson (2008) society would break down if families stopped functioning properly; family is seen as a pillar to society where ‘primary socialisation’ occurs and norms and values are passed on Sociology. Functionalists believe in meritocracy - which is an education system that the government believes everybody can climb up, and that if you work hard you will develop further which Marxism strongly argues against.

Marsixm was founded by Karl Marx and Fredrick Engles (1818-1883) Wikipedia, (2018). They support social injustice for ‘exploited’ proletariats (working class) at the hands of the bourgeoisie (ruling class) due to capitalism. Marxists believe that they ruling class want to underpay the working class to maximise their profits. It is believed that working class accept their exploitation as normal, and it will always be an ‘ideological control results in false class consciousness’. Until it is no longer accepted, the working class will always be below the ruling class. Marxists argue strongly against functionalisms view on the family and believe that the family ‘teaches passive acceptance of hierarchy. It is believed that some parts of society eg. ‘the family, maintains class inequality and capitalism’, disputing both sociological perspectives are interactionists.

Interactionism was created by George Herbert Mead (1863-1931) it is a micro theory and Interactionists believe society has been created by interacting with other individuals for example, of somebody smiles at you it is polite to smile back. It is argued that we have self-determination; and that depending on any situation or label we are presented with, will be able to act and adapt accordingly ‘influencing education’ this is called a ‘self-fulfilling prophecy’. The Rajeesh movement fits into this sociological perspective in some respects. Some examples of social norms in Britain are using manners, respecting elders, holding the door open for someone, having table manners etc. Examples of social values are, attending school, earning a living, donating to a local charity, using local shops and helping those in need. However, Ranjeeshes had different social norms, values, educations and family to contemporary Britain. Some would label the Ranjeesheeses or ‘orange people’ as a cult, others a religion. ‘The Indian mystic’ Wikipedia, (2018) and leader Bhagwan Shree Ranjeesh started ‘experimenting with meditation techniques’ at a young age. Becoming a young adult at the age of 24, Ranjeesh earned his First Class Honours M. A. in philosophy in 1956. In 1958 becoming a Professor and Public Speaker was the beginning of the movement. Starting in 1966 in India and lecturing to very powerful followers challenging orthodox religions; extremely knowledgeable in Sannyasa which ‘is one of the four age-based life stages of renunciation (rejection) within the Hindu philosophy known as ashramas’ Wikipedia, (2018); Bhagwan lead gatherings of 20, 000 to 50, 000 people. The majority would follow the movement to United States – Antelope Oregano (population 40 before the commune) in 1970-1985, becoming a sannyasin discipleship and having permanent residence in a modern agricultural free love commune, Ranjeeshpuram which was a city built by their own hands and free labour. Sannyasins didn’t complain because of their main value, Bhagwan Shree Ranjeesh. They had to pay a hefty fee to reside in Ranjeeshpuram, exploitation was rife but perceived as normal, fitting Marxisms perspective to a tee. Their daily norms consisted of psychotherapeutic dynamic meditation, laughter, sex and free labour. Sex was said to be very open in the commune. children learnt from, watched and ‘participated’ in sexual activities however, there is conflicted responses regarding this claim.

Education was informal but the ability to learn things were there, for example a young girl Hira Bluestone was a mechanic on aeroplanes at the age of 9 according to Siliman, (2018). However, there was a school in the commune but children were separated from the adults and left to their own devices. Inequality was accepted as a norm, sannyasins were required to take a new name and wear the same colour clothing to differentiate them from non-sannyasins. S

ocial inequality was in reverse to contemporary Britain, sannyasin women were no longer required to be, ‘wife or mother’ and were given more power to run the city. ‘Women held over 80% of federal positions’ in Ranjeeshpuram. Families were torn apart and the focus of sannyasin parents was to put ‘energy into personal growth, children came second’ according to. There was a lot of conflict between the Antelope population and Ranjeeshes. According to them ‘the movement turned their quiet town upside down’. Forcing the Renjeeshes into militancy was a bombing in 1983 of the Portland Hotel Ranjeesh.