New religious movement

A new religious movement is a religious or spiritual group that developed after the 19th century. These groups are usually small and have short histories. They are not mainstream religions.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica: "The term new religious movement has been applied to all new faiths that have arisen worldwide over the past several centuries."

Characteristics

In most new religious movements:

• Most people in the movement converted from another religion.
• Parents and children are rarely part of the same movement.
• The members are all part of the same social group (for example, the new middle class).
• There is a charismatic leader.
• There is a clear distinction between people who are part of the movement, and those who are not. (This distinction is not so clear in mainstream religions.)
• The way the group is organised may change.

Names

New religious movements have also been called sects and cults. These terms are problematic, though, because they have a negative connotation.

New religious movements that have been called cults include Scientology, Transcendental Meditation, Unification Church, Family International (also called Children of God), the Branch Davidians, Heaven's Gate and Wicca.

References