types of religious groups

church

Large, formal religious organisations.

• Often have millions of members.

• Run through a bureaucratic hierarchy of professional priests.

• Claim a monopoly of religious truth.

• Universalistic – aim to include the whole of society.

• Usually closely linked to the state.

• Tend to attract higher social classes.

• Low commitment required from members.

Example: Catholic Church

sects

Small, exclusive religious groups.

• Often break away from existing churches.

• Require high commitment from members.

• Often hostile to wider society.

• Attract members from the poor or oppressed.

• Often led by a charismatic leader rather than bureaucracy.

• Also believe they hold the true religious message.

denomination

middle position between churches and sects.

• Less exclusive than sects.

• Do not claim to represent the whole society.

• Not linked to the state.

• Accept society’s values but impose some restrictions (e.g., alcohol rules).

• Tolerant of other religions and do not claim exclusive truth.

Example: Methodism

cult

Small, loosely organised religious groups.

• Highly individualistic.

• Usually small and loosely structured.

• Led by therapists or practitioners claiming special knowledge.

• Followers are often customers rather than members.

• Low commitment required.

• Often aim to improve life in this world.

wallis

1. How groups see themselves

• Churches and sects: claim they have the only correct truth.

• Denominations and cults: accept multiple valid interpretations.

2. How society sees them

• Churches and denominations: viewed as legitimate and respectable.

• Sects and cults: seen as deviant.

religious diversity

• Churches once had a religious monopoly, especially before the Protestant Reformation.

• Today there is much more religious diversity.

• Churches now compete like denominations rather than dominating society.

NRM

Since the 1960s, many new religions have appeared.

Examples include:

• Unification Church

• Krishna Consciousness

• Transcendental Meditation

Wallis grouped NRMs by how they relate to society.

world rejecting NRM

Groups that reject mainstream society.

Characteristics:

• Highly critical of society.

• Members must make a sharp break with their old lives.

• Often live communally with limited outside contact.

• Strict moral codes.

• Often accused of brainwashing.

Examples include:

• Unification Church

• Peoples Temple

world accommodating NRM

Groups that neither reject nor fully accept society.

• Often break away from existing religions.

• Focus on spiritual renewal.

• Members usually live normal everyday lives.

Example: Neo-Pentecostal groups.

world affirming NRM

Groups that accept society and aim to help individuals succeed.

Characteristics:

• Offer spiritual techniques or special knowledge.

• Promise success, happiness, or self-improvement.

• Usually non-exclusive and tolerant of other religions.

• Followers often act as clients or customers.

• Require little commitment.

Examples:

• Scientology

• Soka Gakkai

ao3

Strengths:

• Useful way to categorise new religious movements.

Weaknesses:

• Hard to classify groups clearly.

• Groups may contain mixed beliefs.

• Some organisations fit more than one category.

sects

• Form through schisms (splits) from existing religions.

• Usually caused by disagreements about doctrine.

• Promise other-worldly rewards such as salvation.

cults

New religions or imported movements.

They often offer this-worldly benefits like:

• Health

• Personal success

• Self-development

Example: Scientology

Audience Cult

• Least organised.

• No formal membership.

• Little interaction between followers.

• Often spread through media.

Examples: astrology or UFO beliefs.

Client Cult

• Relationship between consultant and client.

• Offer services or therapies.

• Focus on self-improvement.

Cultic Movement

• Most organised type of cult.

• Require higher commitment.

• Members usually cannot belong to other religions.

Example: Unification Church