This document outlines different types of religious organizations: - Churches are large with millions of members and are linked to the state. They see their interpretation as correct. - Sects are small and exclusive, demanding real commitment from members. They see themselves as having the monopoly on truth. - Denominations are between churches and sects - they are less exclusive and tolerant of other religions. - Cults are loosely organized, individualistic groups that are seen as deviant by wider society.

1. TYPES OF RELIGIOUS
ORGANIZATIONS

2. CHURCH
• Large, millions of members
• Few demands placed on members
• Has a bureaucratic hierarchy - where lower levels are subordinate, or answerable, to higher levels
• Claim a monopoly of truth
• Universalistic
• Ideologically conservative and linked to the state
• See their interpretation of faith as the correct one
• Seen as respectable by wider society
Troeltsch

3. SECT (IN CONFLICT WITH WIDER
SOCIETY)
• Small, exclusive groups
• Demands real commitment from members
• Hostile to wider society – they do their best to avoid contact with the outside world for fear of
corruption
• Offer worldly benefits to those suffering economic or ethical deprivation
• Led by a charismatic leader
• Draw in members from the poor and oppressed
• Believe they have the monopoly of truth (believe their viewpoint is right and other religions are
wrong)
• See their interpretation of faith as the correct one
• Seen as respectable by wider society

4. DENOMINATION
• Midway between churches and sects
• Membership is less exclusive, they broadly accept society’s values.
• Not linked to the state
• Impose some minor restrictions on members
• Not as demanding as sects and are tolerant of other religions
• Don’t appeal to all of society
• Don’t claim monopoly of truth
• Accept their may be other valid explanations
• Seen as deviant by wider society
Niebuhr

5. CULT (IN CONFLICT WITH WIDER
SOCIETY)
• Least organized of all religious organizations
• Highly individualistic, small, loose knit groupings around shared themes and interests
• No sharply defined beliefs
• Many are world-affirming (accept the world as it is)
• Offer benefits to individuals suffering psychic or health deprivation
• Led by practicioners / therapists who claim specific knowledge
• Don’t demand strong commitment
• Accept their may be other valid explanations
• Seen as deviant by wider society
Neibuhr

6. MOVEMENTS
Wallis

7. WORLD-REJECTING
• Religious and have a clear notion of God
• Highly CRITICAL of the outside world
• Members must make a sharp break from their current life
• Members live communally and have restricted contact with the outside
world

8. WORLD ACCOMMODATING
• Often breakaways from churches or denominations.
• Focus on religious matters rather than worldly matters
• Members live typical lives

9. WORLD AFFIRMING
• Not organized and lack some conventional features of religion
• Accept the world as it is and promise followers success of mainstream
goals and values
• Tolerant of other religions
• Entry is through training
• Most are cults
• Offer this worldly gratification and special knowledge

10. EVALUATION (NRMS)
• Wallis offers a good explanation – not clear if he is categorizing them
based on the teaching or members beliefs.
• Ignores the diversity of beliefs which may exist within them

11. SECTS AND CULTS
Stark and Bainbridge 1985
We should distinguish between organizations based on the degree of
tension between IT and WIDER SOCIETY.

12. SECTS AND CULTS
• Sects – result from ‘schisms’ (splits in existing organizations). They break
away from churches usually due to differences in beliefs. They offer
worldly benefits to those suffering economic or ethical deprivation.
• Cults – are new religions or ones new to that particular society. They
offer worldly benefits to individuals suffering psychic or health
deprivation.

13. CULTS: STARK AND BAINBRIDGE SUBDIVIDE
CULTS ACCORDING TO HOW ORGANIZED
THEY ARE.
Audience cults
• Least organised, no formal membership or commitment, little interaction through members and
participation could be through media
Client cults
• A consultant / client relationship, with therapies promising personal fulfilment
Cultic movements
• More organized, requiring high levels of commitment, claiming to meet all their members religious
needs.