1. REL 101REL 101
Introduction to ReligionIntroduction to Religion
New Religious MovementsNew Religious Movements
OrOr
Cults and SectsCults and Sects

2. Sacred Community ReviewSacred Community Review
 Religion informs processes of socialReligion informs processes of social
identification and community.identification and community.
 It acts as an identity marker.It acts as an identity marker.
 It facilities the construction of community.It facilities the construction of community.
 It can legitimize oppositional socialIt can legitimize oppositional social
identifications – that is it can legitimizeidentifications – that is it can legitimize
prejudices.prejudices.

3. Sacred Community ReviewSacred Community Review
 If a particular community stands apartIf a particular community stands apart
from the commonly held values of thefrom the commonly held values of the
surrounding culture, the community maysurrounding culture, the community may
become an object of discrimination orbecome an object of discrimination or
persecution.persecution.

4. Sects - ReviewSects - Review
 A sect:A sect:
 demands greater conformity of its membersdemands greater conformity of its members
than a churchthan a church
 is exclusive in membershipis exclusive in membership
 distances itself from the concerns of largerdistances itself from the concerns of larger
societysociety
 claims to be the bearer of religious truthclaims to be the bearer of religious truth

5. Cults ReviewCults Review
 A cult:A cult:
 is founded by a charismatic leader whois founded by a charismatic leader who
remains the focus of the followersremains the focus of the followers
 normally claims a new revelation from Godnormally claims a new revelation from God
 demands a high level of conformity by itsdemands a high level of conformity by its
membersmembers
 is viewed with extreme suspicion byis viewed with extreme suspicion by
established religious communitiesestablished religious communities

6.  What is the problem with thoseWhat is the problem with those
definitions?definitions?

7. New Religious MovementsNew Religious Movements
 NewNew
 Understood as a recent development relativeUnderstood as a recent development relative
to older established religionsto older established religions

8. New Religious MovementsNew Religious Movements
 ReligiousReligious
 It must involve myths, rituals, beliefs,It must involve myths, rituals, beliefs,
symbols, sacred texts, etc.symbols, sacred texts, etc.
 Its overall aim must be religious in nature, thatIts overall aim must be religious in nature, that
is, offering a form of salvation either in this lifeis, offering a form of salvation either in this life
or the next.or the next.

9. New Religious MovementsNew Religious Movements
 Movement (can be understood in twoMovement (can be understood in two
ways)ways)
 It generally grows out of a current that movesIt generally grows out of a current that moves
within a wider organization, or within societywithin a wider organization, or within society
as a whole.as a whole.
 It is in motion. It is in the process of changingIt is in motion. It is in the process of changing
or evolving.or evolving.
 Mormonism’s position on polygamyMormonism’s position on polygamy
 Jehovah Witness rejection of ChristianJehovah Witness rejection of Christian
celebrations in the 1930’scelebrations in the 1930’s

10. Examples of New ReligiousExamples of New Religious
Movements - MormonismMovements - Mormonism
 Church of Jesus Christ ofChurch of Jesus Christ of
the Latter Day Saintsthe Latter Day Saints
(Mormons)(Mormons)
 Founded by JosephFounded by Joseph
Smith in Palmyra, NewSmith in Palmyra, New
YorkYork
 In 1827 he received aIn 1827 he received a
revelation from therevelation from the
prophet Mormon. Theprophet Mormon. The
prophet showed the textprophet showed the text
of the book of Mormonof the book of Mormon
inscribed on two goldeninscribed on two golden
tablets.tablets.

11. Jehovah WitnessesJehovah Witnesses
 Founded by CharlesFounded by Charles
Taze Russell in theTaze Russell in the
late19late19thth
centurycentury
 Predicted return ofPredicted return of
Christ in 1879Christ in 1879
 Rejected fundamentalRejected fundamental
Christian beliefs suchChristian beliefs such
as the doctrine of theas the doctrine of the
Trinity and the divinityTrinity and the divinity
of Christof Christ

12. Christian ScientistChristian Scientist
 Founded by Mary BakerFounded by Mary Baker
Eddy in 1875.Eddy in 1875.
 Rejected the Trinity andRejected the Trinity and
all sacramentalismall sacramentalism
 Reality exists onlyReality exists only
through the spiritual.through the spiritual.
Other aspects of matterOther aspects of matter
and mankind are unrealand mankind are unreal
and illusory.and illusory.
 Evil is an illusionEvil is an illusion

13. The Unification Church (Moonies)The Unification Church (Moonies)
 Founded by Sung MyungFounded by Sung Myung
Moon in 1954 in Seoul, KoreaMoon in 1954 in Seoul, Korea
 Claimed a direct revelationClaimed a direct revelation
from God directing him tofrom God directing him to
continue the work that Jesuscontinue the work that Jesus
failed to completefailed to complete
 Believes communication withBelieves communication with
the spirits of deadthe spirits of dead
 Well known for its massWell known for its mass
marriage ceremoniesmarriage ceremonies
 Openly uses its operations forOpenly uses its operations for
the acquisition of wealththe acquisition of wealth