REL 101 REL 101 Introduction to ReligionIntroduction to Religion

New Religious MovementsNew Religious Movements

OrOr

Cults and SectsCults and Sects

Sacred Community ReviewSacred Community Review

Religion informs processes of social Religion 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 social It can legitimize oppositional social

identifications – that is it can legitimize identifications – that is it can legitimize prejudices.prejudices.

Sacred Community ReviewSacred Community Review

If a particular community stands apart from If a particular community stands apart from the commonly held values of the the commonly held values of the surrounding culture, the community may surrounding culture, the community may become an object of discrimination or become an object of discrimination or persecution.persecution.

Sects - ReviewSects - Review

A sect:A sect: demands greater conformity of its members demands greater conformity of its members

than a churchthan a church is exclusive in membershipis exclusive in membership distances itself from the concerns of larger distances itself from the concerns of larger

societysociety claims to be the bearer of religious truthclaims to be the bearer of religious truth

Cults ReviewCults Review

A cult:A cult: is founded by a charismatic leader who is 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 its demands a high level of conformity by its

membersmembers is viewed with extreme suspicion by is viewed with extreme suspicion by

established religious communitiesestablished religious communities

What is the problem with those What is the problem with those definitions?definitions?

New Religious MovementsNew Religious Movements

NewNew Understood as a recent development relative Understood as a recent development relative

to older established religionsto older established religions

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, that Its overall aim must be religious in nature, that

is, offering a form of salvation either in this life is, offering a form of salvation either in this life or the next. or the next.

New Religious MovementsNew Religious Movements

Movement (can be understood in two Movement (can be understood in two ways)ways) It generally grows out of a current that moves It generally grows out of a current that moves

within a wider organization, or within society within a wider organization, or within society as a whole.as a whole.

It is in motion. It is in the process of changing It 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 Christian Jehovah Witness rejection of Christian

celebrations in the 1930’s celebrations in the 1930’s

Examples of New Religious Examples of New Religious Movements - MormonismMovements - Mormonism

Church of Jesus Christ of Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints the Latter Day Saints (Mormons)(Mormons)

Founded by Joseph Founded by Joseph Smith in Palmyra, New Smith in Palmyra, New YorkYork

In 1827 he received a In 1827 he received a revelation from the revelation from the prophet Mormon. The prophet Mormon. The prophet showed the text prophet showed the text of the book of Mormon of the book of Mormon inscribed on two golden inscribed on two golden tablets.tablets.

Jehovah WitnessesJehovah Witnesses

Founded by Charles Founded by Charles Taze Russell in the Taze Russell in the late19late19thth century century

Predicted return of Predicted return of Christ in 1879Christ in 1879

Rejected fundamental Rejected fundamental Christian beliefs such Christian beliefs such as the doctrine of the as the doctrine of the Trinity and the divinity Trinity and the divinity of Christof Christ

Christian ScientistChristian Scientist

Founded by Mary Baker Founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1875.Eddy in 1875.

Rejected the Trinity and Rejected the Trinity and all sacramentalismall sacramentalism

Reality exists only Reality exists only through the spiritual. through the spiritual. Other aspects of matter Other aspects of matter and mankind are unreal and mankind are unreal and illusory.and illusory.

Evil is an illusionEvil is an illusion

The Unification Church (Moonies)The Unification Church (Moonies)

Founded by Sung Myung Founded by Sung Myung Moon in 1954 in Seoul, KoreaMoon in 1954 in Seoul, Korea

Claimed a direct revelation Claimed a direct revelation from God directing him to from God directing him to continue the work that Jesus continue the work that Jesus failed to completefailed to complete

Believes communication with Believes communication with the spirits of deadthe spirits of dead

Well known for its mass Well known for its mass marriage ceremoniesmarriage ceremonies

Openly uses its operations for Openly uses its operations for the acquisition of wealththe acquisition of wealth