What is a new religious movement?
Q: What is a new religious movement?
A: A new religious movement is a term used to refer to certain religious communities, which are usually small compared to world religions and do not have a long history.
Q: What is usually true about members of new religious movements?
A: Most people in the movement converted from another religion, and the case where the parents and children are part of the same movement does not occur often. The members are all part of the same social group, for example, the new middle class.
Q: Is there a charismatic leader in new religious movements?
A: Yes, there is typically a charismatic leader in new religious movements.
Q: How does the distinction between members of a new religious movement and those who are not differ from mainstream religions?
A: The distinction between people who are part of the movement and those that are not can often not be made easily, unlike in mainstream religions.
Q: Does the organization of new religious movements remain the same over time?
A: No, the way the group is organized may change in new religious movements.
Q: What are other names for new religious movements?
A: Other names for new religious movements include sect and cult.
Q: Can you provide some examples of movements that have been called cults?
A: Yes, examples of movements that have been called cults include Scientology, Transcendental Meditation, Unification Church, Family International (also called Children of God), Branch Davidians, Heaven's Gate, and Wicca.
