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TYPES OF RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
Religion organizes themselves, their institutions,
practitioners, and structures in a variety of fashions.
According to sociologists, they say that they use
different terms ecclesia, denomination, and sect to define
these types of organizations. Scholars are also aware
that these definitions are not static. Most religions
transition through different organizational phases.
For example, Christianity began as a cult and
transformed into a sect, and today, it exists as
ecclesia.
1.CULTS
This term is sometimes used interchangeably with the
term new religious movement (NRM). These groups are
often disparaged as being secretive, highly controlling of
members’ lives, and dominated by a single, charismatic
leader. We think this is negative.
Cults, like sects, are new religious groups. In the US, this term
often carries pejorative connotation. However, almost
religions began as cult and gradually progress to levels of
greater size and organizations.
Cult continuum because they have a mixture of sect-like and a
denomination like characteristics.
2. SECTS
It is a breakaway group that may be in tension with
larger society. They sometimes claim to be returning to
“the fundamentals” or the contest the veracity of a
particular doctrine. When membership in a sect
increases over time, it may grow into a
denomination. It is small and relatively new group like
cult.
For example, the Methodist, the Baptist protested
against their parent Anglican church in England
when Henry the VIII protested against the catholic
church by forming the Anglican church from protest.
A sect begins as an offshoot of denomination. When a
group of members believes they should separate from
a larger group.
Some sect dissolve without growing into
denominations where it is called “established sect”
such as Jehovah’s Witness, which falls halfway
between sect and denomination.
3. DENOMINATION
Is a large mainstream religious organization, but it
does not claim to be official or state sponsored.
Denomination is one religion among many.
For example, Baptist, African Methodist Episcopal,
catholic, and seventh-day Adventists are all
Christian denominations.
4. ECCLESIA
Originally referring to a political assembly of citizens
in ancient Athens, Greece, now refers to a congestion.
In sociology, the term is used to refer to a religious
group that most all members of a society belong to.
Ecclesia is considered a national recognized
or official religion that holds a religious monopoly and
is closely allied with state and secular powers.
One way to remember these religious
organizational terms is to think of cults, sect,
denomination, and ecclesia representing a
continuum with increasing influence in society.
Cults are least influential, ecclesia are most
influential.
