Classical sects
A sect is a religious group or community that has formed, as a rule, within a certain religion around an outstanding leader (prophet, preacher, ….) or leaders and is prone to fencing off and opposing itself to the original confession. The main feature of sects in comparison with other religious organizations is their young age. As a rule, over time, sects either disappear or turn into full-fledged denominations, separate religions, or even enter the mainstream in their denomination (for example, Hasidism in Judaism).
As a reason for the indifferent or hostile attitude of sects to the surrounding society and culture, the priority of intra-group relations and values inherent in sects over state and public ones is singled out.
Sects are characterized by prominent doctrinal features that are generally regarded as false by the rest of the original religious group. Since a sect arises in a short time due to the activity of one or several people, it is initially small. However, later it can develop into a major direction (denomination) in the corresponding religion or even become a separate religion. In particular, at the beginning of its emergence, many religions can be called sects, including Christianity (considered by the Jews of the first century as a typical sect), Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism.
The classic sects also include:
- Mormons (originated in the first half of the XNUMXth century)
- Moonites («Unification Church»)
- Jehovah’s Witnesses (since 1931, formerly Bible Students)