Abstract:

Sociology of religion nowadays is predominantly focused on the study of new religious movements. These religious movements differ significantly in some one or more respects as to belief or practice from mainline religions. They also appear as variations differed from the religious traditions to which they are linked. For example, ‘Bible-based’ (Christianity), ‘Eastern’ (Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, Sufi/Moslem), ‘satanic’ (Satan worship), and ‘eclectic’ (drawing on several traditions) groups. Therefore, in spite of the phenomena of new religious movements is difficult to classify, various typological attempts have been made. This paper presents an evaluation of these typologies.

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