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'''New religious movement''' (NRM) is a term used to refer to a [[religion|religious]] faith or an ethical, [[spiritual]], or philosophical [[movement]] of recent [[origin]] that is not part of an established denomination, church, or religious [[tradition|body]].

'''New religious movement''' (NRM) is a term used to refer to a [[religion|religious]] faith or an ethical, [[spiritual]], or philosophical [[movement]] of recent [[origin]] that is not part of an established denomination, church, or religious [[tradition|body]].

The term NRM comprises a wide range of [[movements]] ranging from loose affiliations based on novel approaches to [[spirituality]] or religion to communitarian enterprises that demand a considerable amount of [[group]] conformity and a social [[identity]] that separates its adherents from mainstream [[society]]. Its use is not [[universal]]ly accepted among the groups to which it is applied.[1]

The term NRM comprises a wide range of [[movements]] ranging from loose affiliations based on novel approaches to [[spirituality]] or religion to communitarian enterprises that demand a considerable amount of [[group]] conformity and a social [[identity]] that separates its adherents from mainstream [[society]]. Its use is not [[universal]]ly accepted among the groups to which it is applied.[1]

==History of the term==

==History of the term==

As a field of [[intellectual|scholarly]] endeavor, the study of New Religions emerged in Japan in the wake of the explosion of religious innovation following the [[Second World War]]. Even the name new religions is a direct translation of "shinshukyo", which Japanese [[sociologist]]s coined to refer to this [[phenomenon]]. The term was adopted in turn by Western scholars as an alternative to the older term [[cult]], which acquired a pejorative connotation during the 1970s, and was subsequently used indiscriminately by lay critics to disparage faiths whose doctrines they saw as unusual or heretical.[2] A number of scholars, especially in the [[sociology of religion]], use "new religious movement" to describe non-mainstream religions, while others use the term for benign alternative religions and reserve "cult" for groups - whether religious, psychotherapeutic, political or commercial - they believe to be extremely manipulative and exploitative.[3]

As a field of [[intellectual|scholarly]] endeavor, the study of New Religions emerged in Japan in the wake of the explosion of religious innovation following the [[Second World War]]. Even the name new religions is a direct translation of "shinshukyo", which Japanese [[sociologist]]s coined to refer to this [[phenomenon]]. The term was adopted in turn by Western scholars as an alternative to the older term [[cult]], which acquired a pejorative connotation during the 1970s, and was subsequently used indiscriminately by lay critics to disparage faiths whose doctrines they saw as unusual or heretical.[2] A number of scholars, especially in the [[sociology of religion]], use "new religious movement" to describe non-mainstream religions, while others use the term for benign alternative religions and reserve "cult" for groups - whether religious, psychotherapeutic, political or commercial - they believe to be extremely manipulative and exploitative.[3]

Debates among [[academic]]s on the acceptability of the word cult continue. Similarly, no consensus has been reached in the definition of new religious movement among scholars.

Debates among [[academic]]s on the acceptability of the word cult continue. Similarly, no consensus has been reached in the definition of new religious movement among scholars.

An article on the categorization of new religious movements in U.S. print media published by The Association for the Sociology of Religion (formerly the American Catholic Sociological Society), criticizes the print media for failing to recognize social-scientific efforts in the area of new religious movements, and its tendency to use popular or anti-cultist definitions rather than social-scientific [[insight]], and asserts that "The failure of the print media to recognize social-scientific efforts in the area of religious movement organizations impels us to add yet another failing mark to the media report card Weiss (1985) has constructed to assess the media's reporting of the [[social sciences]]."[7]

An article on the categorization of new religious movements in U.S. print media published by The Association for the Sociology of Religion (formerly the American Catholic Sociological Society), criticizes the print media for failing to recognize social-scientific efforts in the area of new religious movements, and its tendency to use popular or anti-cultist definitions rather than social-scientific [[insight]], and asserts that "The failure of the print media to recognize social-scientific efforts in the area of religious movement organizations impels us to add yet another failing mark to the media report card Weiss (1985) has constructed to assess the media's reporting of the [[Social Sciences|social sciences]]."[7]

NRMs are diverse in their [[beliefs]], [[practice]]s, organization, and societal acceptance. Irving Hexham and Karla Poewe have consequently proposed that there are NRMs, particularly those who have gained adherents in a number of nations, which can be understood as forming global sub-[[culture]]s.

NRMs are diverse in their [[beliefs]], [[practice]]s, organization, and societal acceptance. Irving Hexham and Karla Poewe have consequently proposed that there are NRMs, particularly those who have gained adherents in a number of nations, which can be understood as forming global sub-[[culture]]s.

At the time of their foundation, the religious traditions considered "established" or "mainstream" today were seen as new religious movements. For example, [[Christianity]] was opposed by people within [[Judaism]] and within the Roman culture as sacrilege toward existing doctrines. Likewise, Protestant Christianity was originally seen—and is still considered by some today—as a new religious movement or breakaway development.

At the time of their foundation, the religious traditions considered "established" or "mainstream" today were seen as new religious movements. For example, [[Christianity]] was opposed by people within [[Judaism]] and within the Roman culture as sacrilege toward existing doctrines. Likewise, Protestant Christianity was originally seen—and is still considered by some today—as a new religious movement or breakaway development.

In similar fashion , some of the contemporary naturalistic religions(Naturalism ([[philosophy]])) have evolved out of traditional Christianity and Judaism via [[process]] theology or using the term ‘God’ as a [[metaphor]]. Others have emerged via a dominating scientific [[perspective]] or by [[atheist]]ic rebellion to the established [[beliefs]] of their [[culture]]. Still others have added a religious ingredient to their humanistic [[thinking]]. Most of these see the [[ritual]]/spiritual aspects of religious practice as necessary for broad adoption by many people. Examples are Religious Naturalism, Scientific Pantheism, Religious Humanism and some liberal Unitarians, Quakers and Jews.

In similar fashion , some of the contemporary naturalistic religions(Naturalism ([[philosophy]])) have evolved out of traditional Christianity and Judaism via [[process]] theology or using the term ‘God’ as a [[metaphor]]. Others have emerged via a dominating scientific [[perspective]] or by [[atheistic]] rebellion to the established [[beliefs]] of their [[culture]]. Still others have added a religious ingredient to their humanistic [[thinking]]. Most of these see the [[ritual]]/spiritual aspects of religious practice as necessary for broad adoption by many people. Examples are Religious Naturalism, Scientific Pantheism, Religious Humanism and some liberal Unitarians, Quakers and Jews.

==Criticism==

==Criticism==

The Foundation against Intolerance of Religious Minorities, associated with the Adidam NRM, sees the use of terms "cult" and "cult leader" to suggest that these are to be detested, avoided at whatever cost and see this as the exercise of prejudice and discrimination against them in the same manner as "nigger" and "commie" were used in the past to denigrate blacks and Communists.[13]

The Foundation against Intolerance of Religious Minorities, associated with the Adidam NRM, sees the use of terms "cult" and "cult leader" to suggest that these are to be detested, avoided at whatever cost and see this as the exercise of prejudice and discrimination against them in the same manner as "nigger" and "commie" were used in the past to denigrate blacks and Communists.[13]

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==

#Coney, J. (1998) “A response to Religious Liberty in Western Europe by Massimo Introvigne” ISKON Communications Journal, 5(2)

#Coney, J. (1998) “A response to Religious Liberty in Western Europe by Massimo Introvigne” ISKON Communications Journal, 5(2)

#Introvigne, Massimo (June 15, 2001). "The Future of Religion and the Future of New Religions". http://www.cesnur.org/2001/mi_june03.htm.  

#Introvigne, Massimo (June 15, 2001). "The Future of Religion and the Future of New Religions". https://www.cesnur.org/2001/mi_june03.htm.  

#Langone, Michael D.Secular and Religious Critiques of Cults: Complementary Visions, Not Irresolvable Conflicts,  

#Langone, Michael D.Secular and Religious Critiques of Cults: Complementary Visions, Not Irresolvable Conflicts,  

#Encyclopaedia Britannica Online Academic Edition, New Religious Movements

#Encyclopaedia Britannica Online Academic Edition, New Religious Movements

#Wollersheim v. Church of Scientology, 212 Cal.App.3d 872 (California Court of Appeal, Second District July 18, 1989).

#Wollersheim v. Church of Scientology, 212 Cal.App.3d 872 (California Court of Appeal, Second District July 18, 1989).

#Introvigne, Massimo, "So Many Evil Things": Anti-Cult Terrorism via the Internet,  

#Introvigne, Massimo, "So Many Evil Things": Anti-Cult Terrorism via the Internet,  

#Barker, Eileen, [http://www.fathom.com/feature/121938/ Introducing New Religious Movements],  

#Barker, Eileen, [https://www.fathom.com/feature/121938/ Introducing New Religious Movements],  

#The Foundation against Intolerance of Religious Minorities

#The Foundation against Intolerance of Religious Minorities

==External links==

==External links==

* [http://www.academicinfo.net/nrms.html AcademicInfo: Religious Movements Gateway - Directory of Online Resources]

* [https://www.academicinfo.net/nrms.html AcademicInfo: Religious Movements Gateway - Directory of Online Resources]

* [http://hirr.hartsem.edu/denom/new_religious_movements.html Hartford Institute of Religious Research: New religious movements]

* [https://hirr.hartsem.edu/denom/new_religious_movements.html Hartford Institute of Religious Research: New religious movements]

* [http://www.skepsis.nl/onlinetexts.html Online texts about NRMs]

* [https://www.skepsis.nl/onlinetexts.html Online texts about NRMs]

* [http://www.psychwww.com/psyrelig/sssrres.htm SSSR Resolution on New Religious Groups]

* [https://www.psychwww.com/psyrelig/sssrres.htm SSSR Resolution on New Religious Groups]

* [http://web.uni-marburg.de/religionswissenschaft/journal/diskus/ Diskus] The on-disk journal of international Religious Studies

* [https://web.uni-marburg.de/religionswissenschaft/journal/diskus/ Diskus] The on-disk journal of international Religious Studies

* [http://law.jrank.org/pages/9755/Religion.html Law Encyclopedia]

* [https://law.jrank.org/pages/9755/Religion.html Law Encyclopedia]

[[Category: Sociology]]

[[Category: Sociology]]

[[Category: Religion]]

[[Category: Religion]]