New religious movement

The term New Religious Movement is used to value free as possible to designate religious or religiomorphe groups and replaced the former name from youth sect. There are several possible definitions of the term.

Definition criteria

Not all listed here meet definitions apply to any new religious movement. Typical criteria for new religious movements are:

• The membership consists largely of converts who were not recruited by family affiliation;
• The religion is atypical in the social environment;
• Members belong to particular social groups, often those of the new middle class;
• There is often a charismatic leader;
• Often there is a clearer boundary between members and non-members, as is the case with majority religions;
• Frequently changing organizational forms.

Commission of Inquiry

The Commission of Inquiry set up in 1996 "So-called sects and psycho-groups " of the German Parliament renounced the term sect. The Commission " is explicitly object to a general stigmatization of such groups, and rejects the use of the term 'sect ' because of its negative connotation from. " The German Basic Law recognizes only religious organizations, religious communities and religious communities. Therefore, there is state law " in this respect no difference between the Church and other religious forms of organization. "

New Religions (selection)

Among the "new religions ", according to the North American religious scholars Douglas E. Cowan and David G. Bromley include the following groups:

• Branch Davidians
• The Children of God / The Family
• Heaven's Gate
• Ramtha 's School of Enlightenment

• Scientology
• Transcendental Meditation
• Unification Church
• Wicca