Creating 'cult' typologies: Some strategic considerations
A great number of quite different typologies for cults (or new religious movements) have been fashioned over the last 30 years. This paper provides an assessment of these efforts by means of a formal analysis of the nature and limitations of church-sect-cult typologizing in general and the strategic...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Carfax Publ.
[1997]
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In: |
Journal of contemporary religion
Year: 1997, Volume: 12, Issue: 3, Pages: 363-381 |
Online Access: |
Volltext (Resolving-System) |
Summary: | A great number of quite different typologies for cults (or new religious movements) have been fashioned over the last 30 years. This paper provides an assessment of these efforts by means of a formal analysis of the nature and limitations of church-sect-cult typologizing in general and the strategic options available for creating cult typologies in particular. An argument is advanced for developing cult typologies with a simplicity of substantive focus and maximum flexibility, that can be integrated into a broader nested framework of types of religious organizations. This is best achieved by using Weber's original criterion of mode of membership, with its consequent implications for forms of organization and patterns of commitment. |
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ISSN: | 1469-9419 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of contemporary religion
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/13537909708580811 |