Marching on the Margins: An Analysis of the Salvation Army in the United States

Most sociologists, using a multidimensional church-sect typology, refer to The Salvation Army as a sect. I use a single criterion, orientation toward secular society, from which to reinterpret the Army's history, including the American experience. I review present official statements of theolog...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Hazzard, John W. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Sage Publications 1998
In: Review of religious research
Year: 1998, Volume: 40, Issue: 2, Pages: 121-141
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Parallel Edition:Non-electronic
Description
Summary:Most sociologists, using a multidimensional church-sect typology, refer to The Salvation Army as a sect. I use a single criterion, orientation toward secular society, from which to reinterpret the Army's history, including the American experience. I review present official statements of theological and social beliefs and survey a sample of Salvation Army officers to determine their agreement with officially stated positions on the Bible, homosexuality, women, and abortion. I compare their views with those of evangelical seminarians and a GSS sample of conservative, moderate, and liberal Protestants and conclude that the Army is moving toward the church category while retaining some sectarian traits. It is part of the network of American churches, located in the margin between special purpose groups and recognized Christian denominations. Within the network of Christian denominations it lies in the margin between mainline and evangelical denominations.
ISSN:2211-4866
Contains:Enthalten in: Review of religious research
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.2307/3512298