New Religious Movements
| New Religious Movements | |
|---|---|
| Family | Modern / Global |
| Origin region | Global |
| Founding period | Mostly 19th century CE to present |
| Estimated adherents | Varies widely by movement; some have millions of adherents and global institutions. |
New Religious Movements is A broad academic category for relatively recent religious movements, communities, and spiritual innovations.
Overview
[edit | edit source]New Religious Movements include many unrelated groups with distinct origins, beliefs, scriptures, rituals, and institutions. Some arise from older religions; others form new syntheses or claim new revelations. Each movement should be documented individually and neutrally.
Key beliefs
[edit | edit source]- Highly movement-specific
- Often include new revelation, restoration, spiritual practice, or reform
- May blend older traditions with modern organization or global mission
- Should be described case by case
Practices
[edit | edit source]- Meetings or worship services
- Study of movement texts
- Initiation or membership rites
- Meditation or prayer
- Missionary work in some movements
- Community service
Places of worship
[edit | edit source]- Movement-specific temples, churches, halls, centers, or homes
Sacred texts
[edit | edit source]- Movement-specific scriptures and writings
Holidays and observances
[edit | edit source]- Founder birthdays
- Founding anniversaries
- Movement-specific sacred days
Branches and related traditions
[edit | edit source]- Latter Day Saint Movement - Restorationist Christian-rooted movements beginning with Joseph Smith in the nineteenth century.
- Christian Science - A movement founded by Mary Baker Eddy emphasizing spiritual healing and the writings of Science and Health.
- Theosophy and Esoteric Movements - Modern esoteric movements drawing on global religious, philosophical, and occult currents.
- Rastafari - A Jamaican movement drawing on biblical, African diasporic, and anti-colonial themes.