29. Church-Sect—cult (original) (raw)

This chapter examines the church-sect-cult typology, arguing that despite criticisms labeling it as outdated, it remains a valuable framework for analyzing religious organizations. The chapter reviews the historical development of this typology, critiques against it, and explores alternative methodologies for classifying religious groups. Ultimately, it advocates for a typology centered on the 'mode of membership' as the key distinguishing characteristic, contrasting it with other approaches that emphasize societal tension.