FORMS OF RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
Forms of religious organizations About the religious organization Characteristics
Church Churches are religious organizations that
have become institutionalized. They are
supported by society’s norms and values and
have become an active part of the affairs of
society. Their engagement in society does not
necessarily mean that they have compromised
their core values and beliefs.
Example: Roman Catholicism
Denomination A denomination is an organization that bears
several features of a church. Denominations
tend to exhibit features of adjustment to the
wider society. They support and are
supported by the institutional structures of
society and they endorse and embrace the
basic values and beliefs of the society.
Examples: the Lutherans and Methodists.
Sect These are religious organizations that reject the
social environment in which they reside.
Examples of these are the Shakers, who reject
sexual relations, and nineteenth-century
 it tends to be large, with inclusive
membership;
 it usually supports the status quo, and
is in low tension with the norms of the
society in which it is found;
 it is well-established, with a
bureaucratic structure and a
hierarchical ordering of positions;
 and has its affairs managed by trained
clergy and other paid officials
 formal bureaucratic structures
 hierarchical structure
 official creeds specifying religious
beliefs
 large in size
 established facilities
 predominantly middle-class
membership
 has a small, exclusive membership;
 is usually in high tension with society;
 is usually formed as a result of a split
 Mormonism, which rejected monogamy
Cult A cult is a religious organization that is
independent of the religious traditions of a
society. Cult movements tend to arise in
times of distress and rapid change where
established religions are unable to satisfy the
questions of individuals and members of
society as a whole.
Examples of cults are Scientology, and the
Hare Krishna Movement.
from a church;
 has a negative relationship with the
other institutions in society;
 claims religious legitimacy;
 has members who are normally
converted, rather than born into the
faith;
 is dogmatic and fundamentalist,
believing in literal interpretations of
scriptures;
 has no formal organization;
 is usually intolerant of other groups;
 is usually short-lived but may grow in
size and eventually become a
denomination
 introduces a new, different religious
tradition in the society and is usually
led by a charismatic leader;
 is very innovative, with new ideas,
new beliefs, and combinations of
beliefs
 if successful, can over time become a
new church or sect within the
mainstream tradition
 is loosely organized and usually short-
lived;
 rejects the norms and institutions of
larger society for a purer form
 has few coherent doctrines, makes
little demand for moral purity, and
rather, focuses on the personal
 benefits;
 usually appeals to the lower socio-
economic groups;
 may make use of astrology, black
magic, or transcendental meditation