New Religious Moments

Abstract

Previous theories and research have focused on new religious movements as a whole and their qualities as a whole. This study uses the existing religious movement continuum and definitions of religion as well as three specific new religious movements to see how well they fit into the existing definitions of religious movements and religion. This study analyzes why new religious movements are negatively stigmatized in the United States and the specific qualities of these new religious movements to come up with a theory as to their existence.