New Religious Movements
Abstract
Previous theories and research have focused on new religious movements as a
yvhole and their qualities as a .whole. This essay will use 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 paper will then analyze 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.