Religious Movements |Get Solution

The main characteristics of New Religious Movements are: ·        They are founded by single powerful leaders [controlled from top] ·        They spring up quickly and may end violently [Jim Jones and Peoples Temple in Guyana; WACO, etc.] ·        They start small but can become international movements [LDS, Jehovah Witnesses, Christian Science, Seventh Day Adventists, etc.] ·        They are tightly organized – counter cultural movements [often disrupts traditional family life ties] ·        They address modern concerns in new ways [media savvy]. Based on the above characteristics, is it fair to describe New Religious Movements as cults? At what point do NRMs cease being “new religious movements” and begin being religions? Explain your answer using the example of a traditional religion such as Christianity, Islam, or Buddhism.