Religious Sectarianism (Lectured by Mr. Samantha Illangakoon, recorded by ven Mon monk nai Suriya)
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Religious Sectarianism A
1. Church
2. Sect
3. Denomination
4. Cult
In the history, people did not divide the natural and supernatural or secular and profane into separate spheres up to the extent as they do today. In the late twentieth century, with some notable exception, scholars tend to theories on micro range rather than on whole society level. This tendency has led the scholar to describe many divisions within the religion. The scholar Thomas Luckmon understood this observation as church oriented religiosity in the 1960s. After that, the scholar examine churches and also the other means form of religious organization denomination sect and cult the pondering between all religious organizations are often very complete/compact.
Max Weber is generally credited with introduction the notions of church and sect. He characterized the church and the sect in idea type. The idea type is a conceptual tool which helps scholars make sense of compact social issue. Therefore, when Weber identify the key feature of a sect. He produced a social logical background Weber described a church as an institution with
1. A profession priesthood removed from the world with salary promotion professional rrr turn and a distinctive way of life.
2. Claims to universal domination.
3. Dogma and rites are rationalized and recorded in Holy Scriptures.
4. They are turned into object of a systematic education.
Weber adds that churches unlike sect consider themselves to be trust funds of external blessing offer to all. As a ruse, numbers are born into a church rather than joining it. He says churches have only arisen in Christianity and Islam.
A sect according to Weber is distinguished by these characteristics;
1. The principle of lay preaching and of every member’s preach hood.
2. Direct democratic administration.
3. Ascend as a voluntary association of qualify believer.
4. Must advocate, tolerance and separation of church and spate.
Religious Sectarianism B (Lectured by Mr. Samantha Illangakoon, recorded by ven. Mon monk Nai Suriya) 15th of February, 2011
Denomination and cult
A denomination is a sects which has cold down and become institutionalize body rather than an active protect group. Sects which survive over any period of time become denominations. Therefore, Calvinism and Methodism were sects during their early formation. When they generated great favor among their members but over the years. They have become more respectable. Denominations are recognized as more or less legitimate by churches and exist along sight them.
Cults resemble sects but have different embassy. They are the most loosely religious body and consist of all religious organization being compose of individual who reject what they see as the value of the outside society. Therefore, cult is on individual experience. People do not formally join a cult but rather follow particular theories of behavior. Members are usually allowed to maintain other religious connections/collection cult form around an inspirational leader. For example, from the west cults would include group of believers in Spiritualism, Astrology and Transcendental meditation.
The four concept of Churches, Sects, Denominations and Cults are useful four analyzing aspect of religious organization. But they have to be applied with caution partly. Because they reflect specifically Christian tradition as the cause of Buddhism indicate. There is not always a dieting church separate from other introductions. Hinduism for example is such an internally effected religion that it is hard to find pilchard of church and sect.