A sect is a subgroup of a religion, politics, or philosophy belief system, typically emerging as an offshoot of a larger organization. Originally, the term referred specifically to religious groups that had separated from a main body, but it can now apply to any group that diverges from a larger organization to follow a distinct set of beliefs and practices. Sects often form when there is a perception of heresy either within the subgroup or from the larger group.
In an context, sect refers to an organized tradition.
Etymology
The word
sect originates from the
Latin noun
secta (a feminine form of a variant past participle of the verb
, to follow) which translates to "a way, road".
[
] Figuratively, it signifies a (prescribed) way, mode, or manner.
, sect refers to a discipline or school of thought as defined by a set of methods and doctrines. The various modern usages of the term stem largely from confusion with the
(but etymologically unrelated) Latin word
secta (the feminine form of the past participle of the verb
, to cut).
Sociological definitions and descriptions
Sociologists have developed various definitions and descriptions for the term "sect." Early scholars like
Max Weber and
Ernst Troeltsch (1912) were among the first to define sects within the church-sect typology, viewing them as voluntary associations of individuals who meet specific religious qualifications. Unlike churches, membership in a sect is not inherited at birth; rather, it arises from a person's voluntary acceptance of the sect's doctrines and disciplines, which requires ongoing validation from both the follower and the sect itself. Sects often attract individuals from marginalized or underprivileged social groups and typically form from schisms within established churches that align with the dominant social order.
Sects frequently critique liberal trends within mainstream denominations, advocating for a return to what they view as authentic religious practices. Their beliefs and practices are usually more radical and ethically strict than those of mainstream churches, acting as a form of protest against the prevailing societal values.
Sectarianism in the sociology of religion, is sometimes defined as a worldview that emphasizes the unique legitimacy of a sect's creed and practices, often heightening tension with broader society by maintaining strict boundaries.[McGuire, Meredith B. "Religion: the Social Context" fifth edition (2002) page 338]
In his book The Road to Total Freedom, the English sociologist Roy Wallis[Eileen Barker. New Religious Movements: A Practical Introduction (1990), Bernan Press, ] describes that a sect is characterized by "epistemology authoritarianism": meaning it has an authoritative source for determining heresy. According to Wallis, sects claim to have unique and privileged access to truth or salvation, and their followers often view those outside the group as being in error. In contrast, Wallis describes cults as being marked by "epistemological individualism,"
In other languages
The corresponding words for "sect" in European languages other than English –
Sekte (German),
secte (French),
secta (Spanish, Catalan),
sectă (Romanian),
setta (Italian),
seita (Portuguese, Galician),
sekta (Polish, Czech, Slovak, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Slovenian, Latvian, Lithuanian),
sekt (Danish, Estonian, Norwegian, Swedish),
sekte (Dutch),
sekti (Finnish), -
szekda (Hungarian),
секта (Russian, Serbian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian), σέχτα (Greek) – refer to a harmful religious sect and translate into English as "
cult".
In Buddhism
The
Macmillan Encyclopedia of Religion[Jones, L., Eliade, M., & Adams, C. J. (Eds.). (2005). Encyclopedia of religion (Second edition.). Macmillan Reference USA.] distinguishes three types of classification of Buddhism, separated into "Movements", "Nikāyas" and "Doctrinal schools":
-
Schools:
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Nikāyas, or monastic fraternities, three of which survive at the present day:
In Christianity
While the historical usage of the term "sect" in
Christendom has had
pejorative connotations, referring to a group or movement with heretical beliefs or practices that deviate from those of groups considered orthodox,
[Wilson, Bryan Religion in Sociological Perspective 1982, Oxford University Press page 89]
"In English, it is a term that designates a religiously separated group, but in its historical usage in Christendom it carried a distinctly pejorative connotation. A sect was a movement committed to heretical beliefs and often to ritual acts and practices like isolation that departed from orthodox religious procedures." its primary meaning is to indicate a community which has separated itself from the larger body from which its members came.
Orthodox
Roman Catholic sects
Protestant sects
In Hinduism
The
Indology Axel Michaels writes in his book about
Hinduism that in an Indian context the word "sect does not denote a split or excluded community, but rather an organized tradition, usually established by founder with ascetic practices."
According to Michaels, "Indian sects do not focus on heresy, since the lack of a center or a compulsory center makes this impossible – instead, the focus is on adherents and followers."
In Islam
Islam was classically divided into two major sects, known as
Sunni Islam and
Shia Islam.
Kharijites and
Murijite Islam were two early Islamic sects. Each sect developed several distinct jurisprudence systems reflecting their own understanding of the Islamic law during the course of the history of Islam.
Current sects
Sunnis are separated into five
;
Hanafi,
Maliki, Shafi'i,
Hanbali and Ẓāhirī. The Shia, on the other hand, first developed
Kaysanites, which in turn divided into three major groupings known as Fivers,
Seveners and
Twelvers. The
Zaidiyyah separated first. The non-Zaydis were initially called "
Rafida". The Rafidis later divided into two sub-groups known as
Imamiyyah and
Batiniyyah.
[Ahmed Cevdet Pasha, Kısas-ı Enbiyâ, vol. II, page 12.]
-
The Romani Islam, A special brand of Islam influenced by Romani mysticism emerged in the Western Balkans among the Muslim Romani people there.
-
The "Imami-Shi'a" later brought into existence Ja'fari jurisprudence. , , and Shaykhism were all ensued as variations of "Ja'fari fiqh", while Alawites and Alevis who are not the strict followers of "Ja'farism" are developed separately from the teachings of Ithna'ashari Imāms. valley in Sahara has been home of the Ibadi branch of Kharijte sect.]]
-
Batiniyya groups, on the other hand, were divided into two sub-groups known as and Ismā'īlīs. Qarmatians who did not follow the Fatimid Caliphate were branched from the Seveners. Those groups of Batiniyya who followed the Fatimids are the ancestors of today's Ismā'īlīs. Druze was emerged as an offshoot of Ismāʿīlism at the beginning of the 11th Century. Isma'ilism at the end of the 11th Century split into two major branches known as Nizārī Ismā'īlī (Assassins of Alamut) and Musta’li Ismaili. As a result of the assassination of Fatimid Caliph Al-Amir bi-Ahkami'l-Lah, Mustaali was once more again divided into and (Dawoodi Bohra, and Alavi Bohra).
-
The Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali Sunnis, the Twelver groups, the Ismā'īlī groups, the Zaydis, the Ibadis, and the Ẓāhirīs continue to exist. In addition, new sects like Black Muslim movements, Quranists, Salafis, Wahhabis, and Zikris have been emerged independently.
Former sects
-
The Khawarij were initially divided into five major branches: , Azariqa, Najdat, Adjarites and .
Amman Message
An Islamic convention held in
Jordan in July 2005, which brought 200 Muslim scholars from over 50 countries together, announced the official recognition of eight
Madhhab of
Fiqh[ The Amman Message summary – Official website] and the varying schools of Islamic theology.
[ The Three Points of The Amman Message V.1] The eight recognized Islamic schools and branches are:
-
Sunni Islam Hanafi
-
Sunni Maliki
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Sunni Shafi'i
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Sunni Hanbali
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Shi'i Imāmī (followers of the Ja'fari jurisprudence)
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Shi'i Zaidiyyah
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Khawarij Ibadi
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Sunni Ẓāhirī
In Jainism
In Taoism
See also
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Religious denomination
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One true church
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Religious exclusivism
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Religious pluralism
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Sectarianism
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Sectarian violence
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Non-denominational Islam
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Non-denominational Christianity
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Non-denominational Judaism
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Classifications of religious movements
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Cult
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Cult (religious practice)
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New religious movement
External links
