What are the religious sects, the role in people's lives, legal and prohibited in the world, in Russia, the danger of religious extremism. A religious sect is a closed group or organization of believers (can be official and unofficial) that has departed from the main doctrine of its Church, adhering to radical dogmas, claiming exclusivity and "divine truth" in the final instance.
What is a religious sect
Translated from Latin, the word "sect" has several meanings: doctrine, path, rule, way of thinking and acting, life. In the modern concept, these are believers who have departed from the dogmas of their Church, who took as a basis any provision from the doctrine and build on it their relationships within their organization and with the outside world.
In ancient Rome, the word "sect" had a neutral connotation, it was often used to characterize certain schools of thought. For example, Tacitus in his historical work "Annals" called a sect of Stoic philosophers. Already at that time, the word had a negative connotation, as the ancient Roman writer Apuleius called a group of robbers a sect.
The founder of Lutheranism, Martin Luther (1483-1546), gave the word "sect" a modern concept. "I warn you so seriously in view of the danger that numerous delusions and sects - Arians, Eunomians, Macedonians and other heretics - harm the Churches with their cunning …". Since then, people who disagree with the dogmas of Christianity, and therefore departed from them, have been called sectarians. Often for their own selfish goals.
Nowadays, the concept of "religious sect" retains a negative connotation. There have been cases in history when fanatical sectarian preachers called on their followers to voluntarily leave this life. So in December 1995, 16 followers of the Order of the Temple of the Sun burned themselves in a forest near Grenoble.
In the form of their organization and work, religious movements and sects differ markedly from the activities of the Christian or other Church. The preacher is an indisputable authority, all members of the organization obey him unquestioningly.
A distinctive feature of a religious sect should be considered isolation, withdrawal from the world into its often reactionary idea, which in fact has nothing to do with religion. Since ancient times, there have been individuals with charismatic features and the gift of eloquence, preaching the end of the world. And many fell for their tricks. It ended very sadly. In 1997, 39 adherents of the American sect "Gates of Paradise", expecting a collision of the Earth with a comet, committed suicide. Therefore, it is not surprising that extremely radical religious organizations and sects are prohibited in many countries at the legislative level.
Unlike Christianity, in Buddhism and Hinduism, the word "sect" does not have a negative meaning, but denotes an established tradition, founded by a guru - a teacher. Buddhism is not a religious teaching in the traditional European concept, but a philosophical understanding of life. Moral Law - Enlightenment, given after deep thought to Prince Gautama (Buddha), who lived in the middle of the 1st millennium BC. NS.
There are no rigid religious dogmas in Eastern beliefs, and there is no single governing body. And there are many religious schools, but all of them are not of a heretical, sectarian connotation. Although the term "syncretic sect" is sometimes used, it is about groups professing Buddhism in an extremely distorted form. In Islam, the main religious movements are Sunnism and Shiism, but the religion is considered the same for all Muslims. Most of the faithful are Sunnis (85%), the rest are Shiites, among the latter there are sects of Ahmadis, Alawites, Druze, Ismailis and others. The differences here are not in dogma, but in questions of its application. All the differences in the Islamic world are built on this, often leading to hostility and bloodshed, for example, wars between Sunnis and Shiites. Wahhabism should be called a religious and political movement that professes hatred of Christians. In Russia, the attitude towards him is negative, although he is not prohibited by law. It's important to know! The main difference between a sect and any world religion is the isolation of its members and the presence of a living "god" who pursues his own selfish goals and often leads people to suicide.
Varieties of religious sects
Religious associations of a sect can be totalitarian, satanic, occult, based on the sexual instinct.
These inherently pseudo-religious organizations, hiding behind allegedly true creed, pursue their own selfish, often misanthropic goals, force their supporters to give up all the benefits of civilization, for example, from the Internet and TV, to give all their savings to the needs of the sect, or rather, their teacher. The activities of religious sects pose a great threat to society; it is not for nothing that some are prohibited in many countries. They all have some common features, for example, isolation, the exclusivity of their members, but there are also significant differences. Let's take a closer look at this:
- Totalitarian sect … A closed community where the leader has undeniable authority. Members of the sect are prohibited from any information from the outside, communication with their loved ones. Only obedience to the will of the preacher, the slightest disobedience is severely punished up to death.
- Satanic sect … A secret and cruel, criminal organization that preaches the cult of Evil. Only heartlessness and ruthlessness towards one's neighbor is worthy of encouragement. Often, such communities arise in the youth environment, the followers of Satan are engaged in pogroms in cemeteries, they can commit ritual murders.
- Occult "brotherhoods" … The doctrine is based on belief in the supernatural, in mysticism. The leader - a medium or guru - preaches that the world is heading towards destruction and only he knows what is needed to save the soul. Members of the group engage in seances, summon the souls of the dead or famous people, who foreshadow the Apocalypse and advise the initiates how to avoid it.
- Sects where sexual intercourse is encouraged … Members in such groups pray frantically and go into a trance, consciousness dulls, will weakens. The teacher's call for free sex is unopposed. Group sex orgies are an inherent feature of such sects.
It's important to know! The activities of the preachers of religious sects are aimed at stupefying and subordinating people to their will, so that later they can use their labor and fortune with impunity for their own purposes.
The most common religious sects in the world
On all continents, there are many different alliances that unite believers. Many exist legally, in them the person strives for spiritual communion with God. This helps to gain self-confidence, especially if life has been pretty harsh. However, there are many religious sects in the world that pose a threat to man and society, and therefore banned in many countries.
Legal religious sects of the world
The list of religious sects that are allowed in many countries is quite long. Among them are Christian, Islamic, or, say, Buddhist and Hindu. Here are only the most common, and therefore the most famous. These include:
- Baptists … Protestant sect. It is widely distributed in the world (42 million adherents), including in Ukraine and Russia. They reject the main church sacraments: baptism and communion, they deny the priesthood. They are baptized as adults, instead of priests they have elders. They reject the cross, icons, do not believe in the saints and the Mother of God. Like the Orthodox, they recognize the Holy Trinity, consider the Bible to be a holy book, but interpret it in their own way. Opponents of alcohol consumption.
- Seventh-day Adventists … An international organization centered in the United States. It has over 18 million people. The seventh day of the week is read - Saturday. They expect the imminent Second Coming of Jesus Christ. A distinctive feature of the doctrine is the denial of the immortality of the soul. Services are performed in houses of prayer, all church offices are elective. Adventists promote healthy lifestyles and oppose divorce and abortion. They have a ban on the use of pork, rabbit meat, animal blood. To serve in the army or not is a matter of the conscience of every believer.
- Mormons … Followers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Book of Mormon from the Holy Scriptures is considered to be their main teaching, it is she who gives answers to all questions of life. The main position of Mormonism is that after the death of Christ's disciples, the real Church ceased to exist and appeared only in 1820. God called Joseph Smith to restore her. In their lives, Mormonites follow the thirteen dogmas of the Creed. Some Christian organizations do not recognize Mormons. The ROC considers them a pagan sect.
- Alawites … Shiite Muslim sect. The faithful revere Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad. Among Islamic theologians, there is an opinion that the Alawites have moved far from the traditional faith, their religion is a kind of mixture of Islam and Christianity, some ancient Eastern beliefs.
- Zen Buddhist Monastic School (Zen) … It is sometimes called "Heart of Buddha" or "School of Buddha Consciousness". It is widely distributed in Japan, China, Vietnam, on the Korean Peninsula. The essence of the teaching is enlightenment as a result of intimate mystical contemplation. Zen teaching is popular in Western countries, there even appeared the Christian direction of this Buddhist school.
- Osho sect … Founded by a native of India, Chandra Mohan Jin, better known as Bhagwan Shri Rajneesh (1931-1990). A follower of neo-Hinduism, a mystic, believed that through meditation one can achieve enlightenment. His meditation sessions with a combination of European therapies became popular. He preached freedom of sexual relations, founded the "abode of the wise" in many countries. Osho's teachings were widespread in the United States, but the sect became involved in the Salmonella poisoning scandal in Dallas. After that he was expelled from the country. Currently, Osho therapy centers exist in many countries and have gained recognition. After his death, he was named the most influential man in India. His books are published in millions of copies worldwide.
It's important to know! All legal sectarian teachings emerged from world religions, and although they come into conflict with them, they do not harm people and society, and therefore are widespread in the world.
Prohibited religious sects of the world
There are religious unions that, under the guise of faith in God, have a really cruel nature. They can be called sects of religious extremism, in such groups believers, fooled by preachers, turn into zombies, their behavior can cause great harm to people.
The list of religious sects prohibited by law in many countries includes the following notorious organizations:
- "Temple of the Nations" … Religious and political totalitarian sect. Recognized as the bloodiest in the world. Preacher Jim Jones preached Marxist ideas, created a colony-settlement in the wilds of Guyana, trying to build socialism with a "Leninist" face - the central street of the village bore the name of Lenin, the anthem of the USSR sounded in the morning. In November 1978, nearly 1,000 members of the sect committed suicide and took potassium cyanide. To date, there is no exact data why this happened.
- "Aum Shinrikyo" ("Teaching of Truth") … Japanese religious terrorist organization. Religious "leaven" is a mixture of Buddhism and yoga, the expectation of the imminent end of the world and the punishment of sinners. After the gas attack in the Tokyo subway, which killed 12 people, the leader Shoko Asahara was brought to justice. Sentenced to death, but the sentence has not yet been carried out. Before the terrorist attack in 1995, there were 400 thousand followers around the world, in Russia - 50 thousand. Banned in many countries of the world. In Japan, it exists under the supervision of the police, changing its name to "Aleph". Banned in Russia since September 2016.
- "The Manson Family" … Terrorist organization created by recidivist Charles Manson in San Francisco in the second half of the 60s of the last century. He preached the philosophy of devilry, considered himself Christ. He managed to instill such thoughts in his mentally unstable followers. Sectarians killed innocent people, took possession of their money and property. In 1969, the pregnant wife of director Roman Polanski, actress Sharon Tate, and four of her guests were killed. Manson was sentenced to life in prison, died in prison this November at the age of 84.
- "Order of the Temple of the Sun" … A mystical sect created in France in the 80s of the last century. Only the wealthy and educated were admitted to it, so that there were no problems with funding. People were being prepared to die. There is no need to be afraid of death, it is just an illusion. 16 people committed self-immolation in December 1995 in the mountains near Grenoble. Among them were 3 small children from 2 to 6 years old. In March 1997, five supporters of the sect burned themselves to death in Canada; in a suicide note, they explained that they had gone to Sirius, where the already deceased guru was waiting for them.
- Ho-no-Hana (Flower Teaching) sect … Founded in Japan in 1987. Religion - various new currents of Buddhism. An openly charlatan brotherhood. The "clear-cut" guru Hogen Fukunaga predicted serious illnesses, such as cancer, by the feet, and "healed" for a lot of money. He was brought to trial by the authorities and paid a fine of $ 1 million. Currently, the sect has re-registered and is called "Yorokobi Kazoku no Wa".
It's important to know! There are many pseudo-religious sects in the world. Under the cover of religion, they are committing a great sin. Taking advantage of the gullibility of people, they rob them and, what is most terrible, are often forced to leave this life.
Religious sects of Russia
There are enough Christian, Islamic, Buddhist and other brotherhoods and communities in Russia. The majority act in accordance with the federal law "On freedom of conscience and on religious associations" (adopted on September 26, 1997), which protects the health of citizens, protecting their personal rights and freedoms. However, there are also prohibited ones on the territory of the country.
The most famous religious sects in Russia that are prohibited by law are:
- "Jehovah witnesses" … The followers of this teaching have their own reading of the Bible, which is different from that adopted in Christianity. They believe that Christ came to Earth in 1914 and remains invisible on it to the present hour. The organization has millions of supporters around the world. The center is located in the USA. It was banned in the USSR, allowed in Russia in 1991. Until recently, it operated in a country called the "Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia," and had about 172,000 supporters. Banned only this year as an extremist organization. Books "Science instead of the Bible", "How to improve health", the Ministry of Justice included others in the list of forbidden ones.
- "White Brotherhood" … The sect in Ukraine was organized by a former KGB officer Yuri Krivonogov, who possessed the skills of hypnosis and psychological treatment of people. He was helped by his wife Marina Tsvigun, who declared herself the Virgin Mary, claiming that Jesus Christ was embodied in her appearance. There were many who believed in this nonsense. People sold their property, broke up with their families, brought their last savings to the "teacher", and they themselves settled in the settlements created for them. There were cases of ritual murders in the sect and an attempted mass suicide in Kiev. The new "prophets" were sentenced to long prison terms. After leaving prison, Tsvigun tried to organize a new sect in Russia. In the summer of 2013, the Yegoryevsky court of the Moscow region recognized the literature of the White Brotherhood as extremist, such that it offends human rights.
- Church of Scientology … Founded by American Ron Hubbard in 1953. The founder himself defined Scientology as a "science of knowledge" and considered it a religious philosophy that helps a person fight for survival in a difficult world. This can be achieved only by relying on one's own strengths, friends and in unity with the Cosmos. It currently has a large number of supporters all over the world. There are quite a few well-known politicians and cultural figures among them. In Russia, some Scientology books are considered extremist, such that they incite discord between people. By a court decision, the Church of Scientology of Moscow and the Church of Scientologists of St. Petersburg were banned.
It's important to know! Totalitarian religious sects seek to control all aspects of human life. Thus, depriving him of a bright personality, reducing him to the level of a zombie. These people are easy to manage and benefit from it. Watch a video about religious sects:
Religious fanaticism is a big trouble not only for the individual and loved ones. The state suffers from it. Fanatics with weapons in their hands urge to fight the infidels, as is observed today in Syria. Tens of thousands of people die in the "holy war" for the false postulates of their "teachers", hoping to receive eternal life in heaven. This is the great danger of religious sects that lead a person off the true Divine path, given to him in the teachings of the main world religions: Christianity, Islam and Buddhism.
