new religious movements - stark and bainbridge

Stark and Bainbridge distinguishes between what 3 cults

-audience cults -client cults -cultic movements

the blind cult of princess Diana

an example of an audience cult as it is sustained through the media. -people cannot get enough of her pretty face and clothes -people romanticise her life -forgive her for multiple affairs -forgive her for manipulative tactics -we forgive her because of her looks -worship based on externals is alwayss going to disappoint. -people blindly worship her because she is endearing and externally perfect

client cults

more organized as they provide a service to its members. for example spiritualism which allows people to contact the dead.

cultic movements

the closest to the definition of a sect. they are the most organised and provide a range of both material and spiritual support for their members. for example Scientology.

audience cults

the most individualistic and unorganised. for example astrology cult which is sustained through the media.

what makes cults different to sects

unlike sects which demand total commitment and sometimes require you to disconnect from your old life, cults allow people to continue their religious connections and often emphasise the importance of the individuals power. cults demand far less commitment and tend to be less organised. for this reason they tend to be short-lived.