1975/01/01 by Roy Wallis · 4 citations
Arts and Humanities · #Religious Studies and Spiritual Practices #Folklore, Mythology, and Literature Studies #Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies
paper · doi:10.1177/003803857500900105
openalex publication_date 1975/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
Prevailing conceptions of the cult are criticized. A new typology of religious collectivities is elaborated and related to a theory of the development of cults. This theory claims that a central feature of the cult is `epistemological individualism'. The central characteristic of the sect on the other hand is `epistemological authoritarianism'. The process of sectarianization therefore involves the arrogation of authority typically on the basis of a claim to a new and superior revelation. Sectarianization is portrayed as a strategy with particular appeal to the leaders of cults faced with the problems of managing and maintaining a fragile institution. These processes are illustrated from the development of Scientology.