Sect

Christianity / Church / -

Sect

Sect
(latin secta — way, mode of action, school; Or, less likely, late latin secta — part)
Further, according to the first version, - from Ch. sequi "follow; Accompanying "(goes back to the righteous. * Sekw-" to accompany ").
According to the second version - from ch. secare "cut, cut off" (goes back to the righteous. * sek- "cut, cut").
The term used to refer to a religious group separating from the main religious direction.
In some sources, the concept of "sect" is treated more broadly. This is the name of any group (religious or non-religious, separated or new), having its own teaching and practice, other than the dominant church or ideology.
V. I. Dal defined the word "sect" as "a brotherhood that accepted its own, separate doctrine of faith; Consent, sense, split or heresy "(indicating that the word originated from the French language).

D. Ushakov defined the word "sect" as "1. A religious community consisting of people who have broken away from the ruling church and have accepted a new doctrine. Fenced off from communication with others, a self-contained group of people (disapproving.) "

From. I. Ozhegov: sect - 1) religious association, separated from some dogma and opposing it; 2) a group of individuals who have closed their small, narrow interests.

The word "sect" includes a historically conditioned subtext, and in Russian often has a pejorative connotation. Derivatives of this term "sectarian", "sectarian" and "sectarian" cause negative associations and are usually used polemically or demeaning. Due to emotional coloring, religious scholars are avoided using this term except in the description of historical processes, preferring the terms "religious groups", "religious organizations", "religious entities", "religious trends", "new religious movements". The word "sect" is often used by publicists and religious figures (in relation to other religious organizations) in a pejorative sense.

What is a sect

Here we have in view of not a sect, as a separated religious organization, but harmful.

Today sects are definitely destructive (destructive) religious organizations.
That is, if a religious organization leads to suicide, robbing its members or doing some other economic or psychological harm - destructive or sects in the negative sense of the word.

What is not a sect

In the 3rd century AD, the question arose: "what is heresy, and what is freedom of belief?"
Thus, the Symbol of faith arose. All those who profess this short and simple creed are generally recognized as Christians.

Speaking of Russia. Today in our country there are very strict rules for the registration of new religious organizations. If the organization exists less than 15 year, it has not yet proved its "harmlessness" and can not be registered.

If an organization is not registered, this does not mean that it is destructive. Today there are religious groups that are not registered in principle, having experience of persecution during the USSR and therefore refuse to provide lists of their members to the authorities.

If an organization is registered, then it is officially recognized as positive and does not endanger its members and others.