The term New Religious Movements (NRM) encompasses a diverse set of religious traditions practiced throughout the world. The only thing that these religious traditions have in common is that they began during or after the modern period, from around 1700 CE to today. Though many NRMs throughout history remained quite small and did not last for very long, some became quite successful, gaining many converts.

A formal definition of New Religious Movements (NRMs) is that they are sects and cults that have arisen since the modern period. Sects are reform movements within an established religious tradition. These reform movements can be thought of as new branches of an existing religion. Cults are religious traditions that seem to be completely new and unrelated to other existing religious traditions. These groups often center around a charismatic leader who attracts followers by convincing them that he or she has an important message for humanity.

NRMs have often been religious responses to changes in society. The pressures of the modern period initially centered on industrialization and its fragmentation of traditional American society. Today, NRMs continue to develop as responses to changes in society. Globalization and industry have continued to create new challenges to many aspects of American life. Many NRMs have arisen in response to these challenges, providing followers with direction and meaning in a changing world.

Many NRMs developed from within the context of American Protestantism. Other NRMs developed more loosely or outside of this context. This chapter will look at three religious traditions that emerged from within the context of American Protestantism: Mormonism, Seventh-day Adventism, and Jehovah’s Witnesses; and two religious traditions that developed outside this context: Scientology and Paganism.

Geographical Background of NRMs in America

Protestantism was a movement within Christianity against the practices and theology of the Roman Catholic Church. Protestant theologians like Martin Luther (1483–1546 CE) began to teach that God alone knows who among human beings is saved, and who is damned. Luther also argued that people can be saved by faith, scripture, and grace alone. These theological challenges to Catholicism often resulted in the persecution of Protestants by Catholics.

Protestant groups also fought among themselves. For example, the Anglican Church persecuted the Quakers and Puritans in England, motivating them to sail to the new world in hope of religious freedom. Beginning in the 1600s, many European Protestant Christians sailed to North America to escape religious persecution. For many Europeans, America was a newly discovered land where religion could be practiced freely.

After the United States was established as a country in 1776, religious freedom was written into the First Amendment of the Constitution in 1791. Immigration for religious reasons has continued throughout American history. Most of those who initially arrived in the United States brought with them various Protestant religious traditions. These traditions continued to develop once they were established in America. Protestantism has remained the dominant religious presence in American society to the present.

The United States was established during the modern period, an era marked by many unprecedented changes in society. These changes were caused by shifts in European and American society, including the rise of rationality, science, and industrialization. The Industrial Revolution (c. 1760 – 1840 CE) is a term applied to a period of accelerated mechanization of labor and the increasing influence of industry in European and American society. During this period, science and technology fueled economic expansion in the United States.

Some aspects of the Industrial Revolution were positive, such as a rise in the standard of living, increased literacy, and technological innovations that made life easier for many people. However, some aspects of the Industrial Revolution were negative, such as pollution, unsanitary and unfair working conditions, and changes in social and family life. Many people who once worked predominately on farms found themselves working dramatically increased hours in factories. Women entered the workforce, changing traditional gender dynamics. Family members often moved to cities to find work, which scattered families geographically. These changes led to a growing sense of individualism, and a fragmentation of traditional American society, including religion.

In response to these changes, some Americans began to embrace secular humanism, a term used to describe a society that operates without religion. Others remained religious but began to feel a sense of alienation from their religious traditions. In some, this resulted in fear concerning both the present age and the future. How Americans responded to the changes brought about in the modern period influenced the characteristics of many NRMs.

Mormonism

Mormonism, also known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is a New Religious Movement that grew as a sect of American Protestantism during the Second Great Awakening. The Latter Day Saint (LDS) movement was founded in the 1820s by a man named Joseph Smith Jr.

The Latter Day Saint movement began in upstate New York during a period of intense religious enthusiasm known as the Second Great Awakening (c. 1790 –1840 CE). This area of New York state was known as the Burned-Over District because it was thought to have been “burned-over” by religious fervor. LDS adherents believe that we are living in the final days before Jesus will return to judge humanity. Today, the LDS movement has a total population of nearly 15 million adherents throughout the world. Around 4.5 million. Mormons currently live in the United States, with most of them living in the state of Utah, where the LDS Church is headquartered.

Historical Overview of Mormonism

Joseph Smith Jr. (1805-1844 CE) was born in the state of Vermont. When he was still a boy, his family relocated to Palmyra, New York. During this time, this area of western New York State was known as the Burned-Over district for its religious enthusiasm. In the 1820s, Smith began to preach that Jesus would return to America, and he attracted many of followers in western New York State. He claimed that he had translated a set of golden plates depicting the history of a lost Israelite tribe that sailed to America. This translated document became known as the Book of Mormon. While the LDS movement was originally based in New York State, the LDS movement soon began a long migration westward through the United States.

After experiencing some friction with local Christian groups in New York, Smith led a group of his followers to Kirtland Ohio, where the first LDS temple was built. From this point, the precedent was established that only Mormons in good standing may enter the Temple. In Kirtland, the Latter Day Saints (LDS) community attempted to establish a private bank. Upon its failure, Smith and his followers moved onward in the hopes of establishing a great city in Jackson County, Missouri. However, their plans were cut short when they again encountered resistance from local Christian denominations. This time, the threat was extreme: the governor of Missouri gave an extermination order for LDS followers. After a period of fighting, the LDS community was forced to leave the state of Missouri. After fleeing Missouri, the LDS community was scattered throughout the United States. Many followed Smith to Nauvoo, Illinois. The LDS community was tolerated with comparative ease in their new home in Illinois.

They gained a charter to raise a militia, founded a successful bank, and established a printing press. However, infighting led to factions within the community. One of the biggest issues that separated LDS members concerned polygamy, which means being married to more than one spouse. Smith advocated for and practiced polygamy, but many in the LDS community rejected the practice. After disaffected LDS members published a newspaper article accusing Smith of polygamy, Smith had the printing press destroyed. For this act, Smith was jailed. While Smith sat in jail awaiting trial, an angry mob stormed his jail cell. While he and his cellmates held off the attackers for a while, but Smith was eventually shot and killed while trying to escape.

After the death of Joseph Smith, a crisis emerged within the LDS community concerning who would succeed him. Some felt that Smith’s son, Joseph Smith III should succeed him. Other candidates were proposed, but none were universally agreed upon. The LDS movement ultimately split into different sects due to differences of opinion over who should lead the LDS Church after the death of Smith. While some LDS members remained in Illinois and other parts of the Midwest, many followed a leader named Brigham Young further west to Utah. The Mormons established Salt Lake City as the center of their religion. Here, they built a great Temple that remains the center of Mormon life and religious practice to the present.

Mormon Scriptures

In addition to using the Christian Bible, Mormons also added new scriptural works. According to Mormons, Joseph Smith was led by an angel to a set of golden plates. Smith was miraculously given the ability to translate these books which depicted the narrative of a lost tribe of Israel that had sailed to America. This narrative was translated and collected in what is known as the Book of Mormon. Other scriptures also exist within Mormonism. These include the Doctrine and Covenants, which is a collection of revelations since the church began; and the Pearl of Great Price, a collection of Joseph Smith Jr.’s writings and prophecies. Continuing revelation sets Mormons apart from most other Christian groups.

Seven Dimensions of Religion in Mormonism

The Mormon emphasis on missionary work sets the LDS Church apart from many other Christian denominations. Missionary work occurs when a member of a church is sent into an area of the world to evangelize with the goal of converting as many people as possible. The Mormon Church encourages young Mormons to engage in missionary work. During Mormon missionary work, two people (often young men) are sent into a part of the world where the Mormon Church seeks converts. Often, the location of the mission is very far away from the United States. The missionaries typically evangelize in this location for two years. During this time, they meet with local people and provide community aid. Through talking with people, they attempt to convert them to Mormonism. For many young people, the experience of the Mormon mission is a highly significant event in the development of their lives as Mormons. When on mission, Mormons experience all of Smart’s seven dimensions of religion.

Missionaries are expected to dress similarly, often wearing a white shirt and tie. Many missionaries also wear name tags. These details, along with the aspects of the location that they evangelize in, represents material culture. Mormon missionaries participate by choice, and are not paid. Mormons missionize in pairs, with both parties expected to help the other in the task of conversion. These aspects of the Mormon mission fall into the social organization category. The missionaries engage in the ritual of walking around in pairs and talking to people about Mormonism. When talking to people, they often draw from narrative accounts in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. They discuss aspects of doctrine and ethical aspects of these scriptures while talking with people. They are also expected to uphold Mormon morals indicated by Mormon doctrine while on mission. Perhaps the most significant aspect of the Mormon mission is the experiential. The experience of missionizing can also be difficult for missionaries. Many Mormon missionaries are young and experiencing the locale that they are missionizing in for the first time. They are also living far from home and away from their families. They also experience positive emotions associated with fulfilling their obligations as missionaries, and connecting with people from diverse backgrounds through their religion.