In addition to the church and sect, sociologists have identified other types of religious organisation. Richard Niebuhr (1929) describes denominations such as Methodism as lying midway between churches and sects. Membership is less exclusive than a sect, but they don't appeal to the whole of society like a church. Like churches, they broadly accept society's values, but are not linked to the state.
They impose some minor restrictions on members, such as forbidding alcohol, but are not as demanding as sects.
Unlike both church and sect, they are tolerant of other religious organisations and do not claim a monopoly of the truth.
A fourth type of religious organisation - and the least organised of all - is the cult. This is a highly individualistic, loose-knit and usually small grouping around some shared themes and interests, but usually without a sharply defined and exclusive belief system. Cults are usually led by 'practitioners' or 'therapists' who claim special knowledge.
Like denominations, cults are usually tolerant of other organisations and their beliefs.
Cults do not demand strong commitment from followers, who are often more like customers or trainees than members. They may have little further involvement with the cult once they have acquired the beliefs or techniques it offers. Many cults are world-affirming, claiming to improve life in this world.
