Denomination or Death

• Niebuhr (1929) argues that sects are world-rejecting organisations that come into existence because of schism - splitting from an established church because of a disagreement over religious doctrine. Niebuhr argues that sects are short-lived and that within a generation, they either die out, or they compromise with the world, abandon their extreme ideas and become a denomination. There are several reasons for this:
• • The second generation, who are born into the sect, lack the commitment and fervour of their parents, who had consciously rejected the world and joined voluntarily.
  • The 'Protestant ethic' effect Sects that practise asceticism (hard work and saving) tend to become prosperous and upwardly mobile, as was the case with the Methodists in the 19th century. Such members will be tempted to compromise with the world, so they will either leave or it will abandon its world-rejecting beliefs.
• • Death of the leader Sects with a charismatic leader either collapse on the leader's death, or a more formal bureaucratic leadership takes over, transforming it into a denomination.