World Rejecting NRMS: similar to sects, clear authority in God, critical of external world and hold the expectation of radical change, communal, controlling, conservative moral codes, brainwashing (Moonies, JonesTown)
World Accommodating NRMs: Breakaway from churches and denominations, focus on religious matters, restore the spiritual purity of religion, focus on individuality, acceptance of mainstream society through labour (Neo-Pentecostalists).
World-AffirmingNRMs: lacks conventional communal worship, acceptance of the world and optimistic and promise followers success in mainstream goals, non-exclusive and tolerant, claim to hold spiritual power to enable followers to unlock their spiritual powers, psychologise religions offering this-worldly gratification, most successful (Scientology), people are seen as customers.
Evaluation:
Useful way to classify movements but not clear where categorising based on beliefs or teachings
Diversity of NRMs
Stark and Bainbridge1986: they should categorise using one criterion, the degree of conflict or tension between the religious groups and wider society
