Marginality

• Troeltsch: sects tend to draw their followers from the poor and the oppressed 
• Weber 1922: sects tend to arise in groups marginal to society. Sects offer a Theodicy of Disprivilege where their suffering is given a religious explanation and justification. 
• But… Since the 60s, sect-like world rejecting NRMs recruited more from middle class/affluent groups (moonies) 
• Wallis: sects since 60s recruiting from middle class does not contradict Weber’s view because these individuals have become somewhat marginal to society, despite middle class origins most were hippies, dropouts and drug users