marginality - lower class and ethnic more likely in edges of society due to racism and discrimination so to solve this exclusion to to join a religious movement providing theodicy - sects compensate members for marginalisation eg. peoples temple
2. sects act as compensators
stark and bainbridge - compensate for marginalised groups and make up for inequality to help deal with the situation acting as a surrogate family to members with support eg. peoples temple
3. protest
some developed as a protest against established churches as they belived the church was no longer faithful to original beliefs, disagreeing with elements of the religion so formed their own group eg. westboro baptist church
4. response to secularisation
secularisation can lead to a state of moral uncertaincy where norms and values become unclear so people attracted to sects often provide clear moral guidelines and a sense of purpose
