TO THE PROBLEM OF “NEW RELIGIOuS MOVEMENTS" PHENOMENON INTERPRETATION

The article is concerned with the up-to-date problem of the “new religious movements” phenomenon and their frequently negative perception in modern society and scientific circles. The author reviews the whole range of paradoxical moments connected with “new religiosity” phenomenon, offers a brief analysis of existing approaches to this problem given by some researchers. The author justifies the ideas of a thoughtful approach to the problem and adequacy of response to certain types of religious activity. The overview of some societal responses to the new religious movements’ activity is given, and the evaluation of their legitimacy and effectiveness is presented. Conclusions are made on the dimensions of new religious movements hidden threats as well as on the irreversibility of their appearance, and the importance of broad discussions of the issues of religion, on the whole, is claimed.

religion, sect, new religious movements, sect members, adept, totalitarian/destructive cult, “brain washing”, anti-cult movement