Religious special community
Christian theology and denominational studies consider such Christian churches or communities as special religious communities that stand out from the other churches through special doctrines . They also practice segregation, for example rejecting ecumenical relationships and viewing the other Christian churches as communities that have fallen away from what they believe to be true Christian teaching.
Most of the special communities have a theology which on one or more points does not agree with the theological minimum consensus of the World Council of Churches (confession of faith in the triune God, as expressed in the Nicano-Constantinopolitanum , baptism "in the name of the father, des Of the Son and the Holy Spirit ”). Some have doctrines or practices that are unique to them and that they consider central to their beliefs.
There are different views on the classification of individual communities as special communities as a cultural consequence of freedom of expression . From a sociological point of view, ideological differentiations are tangible and comprehensible if a special group is formed from them, which is perceived from the inside and outside as something of its own, is in some way on record and is recognizable by experts as well as by the general public.
See also
literature
- Oswald Eggenberger: The churches, special groups and religious associations , TVZ, 2nd edition 1978, ISBN 3-290-11384-1
- Lothar Gassmann (Ed.), Kleines Sekten-Handbuch , Mabo, Schacht-Audorf, 2nd edition 2006, ISBN 3-9810275-0-7
- Kurt Hutten : seers, brooders, enthusiasts. The book of traditional sects and special religious movements . Quell, Stuttgart 12th edition 1982.