SPECIFIC FEATURES OF THE FUNCTIONING OF NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS: A RELIGIOUS STUDIES PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

This article examines the features of the functioning of new religious movements as an object of religious studies analysis. The aim of the study is to analyze the prerequisites for the emergence of new religious movements, their institutional structures, forms of activity, and practices aimed at the formation of belief systems. Descriptive, comparative, and structural-functional methods were employed in the research.
The findings demonstrate that the activities of new religious movements are carried out through missionary, social, organizational, and informational practices. It is revealed that organizational hierarchy, internal regulations, and social interaction play a significant role in shaping belief systems within religious communities. Special attention is given to the use of information and communication tools, which expand outreach and facilitate the dissemination of religious ideas. The article systematizes key scholarly approaches to the typology of new religious movements and clarifies their place in the contemporary religious landscape. The conclusions contribute to a deeper theoretical and methodological understanding of the functioning of new religious movements within religious studies.