Can the study of new religious movements be extended historically towards a longue durée history of religious innovation? Several sociological theories suggest that fundamental differences between premodern and modern religious configurations preclude this, pointing to a lack of religious diversity and freedom of religion in premodern centuries. Written from a historical perspective, this article questions this view and suggests historical religious movements within Christianity as possible material for a long-term perspective. Using the Franciscans and the Family of Love as examples, it points out possible themes for productive interdisciplinary research. One suggestion is to study the criticisms surrounding premodern new religious movements, which might be used to analyze the historical differentiation of religion. Another avenue is the study of premodern terminologies and concepts for religious communities, which could provide a historical horizon for the ongoing debate about the typology of new religions.
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May 01 2018
New Religious Movements before Modernity?: Considerations from a Historical Perspective
Andreas Pietsch,
Andreas Pietsch
Andreas Pietsch, WWU Münster, Exzellenzcluster “Religion and Politics in Pre-modern and Modern Cultures,” Johannisstr. 1, 48143 Münster, Germany. Email: a.n.pietsch@uni-muenster.de
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Sita Steckel
Sita Steckel
Sita Steckel, WWU Münster, Historisches Seminar, Domplatz 20–22, 48143 Münster, Germany. Email: sita.steckel@uni-muenster.de
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Nova Religio (2018) 21 (4): 13–37.
Citation
Andreas Pietsch, Sita Steckel; New Religious Movements before Modernity?: Considerations from a Historical Perspective. Nova Religio 1 May 2018; 21 (4): 13–37. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/nr.2018.21.4.13
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