religious movement
Noun: A religious movement is a collective effort or organized group action aimed at achieving reforms, changes, or a renewal within a religious context. It typically involves a group of people sharing common beliefs and goals to modify religious practices, doctrines, or structures.
The term "religious movement" is used to describe organized initiatives that seek to transform some aspect of a religion. It is a formal, academic term often used in historical, sociological, or religious studies contexts. - It functions as a countable noun (e.g., a religious movement, several religious movements). - It typically refers to a specific historical or contemporary phenomenon.
- The Protestant Reformation was a major religious movement in 16th-century Europe.
- Scholars study the origins and impact of each new religious movement.
- She wrote her thesis on a 19th-century religious movement that emphasized social justice.
- As a subject of study: The term is central to disciplines examining social change and belief systems.
- The sociology of religious movements examines why people join them.
- Characterizing a movement: Often modified by adjectives describing its nature, era, or location.
- The evangelical religious movement gained many followers.
- It was a homegrown religious movement.
- Reform movement: A broader term for organized efforts to change institutions, which can include religious ones.
- Religious revival: A movement focused on reawakening fervor within an existing religious tradition, often a type of religious movement.
- Sect / Denomination: These can be the outcomes or institutional forms that a religious movement may take.
- Reform movement (when context is clearly religious)
- Crusade (can imply a vigorous movement for a cause, sometimes religious)
- Awakening (often used for revivalist movements, e.g., the Great Awakening)
- To found/lead a religious movement: Describes the initiation of such an effort.
- He founded a religious movement based on his interpretations of scripture.
- The rise/spread of a religious movement: Describes its growth and influence.
- The rapid spread of the religious movement concerned the established authorities.
The core meaning focuses on organized action for change or reform within religion. It is distinct from: - A religion itself, which is the broader system of belief. - A religious organization (like a church), which may be a stable institution, not necessarily a force for change. - A cult, which is a more specific and often pejorative term for a small, unorthodox religious group; a religious movement may or may not be labeled a cult.
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a movement intended to bring about religious reforms
