MODERN RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS AND SECTS: A SOCIO-SPIRITUAL ANALYSIS

This article analyzes the causes of the emergence of modern religious movements and sects, their socio-psychological characteristics, their impact on social life, and the need to study them from a scientific point of view. The article reveals the different aspects of such concepts as “new religious movement”, “sect”, “cult”, “religious group”, “radical movement”. It also highlights how globalization, the Internet, migration, spiritual vacuum and social instability affect the spread of modern religious movements. The study substantiates the need to distinguish between the principle of religious freedom, legitimate religious activity and destructive movements that threaten the security of society.