Brahma Kumaris, A new religion - CENSUR

Brahma Kumaris: A New Religion? By Reender Kranenborg, Free University of Amsterdam. A preliminary version of a paper presented at CESNUR 99, Bryn Athyn (Pennsylvania). ©Reender Kranenborg 1999 - Do not quote or reproduce without the permission of the... More

Brahma Kumaris: A New Religion? By Reender Kranenborg, Free University of Amsterdam. A preliminary version of a paper presented at CESNUR 99, Bryn Athyn (Pennsylvania). ©Reender Kranenborg 1999 - Do not quote or reproduce without the permission of the author. 1. New Religious Movements and New Religions The expressions ‘new religious movements and ‘new religions are mostly used as synonymous terms for one and the same phenomenon. On the one hand, this habit can be justified. After all, a ‘new religion is always a new religious movement. On the other hand, however, is every new religious movement a new, that is, independent religion? Of course, every ‘new religious movement is religious, but is it thereby also a ‘new religion ? I would like to argue that the two concepts should be distinguished and not considered as synonymous. The term ‘new religious movements refers to the many different groups that are found within the different religions and traditions. ‘New religions Less