Difference Between Denomination and Sect

The main difference between denomination and sect is that denominations have a larger membership, a longer history and a wider acceptance than sects.

Both denominations and sects are subgroups of a religion. Many mainstream religions have denominations and sects. A denomination is a subgroup within a religion that has a common name, tradition, and identity, while a sect is an offshoot of a religion or denomination.  Moreover, a denomination can start as a sect, and become a religion over a long period of time.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is a Denomination 
     – Definition, Characteristics, Examples
2. What is a Sect
     – Definition, Characteristics, Examples
3. What is the Difference Between Denomination and Sect
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Church, Denomination, Religion, Sect

What is a Denomination

A denomination is a subgroup within a religion that has a common name, tradition, and identity. Most importantly, it is an established group and has been in existence for many years and is geographically widespread. In religion, the term denomination generally refers to Christian denominations like Eastern Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church, and the varieties of Protestantism (Methodist, Baptist, and Episcopalian). Moreover, a religious denomination has slightly different beliefs from other groups that share the same religion. However, they also share many common characteristics.

Figure 01: Main Religions and Denominations in the World

Like Christianity, many religions have denominations. The four branches of Judaism (Orthodox, Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionist), as well as the branches of Islam (Sunnism, Shi’ism, Quranism, Sufism, Ibadism, etc.), are all denominations. In the Hindu religion, denominations differ according to the major deity or philosophical belief; these denominations also have distinct cultural and religious practices. Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism and Smartism are the four major Hindu denominations. Furthermore, Sunni Islam and Roman Catholicism are the two largest denominations in the world.

What is a Sect

A sect is typically an offshoot of a religion or denomination. There are different sociological definitions to describe sects. According to Max Weber and Ernst Troeltsch, who proposed the theory of ‘church-sect typology’, sects are new religious groups that form to protest elements of their parent religion or denomination.

Figure 2: Church-Sect Continuum

Sects are usually break-away groups from religions and tend to be in tension with society. While many beliefs and practices of a sect will overlap with those of the main religion or denomination, some beliefs and practices will be different enough to cause a schism (a formal split within a religious body). For example, the Palmarian Catholic Church, Community of the Lady of All People, the Philippine Independent Church, the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God, the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church, and Most Holy Family Monastery are some sects within the Roman Catholic Church.

Furthermore, sects can be a mechanism by which denominations form. Over time, a sect may gain a larger membership, wider acceptance, and larger geographic distribution. However, most sects die out very quickly. It is also important to note that most people view the word sect in a negative light.

Difference Between Denomination and Sect

Definition

A denomination is a subgroup within a religion that has a common name, tradition, and identity, while a sect is an offshoot of a religion or denomination. 

Membership

A denomination has a larger number of members than a sect.

Acceptance

Furthermore, a denomination is more accepted and geographically wider spread than a sect.

Time Period

Denominations usually have a longer history than sects. Although most sects die out quickly, a sect may reach the status of a denomination if it gains more members and receives acceptance among people.

Examples

Eastern Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church, and the varieties of Protestantism (Methodist, Baptist, Episcopalian etc.) are denominations of Christianity whereas Community of the Lady of All People, the Philippine Independent Church, the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church, and Most Holy Family Monastery are some sects within the Roman Catholic Church.

Conclusion

In brief, a denomination is a subgroup within a religion that has a common name, tradition, and identity while a sect is an offshoot of a religion or denomination. The main difference between denomination and sect is that denominations have a larger membership, a longer history and a wider acceptance than sects.

Reference:

1. “Religious Denomination.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Feb. 2020, Available here.
2. “Sect.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Dec. 2019, Available here.
3. Serva, Chrisitan. “Sect in Religion: Definition & Overview.” Study.com, Study.com, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Prevailing world religions map” By The original uploader was LilTeK21 at English Wikipedia. – Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Church-sect continuum” By Wykis – Church-sect continuum.jpg (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia