Croissance, développement et fin d'une secte conversioniste : les Jesus People de Milwaukee (*)

Abstract

The origin and history of a commune of American Jesus People is briefly described and its growth, development, and ultimate demise examined in terms of Wilson's typology of sectarian movements. This conversionist sect successfully, if temporarily, established an alternative form of religious ex pression. There was amplc evidence that processes of in stitutionalization were occurring. Several factors relevant to conversionist sects, however, became increasingly critical for the group's continued growth and development. These included the failure to maintain or routinize the affective and in strumental roles of the charismatic leader and the failure to effectively socialize all the converts recruited into the commune. The problem of socialization arose because of contradictory group demands concerning boundary-expansion and boundary- maintenance. It was the failure of the Jesus People to over come this complex set of related problems that led to their eventual disbandment and return to a more vigorous sectarian emphasis upon separation from the world. The authors feel that similar conversionist sects of the Jesus People movement in the United States will have to confront and solve similar sets of problems if they are to remain a viable form of religious expression.