Freemasonry and New Religious Movements

Abstract

'New religious movement' is a contested concept in social sciences. It is a politically correct term introduced by British sociologist Eileen Barker, in order to avoid derogatory labels such as 'cult'. 'New religious movements' remains a politically negotiated and result-oriented category, used as a tool for a number of cognitive and social purposes. The relationship between Mormonism and Freemasonry remains a very sensitive issue both for Freemasons and Mormons. Jehovah's Witnesses are a twentieth century development of a movement established in 1878 by Charles Taze Russell. Evangelical critics of contemporary Jehovah's Witnesses have often claimed that they have masonic origins, and that Russell was himself a Freemason, though evidence of Russell's affiliation is however scarce. Christian Science, one of the three largest nineteenth century American new religious movements (together with the Mormons and the Jehovah's Witnesses), has also been accused by Evangelical critics to be an offshoot of Freemasonry. Keywords: Christian Science; Freemasonry; Jehovah's witnesses; Mormonism; new religious movement