Final answer:
A sect is a small, new religious group that stems from a larger denomination, often with a desire to return to fundamental practices or contest doctrines. Over time, a sect may grow into a denomination or remain as an established sect with distinct characteristics.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sect. typically refers to a small and relatively new religious group that arises as a breakaway faction from a larger denomination. This can occur when members of an existing religious group feel compelled to return to fundamental beliefs or contest certain doctrines. Denominations like Methodists and Baptists, for instance, originated as sects by protesting against their parent religion, the Anglican Church. A sect may remain small, or over time, it can increase in membership and evolve into a recognized denomination.
However, not all sects make this transition. Some, such as the Amish or Jehovah's Witnesses, maintain characteristics of both sects and denominations, leading sociologists to refer to them as established sects. These groups are unique in their blend of new, sect-like qualities and the more stable, organizational traits of a denomination, falling in-between on the ecclesia-cult continuum.A sect is a small and relatively new group that may be in tension with larger society. They sometimes claim to be returning to "the fundamentals" or to contest the veracity of a particular doctrine. When membership in a sect increases over time, it may grow into a denomination. Often a sect begins as an offshoot of a denomination when a group of members believes they should separate from the larger group.