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New Religious Movements

Historically New Religious Movements have arisen out of cultural change as it has impacted old religious views and practices. They are re-presentations of old religious views and practices in a new context to a new audience, often transcending national and international boundaries. Cultural change in the West has brought about religious pluralism in an attempt at marginalising the dominance of Christianity and freeing the individual to be fully autonomous, in a liberal democracy. 

The change process in the West appears to coincide with the 16th Century Reformation Period and the collapse of the impact and dominance of the largest and possibly oldest New Religious Movement the Christianised pagan religion of Roman Catholicism on European and Western culture.

This freedom from religious dominance brought about an influx and revival of alternative religious traditions, as well as, the rise in popularity of genuine Christian Faith and its re-emergence from the shadows of false religious practice. 

Whilst Roman Catholicism continues to cast a shadow over Europe, and new religious movements abound, genuine Christian Faith is still visibly strong though under constant pressure to conform to religious norms, to vacate the 'public square' and to suffer persecution in failing to do so.

The 21st Century Church is carrying on the tradition of proclaiming the Gospel and suffering the consequences, being punished for doing righteousness, rather than punished for doing wrong.