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sect

Also known as religious sect

thumb|300px|Major denominations and religions of the world A sect is a subgroup of a religious, political, or philosophical belief system, typically emerging as an offshoot of a larger organization. Originally, the term referred specifically to religious groups that had separated from a main body, but it can now apply to any group that diverges from a larger organization to follow a distinct set of beliefs and practices. Sects often form when there is a perception of heresy either within the subgroup or from the larger group.

AI overview

A sect is a subgroup that breaks away from a larger religious, political, or philosophical organization to follow its own distinct beliefs and practices. The term matters because it helps us understand how and why groups split from mainstream institutions, often when members perceive fundamental disagreements about what the organization should believe or do.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.