A Variety of New Religious Movements Outside the Mainstream in Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

The title of this research is “A Variety of New Religious Movements Outside the Mainstream   in Chiang Mai Province”. The objectives are 1) to study the approaches and theories which relate to the new religious movements, 2) to study the history of the new religious movements which propagate in Chiang Mai Province 3) To analyze doctrine, propagation, adding members and religious movements of the new religious movements in Chiang Mai based on the concepts and theories of the new religious movement. This research is qualitative research that focuses on the documentary studying of the five religious movements; 1.Raja Yoga, 2.Bahai, 3. Transcendental Meditation (T.M.), 4. Mormon and 5. Johrei, and also to emphasize for analyzing documents by the ways of the new religious movements theories.

The results found that “New Religious Movements” are the new terms of religious groups which are developed or adjusted from the original religions. These are the main religions of this world that is called for replacing “Religious Cult”. The approaches and theories in this studying of new religious movements, there are three favorite methods; 1) Explanatory Approach, 2) Interpretive Approach and 3) Postmodern Approach. These are analyzing of all new religious movements which are conservative religions or contemporary religions.

The five of new religious movements which have the activities in Chiang Mai Province , they have the integration of conservative religions and contemporary religions. The groups which emphasize the conservative approach integrate with some contemporary approach; Raja Yoga, Bahai and Transcendental Meditation (T.M.). The groups which emphasize the contemporary approach integrate with some conservative approach; Johrei and Mormon. The groups which emphasize the propagation, membership increasing and systematical organization management, these can increase the members continually; Johrei and Mormon