This article criticizes approaches to new religious movements that view them in terms of reactions to secularization or in terms of certain other understandings of modernity. Instead, it argues that one should draw from more nuanced understandings of the modern world, particularly Anthony Giddens's analysis of modernity and globalization. Giddens is, however, overly simplistic in his portrayal of religion, and the article suggests how globalization theory might be modified to be applicable to the interpretation of contemporary new religions.

This article criticizes approaches to new religious movements that view them in terms of reactions to secularization or in terms of certain other understandings of modernity. Instead, it argues that one should draw from more nuanced understandings of the modern world, particularly Anthony Giddens's analysis of modernity and globalization. Giddens is, however, overly simplistic in his portrayal of religion, and the article suggests how globalization theory might be modified to be applicable to the interpretation of contemporary new religions.