Ecclesia (sociology of religion)
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An ecclesia is one of the four members of the most common sociological typology of religious groups -- the other three are the denomination, the sect and the cult. An ecclesia is a religious group which is strongly integrated with the dominant social and political culture. Often ecclesias are state churches, though they need not be: a state church by definition has official legal recognition of its role in the society, while an ecclesia might not.
See also
External link
- Dictionary of the History of Ideas: (http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/cgi-local/DHI/dhi.cgi?id=dv1-50) Church as an Institution
- thefreedictionary.com: (http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Sociology%20of%20religion) Sociology of Religion