The “Sects” Question in Romania. From the Second Half of the 19th Century until 1948 (I)

Abstract

The “sects” question represents an extremely controversial subject in the Romanian historiography. The authors who wrote about this subject were influenced, more or less, by aspects of apologetic nature, supporting or denying the “sects”. The purpose of the present study is to show the way in which the notion of “sect” appeared in the social cultural environment of modern Romania, the way in which it was included in the Romanian law, the way in which the representatives of the so-called “historical” cults viewed the newly created religious groups and, finally, the way in which the members of the “sects” viewed themselves.