Abstract
Ideal types of forms of Christian organisation have proved fruitful in the Sociology of Religion, and a review of the main features of types in this area suggests that religious orders may be analysed in this way. Starting from a definition of the basic theological concepts — ascetism, monasticism and dif ferent uses of the term « religious order » — an ideal type of the religious order is constructed which shows the main features of such organizations and the relationship between them and the wider organization of the Church, of which they form part. As a result of comparison with Wilson's ideal type of the sect, certain parallels are revealed which suggest that the order may be considered as to some extent a « sect within a church », and this interpretation is elaborated using historical and theological literature. Further points of com parison are also noted and the most crucial differences between sects and orders are likewise pointed out. The main distinction noted is that the order only exists as part of a church, while the sect exists for its own members only.