Marching on the margins: An analysis of the Salvation Army in the United States

Most sociologists, using a multidimensional church-sect typology, refer to The Salvation Army as a sect. I use a single criterion, orientation toward secular society, from which to reinterpret the Army's history, including th e American experience. I review present official statements of theological and social beliefs and survey a sample of Salvation Army officers to determ ine their agreement with officially stated positions on the Bible, homosexu ality, women and abortion. I compare their views with those of evangelical seminarians and a GSS sample of conservative, moderate, and liberal Protest ants and conclude that the Army is moving toward the church category while retaining some sectarian traits. It is part of the network of American chur ches, located in the margin between special purpose groups and recognized C hristian denominations. Within the network of Christian denominations it li es in the margin between mainline and evangelical denominations.