The Unitarian Church started out as a faith based on Christian theology; over time a group was formed called Universalist Unitarians, whose faith community grew to include more members with atheistic beliefs than with Christian beliefs. What term best identifies the distinction between the original group and the second group?

A) church-protest typology
B) church-sect typology
C) sect-equilibrium typology
D) agnostic-atheist typology

Church-Sect Typology

A classification system developed by sociologists to distinguish between different types of religious organizations, ranging from formal, established churches to informal, dissenting sects.

Universalist Unitarians

is a liberal religious movement characterized by a pluralistic and inclusive approach to spiritual beliefs and practices.

Atheistic Beliefs

The conviction or position that there is no deity or deities, rejecting the concept of a supernatural god or gods.