A New Typology of Religion Based on Needs and Values

Religious experience is notoriously difficult to classify, though various attempts have been made. This article presents a new typology based on Maslow's theory of motivation (popularly known as the ‘hierarchy of needs'), which places needs and values at the forefront of human psychology. I argue that his model can be applied to religion to help explain spiritual choices and consequently the interrelation between demand and supply, thus accounting for the diversity of religion available in contemporary society. The model is particularly applicable to new religious movements (NRMs) in which membership is by voluntary choice. Needs and values are the key factors determining why people join an NRM and which movement they choose.