本文旨在介紹日本新宗教運動形成的歷史與社會背景，並說明相關的理論取向。基本上，日本新宗教運動始於十九世紀日本德川幕府頹傾之期，其中也歷經明治維新、太平洋戰爭、二次戰爭、石油危機、泡沫經濟等。之後，隨著1947年日本憲法所規定「政治與宗教分離」的原則，該宗教組織也不斷隨著社會變遷的脈動而進行適應與轉化。筆者分析該宗教組織形成的政治、社會、經濟及文化根源之後，隨即探討新宗教運動的理論取向。最後，筆者再提出本研究未來的可能發展。

This article will explore the origins and development of the Japanese new religious movements. This will be presented in several parts. The first is intended to show the relationship between religion and education in the context of Japan in the prewar and postwar period. The second involves a clear exposition of the Japanese new religious movements’ emergence as well as their subsequent development within the context of Japan.. The three is devoted to various theoretical aspects concerning historical and structural origins of these new religions, including millennialism (world-renewal), charismatic leadership and authority, shamanic healing, socio-economic influences and so forth. The article concludes with suggestions for further research.