Felekezet

Felekezet is a Hungarian term that denotes a religious denomination or a distinct organized religious group within a larger faith tradition. It is typically used to refer to the structured, doctrinally defined communities that differ from each other in beliefs, rituals, governance, and membership. The concept is central to the sociology of religion and helps distinguish between a religion as a broad tradition (vallás) and its subdivisions (felekezetek). A felekezet may claim continuity with a common ancestry and share core creeds, yet maintain separate organizations, leadership, and practice.

In Hungary, felekezet commonly describes Christian denominations, such as the Magyarországi Református Egyház (Reformed), the Magyarországi Evangélikus Egyház (Lutheran), the Magyarországi Unitárius Egyház, and other Protestant bodies, as well as non-Catholic groups. Within the broader Catholic tradition, terms are more often specified as a church or rite rather than a separate felekezet; however, in everyday usage the Catholic tradition is sometimes included when discussing regional religious landscapes as a major tradition. Distinctions are also drawn between felekezet (denomination) and gyülekezet (congregation), the latter referring to a local worshiping community.

Outside Hungary, felekezet corresponds to the general concept of religious denominations in other languages and plays a similar role in sociological and historical discussions of religiosity.