Editing The Order of Christ Sophia (section)

==Scholarly interest==
In 2003, sociologist [[James R. Lewis (scholar)|James R. Lewis]] read an article on OCS that appeared in a Milwaukee newspaper and become interested in the group. Lewis is a professor at the [[University of Wisconsin]], a researcher and an author. His work focuses specifically on [[new religious movements]] (NRMs). His books include ''The Oxford Handbook of New Religious Movements,'' though the handbook does not explicitly reference the OCS.<ref>Lewis, James, R. ''The Oxford Handbook of New Religious Movements'': Oxford University Press, New York, NY, 2004.</ref>

His first publication on the group appeared in the ''Journal of Alternative Spiritualities and New Age Studies'' and was titled “New data on who joins NRMs and why: A case study of the Order of Christ/Sophia.”  In this article he describes the OCS as a "mystery school that trains its members in the doctrines and practices of [[esoteric Christianity]].”<ref name="ReferenceA"/> In response to allegations of the OCS being a "dangerous cult", Lewis concluded that OCS was experiencing a developmental process typical for NRMs.<ref name="lewis_CJM">Lewis, James, & Levine, Nicholas. "The Children of Jesus and Mary: The Order of Christ Sophia," Oxford University Press, New York, 2010.</ref> He contextualized the accusations that OCS was "[[cult]]" within a [[Sociological classifications of religious movements|sociological developmental perspective]].<ref name="lewis_CJM"/> He reported that there was no indication of psychologically abusive practices or cult-like behaviors.<ref name="lewis_CJM"/> The OCS is also briefly referenced, mainly in regard to its teachings on Mary, in John Plummer's 2005 PhD dissertation, published as ''The Many Paths of the Independent Sacramental Movement.''<ref>Plummer, John. ''The Many Paths of the Independent Sacramental Movement'': 2nd ed., Apocryphile Press, Berkeley, CA, 2006.</ref>