Cults

Cults are social or religious groups that hold unconventional or novel beliefs and practices and require a high level of devotion to a leader or to the group’s worldview. In everyday language the term often carries a negative connotation, implying manipulation or harm, but in scholarly usage it is common to distinguish pejorative labeling from more neutral categories such as new religious movements or NRMs.

Common features often associated with groups labeled as cults include a charismatic or autocratic leader, a tightly knit social structure, and a comprehensive belief system that claims exclusive truth or special access to knowledge. Members may be asked to commit significant time, money, and personal obligations, and there can be pressure to isolate from outside influences, including family or broader society. Recruitment tactics vary, but programs of socialization, charismatic authority, and sometimes intensive group activities help maintain conformity. Information control, demand for absolute loyalty, and public or private rituals can reinforce the group’s authority.

Terminology and boundaries are disputed. Some groups labeled as cults are fringe religious movements that coexist with wider society, while others have caused serious harm through coercive practices, abuse, or financial exploitation. Because the label is value-laden, scholars often prefer terms such as new religious movement or alternative religious group when describing a group, while reserving “cult” for cases with documented harm or coercive dynamics.

Debates continue about the prevalence and mechanisms of influence within groups, with views ranging from skeptical assessments of mind control to nuanced analyses of social pressure, organizational control, and belief formation.