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The ongoing controversy regarding the definitions of a cult is examined in the article on cults. This article lists a number of organizations that have notably been referred to as cults or sects by diverse sources.
Criteria for listings
Very few groups or organizations are willing to accept the label of "cult," and a number of groups have vehemently resisted
such a classification.
This list presents a listing of groups labelled as cults by diverse sources such as:
- Groups named in the Washington Post's 1997 series, The Cult
Controversy, are marked by a pound sign (#). [1] (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/cult/chronology.htm)
- Groups labelled cults or sects in reports by the British Broadcasting Company are marked by this letter (ß).
- Groups described as "cults" in Salon.com articles are marked by a percent
symbol (%). [2] (http://archive.salon.com/books/feature/1999/09/01/christian/)[3] (http://archive.salon.com/media/1998/01/14media.html)[4] (http://archive.salon.com/travel/feature/2000/03/08/raelians/)[5] (http://archive.salon.com/mwt/feature/1999/03/29feature.html)[6] (http://dir.salon.com/news/feature/2000/07/06/waco/index.html?sid=879233)[7] (http://dir.salon.com/people/feature/2001/07/25/baba/index.html?pn=1)[8] (http://dir.salon.com/people/feature/2001/07/02/krishna/index.html)
- Groups included in the controversial French government's 1995 report on sectes are marked with a section (§). See
List of alleged cults and alleged discrimination by ministerial
commissions
- Groups that are considered "destructive doomsday cults", or are close to becoming so, by the Ontario Consultants on
Religious Tolerance are marked by a dagger (†). [9] (http://www.religioustolerance.org/destruct.htm)
- Groups labelled as cults by the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA, formerly the American Family
Foundation, AFF) are marked by a degree symbol (°).[10] (http://www.csj.org/infoserv_idx/idx_grp_byname.htm)
Disclaimer: The inclusion or absence of a particular group on this list does not mean that it is either harmful or
beneficial for its members.
Destructive Cults
The actions of these groups have been shown to be responsible for the deaths of a large number of the members of these groups,
or to outsiders. See also, Cult suicide.
Steven Hassan classifies "cult
groups" into "destructive cults" and "benign cults". By "destructive" he apparently means that they exploit their members, not
that they're likely to commit crimes such as murder or suicide. [11] (http://freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/faq/#2)
- Beasts of Satan ß
[12] (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4287995.stm)[13] (http://www.guardian.co.uk/italy/story/0,,1420295,00.html)
- Concerned
Christians † [14] (http://www.rickross.com/reference/cc/cc34.html)[15] (http://www.rickross.com/reference/cc/cc11.html)
- Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God
†ß [18] (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/695268.stm)[19] (http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=81484&page=1)[20] (http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,182210,00.html)
- Uganda
- In 2000 authorities discovered 1,000 bodies at the group's compound.
- Mungiki ß [21] (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1853384.stm)
- Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association ß [22] (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2052994.stm)
- Thuggee, the cult of Kali ß [23] (http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/features/thugs/)
Alleged Cults
Governments seen as promoting religious tolerance (by law or otherwise) have taken action specifically against these groups.
Prominent members of these groups have been involved in felony criminal actions; mainstream media reports have investigated their
inner workings and publicized their findings in a manner seen as highly negative by the groups in question.
Controversial Groups
These groups have come into conflict with mainstream religious organizations and/or restrictive governments, and are sometimes
viewed with suspicion; but in general they are tolerated by society and left to their own actions.
Minority groups
These groups have beliefs or practises that differ from the mainstream. Although some religious leaders and anti-cult
activists would classify them as cults, most observers would not regard them as especially controversial.
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