cults
Devotees of charismatics
Cults are groups bound by intense devotion to a particular figure, object, or belief system.
The word ranges from neutral to deeply pejorative.
Religious cults center on charismatic leaders who demand absolute loyalty: She escaped the cult after five years.
In academic contexts, cult describes any system of religious veneration: the cult of Dionysus.
Extended uses describe fervent followings: a cult film, a cult following, the cult of celebrity.
The personality cult surrounds political leaders with quasi-religious reverence.
Coercive psychological manipulation
- indoctrinationSystematic uncritical belief instillation
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- mind controlDirecting another's thoughts
- propagandaBiased information for influence
gaslighting · love bombing · isolation · grooming · exploitation · psychological abuse · thought reform · undue influence
Breakaway religious faction
- worshipReligious reverence and praise
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
piety · faith · spirituality · syncretism · mysticism · asceticism · pilgrimage · ordination
Breakaway religious faction
- communeShared-living community
- enclaveSurrounded distinct territory
- followersPeople who support someone
- disciplesDevoted followers of teachings
adherents · congregation · collective · brotherhood · sisterhood · fellowship · faction · compound
Established body of teachings
- dogmaUnchallengeable official beliefs
- ideologyStructured belief framework
- creedStatement of belief
- teachingsTransmitted knowledge or principles
scripture · prophecy · apocalypticism · millenarianism · eschatology · salvation · chosen ones · exclusivity
Revered authority figure
- charismatic leaderCompelling person with authority
- prophetDivinely inspired messenger
- messiahProphesied liberator figure
- founderOne who begins something
figurehead · megalomaniac · authoritarian · Jim Jones · David Koresh · L. Ron Hubbard · veneration · infallibility
Concealed from authorities
- esotericAccessible to few
- secretiveInclined to conceal
- hiddenKept out of sight
- initiationFormal admission ceremony
mystery · arcane · veiled · insular · closed · underground · shadow · confidential
Persistent, intrusive preoccupation
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
- followingComing after another
- fandomEnthusiast community collectively
- superfansExtremely devoted admirers
subculture · phenomenon · mania · craze · niche · underground · iconic · beloved
brainwashing
Coercive psychological manipulation
- indoctrinationSystematic uncritical belief instillation
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- mind controlDirecting another's thoughts
propaganda · gaslighting · love bombing · isolation · grooming · exploitation · psychological abuse · thought reform · undue influence · deception
sect
Breakaway religious faction
- worshipReligious reverence and praise
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
devotion · piety · faith · spirituality · syncretism · mysticism · asceticism · pilgrimage · ordination · sacrament
sect
Breakaway religious faction
- communeShared-living community
- enclaveSurrounded distinct territory
- followersPeople who support someone
disciples · adherents · congregation · collective · brotherhood · sisterhood · fellowship · faction · compound · colony
doctrine
Established body of teachings
teachings · scripture · prophecy · apocalypticism · millenarianism · eschatology · salvation · chosen ones · exclusivity · heresy
guru
Revered authority figure
- charismatic leaderCompelling person with authority
- prophetDivinely inspired messenger
- messiahProphesied liberator figure
founder · figurehead · megalomaniac · authoritarian · Jim Jones · David Koresh · L. Ron Hubbard · veneration · infallibility · succession
clandestine
Concealed from authorities
initiation · mystery · arcane · veiled · insular · closed · underground · shadow · confidential · oath
obsession
Persistent, intrusive preoccupation
superfans · subculture · phenomenon · mania · craze · niche · underground · iconic · beloved · Rocky Horror
- Modern Religionevangelicalism, fundamentalism, Pentecostalism, New Age, Scientology
- secret networkssecret societies, cabals, cells, hidden networks, criminal networks
- secret organizationscabal, secret society, secret societies, conspiracy, spy network
- Fringe Groupsmilitias, extremists, radicals, separatists, dissidents
- groupsteam, teams, group, club, clubs
- religionChristianity, Islam, beliefs, Judaism, Hinduism
cultsestablished churches
Religions officially endorsed by governments
organized religion · world religions · denominations · state religion · state religions
cultssecular humanism
Nonreligious ethical philosophy
rationalism · skepticism · freethought · atheism · agnosticism
- pop cultureMass entertainment and trends
- counter cultureOpposition to mainstream society
- traditional cultureEstablished customs of a people
- Russian cultureTraditions from Moscow's nation
- cult classicObscure work with devoted fans
- military cultureShared values of armed forces
culture, cult, cultural, agriculture, occult, occultism, culturally, horticulture, occultist