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This Appendix presents definitions of the term “cult” and the expression “new religious movement”.
Origin of the word cult
The word cult comes from the Latin word cultus, which is a form of the verb colere and the French word culte meaning "to worship or give reference to a deity."
In a cult, members freely join the group. The rules and norms are validated by the group's followers, rather then being imposed by a group of leaders through a power structure. The cult comes together in opposition to a religious organization.
A cult is a group that is often created on the fringes of the Church. The cult is born out of an opposition to established ecclesiastical practices. Cults often emerge at times of reform within the Church.
A cult is a group of people in opposition to another clerical group.
Individuals aspiring to join a cult must participate actively before being accepted as a member of the group.
Abgrall distinguishes between “cults” and “destructive cults.
”A cult is a group of individuals that unites around a shared ideology and whose social development takes place under a veil of secrecy. It does not pose any danger to its members.
A cult becomes dangerous to an individual when it employs manipulative techniques to ensure ongoing membership. In this case, a group initially considered inoffensive can, through the course of its development, become a dangerous and coercive cult.
Isser provided an historical and comparative portrait of cults, making a distinction between sects and cults. She notes that “sects” are separate groups that exist in opposition to a majority religious group as well as to their social environment.
She argues that “cults” are groups led by a charismatic leader who often claims to be divine and omniscient. These groups generally reject a previous lifestyle by extolling the adoption of new existential principles. The group's daily life is organized on the basis of the needs and demands of the leader. According to Isser, the leader manipulates his or her followers to satisfy his or her needs. Isser argues that this second type of group poses a greater danger to the physical or psychological well-being of its members.
The AFF (presently known as the International Cultic Studies Association. ICSA), a professional organization founded over 20 years ago, argues that the public uses the term “cult,” properly or improperly, to refer to a wide variety of phenomena,fn 231 including the following:
· Religious, political, psychological or commercial groups in which the leader appears to exert undue influence over followers, usually to the leader's benefit;
· Fanatical religious and political groups, regardless of whether or not the leaders exert a high level of psychological control;
· Terrorist organizations, which induce individuals to commit acts of extreme violence;
· Religious groups deemed heretical or unorthodox by an observer of this group or its members;
· Non-traditional religious groups, benign or destructive;
· Physically isolated communes;
· A group in which a relative, friend or spouse participates that is perceived (correctly or incorrectly) by loved ones as destructive to the individual;
· Groups that use aggressive sales and recruitment techniques;
· Authoritarian social groups in which members exhibit a high degree of conformity and submission to the leader's demands;
· Extremist groups that advocate violence, racial separation bigotry or the overthrow of the government;
· Familial or dyadic relationships in which one member wields a high and apparently harmful degree of influence over the other members, for example, certain forms of dysfunctional families or battered women's syndrome.
The AFF argues that in light of the wide range of meanings the public attributes to the term “cult,” they suggest three choices exist with respect to how the term could be used:
· Pretend that the term “cult” is more precise than it actually is, thereby inviting misuse of the concept to which the term refers;
· So narrowly define the term that it becomes useless in a practical sense;
· Strive for a practical level of precision while acknowledging the unavoidable ambiguity in our terminology.
The AFF points out that it would be difficult to eliminate the term “cult” given its frequent use in popular language. Consequently, it suggests using it judiciously while acknowledging its ambiguity.
The expression new religious movement refers to all new spiritual groups that have emerged since the end of the Second World War.
Primary groups are small groups that allow members to have a direct relationship with the leader and with each other. It gives members an opportunity to regularly venerate the leader. This group guides members throughout their life cycle and assists them in marriage, spousal relations, childbirth, death and so on. When the number of members increases, these groups tend to create sub-groups.
Secondary groups offer a set of limited religious functions such as education, social service and social action. They do not offer the complete range of services provided by primary groups.
Tertiary groups are groups of organizations. They organize dialogue among primary groups, for example, the World Council of Churches.
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