This List of purported cults lists a number of groups that:

1. have been referred to as a "cult" directly by a source;
2. have been referred to as a "sect" directly by French-language sources or by sources from the United Kingdom;
3. have been in existence within the last 50 years;

Groups are arranged by the "width of consensus" of the sources: Widest consensus, Decreasing consensus and Narrowest application, in descending order. Within these "cohorts" groups are arranged alphabetically.

Not included in this list are personality cults (heads of state), fancults of popular culture, and groups that don't have actual followings (fictional or self-nominated groups).

Because the terms often have a pejorative meaning, its application to specific groups is controversial. The definitions and common use of the term are examined in depth at the article on cults.

Very few groups or organizations are willing to accept the label of "cult," and a number of groups have vehemently resisted such a classification.

Sources

Widest consensus

• British Broadcasting Company, marked as .
• Encarta online encyclopedia, marked as (Enc). [1]
• The Guardian, marked as (Guardian).
• Salon.com, marked as (Salon). [2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
• Washington Post's 1997 series, The Cult Controversy, marked as (WPost) . [9]

Decreasing consensus

• France's 1996 parliamentary commission report, in which a list of purported cults compiled by the general information division of the French National Police (Renseignements généraux) was published, are marked (FR). (Report in French, Report in English) See also French legislation on cult abuses.

Narrowest application

• Steven Hassan of the Freedom of Mind Center website, marked as (SH). [10]
• Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, marked as (OCRT). [11]

Widest consensus

• Aum Shinrikyo (Wpost) (BBC) (Enc) (FR) (OCRT)

• Beasts of Satan (BBC)(Guardian)

Italy

• Branch Davidians (Wpost) (Salon) (Enc) (FR) (OCRT)

Waco, Texas

• Children of God (a.k.a. "The Family") (WPost) (Guardian) (FR)
• Christian Science (Salon) (FR)
• Church Universal and Triumphant [12][13]
• Concerned Christians (Wpost) (OCRT) [14][15]

Denver, Colorado, Jerusalem, Israel

• est (WPost)
• Exclusive Brethren (BBC)(Guardian)
• Falun Gong (BBC)(Guardian)
• Heaven's Gate (Wpost) (Enc) (OCRT)

Rancho Santa Fe, California

• ISKCON (AKA Hare Krishna) (Wpost) (Salon) (FR)
• Lyndon LaRouche movement (Wpost) (Guardian)
• Manson Family (WPost) (OCRT)

Los Angeles, California

• Lifespring (WPost)
• MOVE (Salon) (WPost)
• Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God (BBC)(ABC)(Guardian)) (Guardian) (OCRT)

Uganda

• Mungiki (BBC)

Nairobi, Kenya

• Order of the Solar Temple (Salon) (WPost) (Enc) (FR) (OCRT)

Switzerland, Quebec

• Panawave Laboratory [16](Reuters)
• People's Temple (Salon) (Enc) (WPost) (FR) (OCRT)

San Francisco, California, Jonestown, Guyana

• Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (BBC)

Philippines

• Posse Comitatus (WPost) (FR)

United States

• Quillabamba Pentecostal (BBC)
• Raelism (Salon) (Guardian) (FR)
• Rajneesh/OSHO (Salon) (WPost)
• Scientology (Salon) (WPost) (FR)[17][18] [19] [20]
• Soka Gakkai/Nichiren Shoshu (WPost) (FR) [21]
• Symbionese Liberation Army (WPost)

California

• Synanon (Salon)
• Sathya Sai Baba (Salon)
• Roch Theriault (Salon)

Canada

• Thuggee, the cult of Kali (BBC)

India

• Transcendental Meditation (Wpost) (FR)
• Unification Church (Salon) (WPost) (Guardian) (FR)
• United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors/Malachi York (AP)
• The Way International (WPost)

Decreasing consensus

• Antonines (FR)
• Aquarian Concepts [22]
  • Group in Sedona, Arizona. Subject of a critical segment on Dateline NBC
• Christian Community (FR)
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FR)
• Elan Vital (previously known as Divine Light Mission) (FR)
• Grail Movement (FR)
• International Churches of Christ (FR)
• Jehovah's Witnesses (FR)(Guardian)
• Landmark Education (FR) [23] [24] [25]
• Mahikari -Sukyo Mahikari (FR)
• Neo-Apostolic Church (FR)
• Temple of Set (SF Chronicle)
• Universal Alliance (FR)
• Universal Church of God (FR)
• Vishwa Nirmala Dharma/Sahaja Yoga (FR)

Narrowest application

• The Body of Christ (AKA Attleboro Cult) (SH)

Attleboro, Massachusetts

• Christadelphians [26] [27]
• Creativity Movement (OCRT) [28]

United States

• House of Yahweh (OCRT)
• Jeffrey Lundgren (OCRT) (AP)

Ohio

External links

• 1997 Washington Post series: The Cult Controversy
• F.A.C.T.Net A nonaligned news and archive service on cult and mind control issues
• CultFAQ.org Frequently asked questions about cults
• University of Virginia Religious Movements website - many groups are treated; list includes all major religions as well as new movements; older entries no longer updated
• CESNUR article about anti-cult terrorism
• Steve Hassan - critical list of groups
• American Family Foundation - critical list of groups
• Rick Ross - large database on groups, including faq, history, overview of individual groups, and archived news reports
• Apologetics Index - large Evangelical Christian database on religious cults, sects, and related issues
• Website of the Justice for Jeremiah campaign
• Cult Awareness Network - currently run by members of Scientology