Sect vs. Cult — What's the Difference?

A dissenting or schismatic religious body; especially one regarded as extreme or heretical.

A relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or sinister.

A religious denomination.

A system of religious veneration directed toward a particular figure or object.

A group adhering to a distinctive doctrine or leader.

A social group defined by its religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs, or its common interest in a particular personality, object, or goal.

A subgroup that forms due to differences in beliefs or interpretations from a larger religious group.

A community or society that is in some way abnormal or sinister, typically isolating themselves from mainstream society.

A sect is a subgroup of a religious, political, or philosophical belief system, usually an offshoot of a larger group. Although the term was originally a classification for religious separated groups, it can now refer to any organization that breaks away from a larger one to follow a different set of rules and principles.

In modern English, a cult is a social group that is defined by its unusual religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs, or by its common interest in a particular personality, object, or goal. This sense of the term is controversial, having divergent definitions both in popular culture and academia, and has also been an ongoing source of contention among scholars across several fields of study.

A group of people forming a distinct unit within a larger group by virtue of certain refinements or distinctions of belief or practice.

A system of religious veneration and devotion directed towards a particular figure or object

A religious body, especially one that has separated from a larger denomination.

A person or thing that is popular or fashionable among a particular group or section of society

A faction united by common interests or beliefs.

A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.

An offshoot of a larger religion or denomination, usually and especially one with unorthodox or extreme political and/or religious beliefs.

The followers of such a religion or sect.

A group following a specific ideal or a leader.

A system or community of religious worship and ritual.

(obsolete) A cutting; a scion.

The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual.

A cutting; a scion.

A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease.

Those following a particular leader or authority, or attached to a certain opinion; a company or set having a common belief or allegiance distinct from others; in religion, the believers in a particular creed, or upholders of a particular practice; especially, in modern times, a party dissenting from an established church; a denomination; in philosophy, the disciples of a particular master; a school; in society and the state, an order, rank, class, or party.

Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing.

A subdivision of a larger religious group

The object of such devotion.

A dissenting clique

An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest.

A group, sect or movement following an unorthodox religious or philosophical system of beliefs, especially one in which members remove and exclude themselves from greater society, including family members not part of the cult, and show extreme devotion to a charismatic leader.

The veneration, devotion, and religious rites given to a deity (especially in a historical polytheistic context), or (in a Christian context) to a saint.

(informal) A group of people having an obsession with or intense admiration for a particular activity, idea, person or thing.

Of or relating to a cult.

Enjoyed by a small, loyal group.

Alternative form of kvlt.

Attentive care; homage; worship.

A system of religious belief and worship.

A system of intense religious veneration of a particular person, idea, or object, especially one considered spurious or irrational by traditional religious bodies; as, the Moonie cult.

The group of individuals who adhere to a cult (senses 2 or 3).

A strong devotion or interest in a particular person, idea or thing without religious associations, or the people holding such an interest; as, the cult of James Dean; the cult of personality in totalitarian societies.

Adherents of an exclusive system of religious beliefs and practices

An interest followed with exaggerated zeal;

A system of religious beliefs and rituals;

A misplaced or excessive admiration for a particular person or thing.

A sect is a subgroup, typically breaking from larger religious groups due to differing beliefs or practices.

A cult is usually a group with extreme beliefs or practices, often centered around a charismatic leader.

Yes, some sects can gain followers and acceptance, becoming mainstream or forming new religious movements.

No, cults can form around various focuses, including personalities, philosophies, or other interests.

Sects may or may not have distinctive leaders, but cults typically have a charismatic leader at the center.

Sects and cult-like groups can potentially arise in any religious tradition, depending on differing beliefs and practices within the larger group.

While many cults can be harmful due to extreme beliefs and practices, not all are inherently dangerous.

Some sects may contribute positively to societal diversity and enrichment by promoting alternative perspectives and values.

Leaving a cult can be challenging due to psychological, emotional, and sometimes physical constraints imposed by the group.

Not necessarily; some sects may simply have different interpretations or practices within the same religious tradition.

Yes, some sects can have substantial numbers of adherents, depending on their appeal and teachings.

Not necessarily; while some sects may prefer isolation, others may remain engaged with the wider community.

Cults often employ manipulative or coercive techniques, including isolation, indoctrination, and emotional dependency, to control members.

Cult identification can be subjective and controversial, depending largely on societal norms and perceptions.

Cults are often viewed with suspicion or concern due to their unconventional or extreme beliefs and practices.