Cult-watching group
A cult-watching group (CWG) is an organized or grass-roots assemblage of people who observe and comment on the largely marginal, often unpopular new religious movements which are often labeled "cults".
These groups generally fall into the following categories:
- anti-cult (movement) – Accuses NRMs of using "mind control" to recruit and retain membership
- counter-cult (movement) – Primarly concerned with the heresy of the NRMS, but somewhat allied with anti-cultists.
- neutral researchers – sociologists of religion and other scientists who, like Barker, study the NRMs objectively
- human rights groups – Assert that choosing a religion is a matter of right
- defenders – A possibly self-interested class who mainly complain about being persecuted
Professor Eileen Barker divides cult-watching groups into 5 types:
- "cult-awareness groups (CAGs); counter-cult groups (CCGs); research-orientated groups (ROGs); human-rights groups (HRGs); and cult-defender groups (CCGs)." [1] Her concept of "cult awareness" is more complex than the "anti-cult" category described above. (see her article)