List of purported cults

This List of purported cults lists a number of groups that have been referred to:

1. as a "cult" directly by specific listed sources;
2. as a "sect" directly by specific listed French-language or United Kingdom sources;
3. as such within the last 50 years;

Groups are arranged by the "width of consensus" of the sources: sources aligned with widest consensus are first, sources aligned with decreasing consensus follow, and sources that apply the term "cult" most narrowly are last. 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, their application to specific groups is controversial. Very few groups or organizations are willing to accept the label of "cult," and a number of groups have vehemently resisted such a classification. Therefore this article is as much about the use of the terms as about any group in particular. The definitions and common use of the term are examined in depth at the article on cults.

Sources

Widest consensus: Major newspapers, encyclopedias, magazines, leading broadcasters, and major news websites.

• British Broadcasting Corporation, marked as (BBC).
• Encarta online encyclopedia, marked as (Enc). [1]
• The Guardian, marked as (Guardian).
• Salon.com, marked as (Salon).
• Washington Post's 1997 series, The Cult Controversy, marked as (WPost) . [2]

Decreasing consensus: Official and semi-official government sources, wide religious groups, local news sources, and scholars writing in peer-reviewed journals.

• France's 1996 controversial parliamentary commission report, in which a list of purported cults was published (compiled by the general information division of the French National Police (Renseignements généraux) with the help of cult-watching groups), are marked (FR). (Report in French, Report in English) See also French legislation for the prevention and repression of cultic groups.
• U.S. Congressional Report: Suspect Organizations and Individuals Possessing Long-Range Fifty Caliber Sniper Weapons (PDF)
• Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board
• San Francisco Chronicle
• Point Reyes Light
• San Diego Union Tribune
• Insight Magazine

Narrowest application: Non-scholarly cult-watching and other related organizations.

• Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, marked as (OCRT). [3]
• Steven Hassan of the Freedom of Mind Center website, marked as (SH). [4]
• The Religious Movements Homepage Project at the University of Virginia, marked as (RM) [5]

Widest consensus

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

Tokyo, Japan

• Beasts of Satan (BBC)(Guardian)

Italy

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

Waco, Texas

• Children of God (a.k.a. "The Family") (WPost) (Guardian) (FR)
• Christian Science (Salon) (FR)
• Concerned Christians (Wpost) (OCRT) [6][7]

Denver, Colorado, Jerusalem, Israel

• Creativity Movement (Guardian) (OCRT)

United States

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

Rancho Santa Fe, California

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

Los Angeles, California

• Jeffrey Lundgren (Associated Press) (OCRT)

Ohio

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

Uganda

• Mungiki (BBC) (Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board)