- Jehovah's Witnesses
- Satanism 
- Scientology
- The Peoples Temple

Examples of New Religious Movements

Many researchers prefer to use the term new religious movements instead of cults as that term has garnered a negative correlation, especially in the media. The negative correlation of the term cult tends to lead to a dehumanization of the movement and the individuals involved. 

New Religious Movement or Cult

This movement describes the creation of "new religions" with either completely modern origins, or older origins with enough changes to make it a distinct new religion rather than a denomination. These religions are by definitions not dominant religions in society.

Albion College

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- Abrahamic religions
- East Asian religions
- Indian Religions
- Indigenous/folk religions
- Traditional African religions
- Iranian religions
- New religious movements
- Classical religions

Categories of Religions

The term's meaning changed during the 1970s and 80s, a period known as the “cult scare.” During that period many people used the term cult indiscriminately to discredit their religious views. This caused a negative connotation to be related to the term as well as any group that was then labeled a cult. A new term was then needed. New Religious Movements became one such term.

Evolution of the term Cult

- Doctrine
- Cult
- New Religious Movement

Religious Terminology

Wikipedia

Abrahamic religions are a group of monotheistic religions that named after the God of Abraham. 

Abrahamic religions

Also called Taoic religions, these are religions originating in eastern Asia that share Chinese ideas of spirituality and the world. 

East Asian religions

This is a diverse group of religions originating in Africa, developed both on the African continent and through the African diaspora.

Traditional African religions

These are religions originating in "Greater Iran" which includes areas of modern-day Western, Central, and South Asia, as well as Transcaucasia.

Iranian religions

This is a broad category of religions, united not through shared history or practices, but because of their shared standing as different from global, organized religions. These religions are often closely tied to a specific group of people, and religious knowledge is passed down from generation to generation.

Indigenous and Folk religions

New Religious Movement

Used to denote the "Eternal Faith", the way of life that has existed for eons, Sanatana Dharma comprises of a set of duties or religiously ordained practices adopted by the followers of the faith, in order to break free from the cyclical lives to which individuals are subjected. 

In layman's terms, Sanatana Dharma reference lifestyles, and not religions that emerged from the Indian subcontinent, with a commonality in its foundations and philosophies.

As the philosophies evolved into religious beliefs, the term, "Sanatana Dharma" as of today, is interchangeable with the term "Hinduism".

Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism)

- Ancient Greek Religion
- Ancient Roman Religion 

Classical Religions

A system or set of beliefs or practices. Within a Religious context, these beliefs form the tenants or structure of how the religion defines itself. 

Doctrine (Religion)

The term Cult came from Howard Becker (Von Wiese, Leopold, and Howard Becker. Systematic Sociology. New York: Wiley, 1932.). The original meaning of cult was a label for small groups that practiced a religion but could not be easily categorized as a sect or church. Cults tended to be unconcerned with social and political issues in society and more focused on experiencing different religious phenomena. 


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