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

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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- Doctrine
- Cult
- New Religious Movement

Religious Terminology

Dawson, Lorne. “New Religious Movements.” The Blackwell Companion to the Study of
Religion, Blackwell, 2006, pp. 369–84.


New Religious Movements

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

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.

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