The difference between a cult, a sect and a denomination

Many cults today claim to be either a “sect” of the main religion from which they spawned or worse, simply a “denomination” of Christianity. It is for this reason that it is important that we define our terms carefully. Once we know what a cult is not, we can then see what a cult actually is.

Definition & Description of a Sect

Sect comes from the Latin word “secare” which means to cut or divide and the later etymology “sequi” meaning to follow or come after. Both uses described a group, whether philosophical or religious, which broke off from a main to form its own system of philosophy or belief. Many world religions have sects e.g. orthodox, conservative or Hasidic Judaism or Shi’ite, Sunni, or Suffi Muslims etc. A sect may have started as a part of a main group then followed variations on the original belief system introduced by a particular leader or small group within the religion. Ultimately, a sect will maintain most of the essentials of the main religion but will consider themselves “separate” from the main group. In most cases, the main group considers the “sect” to be a valid expression of the original belief system.

Sect differs from the term “denomination” in that a denomination is still considered part of the main faith of Christianity (in a visible sense) even though the denomination has embraced a different liturgy (method and manner of church practice and corporate worship).

We cover the sects of each major world religion and the denominations of Christianity within the individual page for that particular belief system.

Definition & Description of a Denomination

A denomination may, in professed doctrine, adhere to the essentials of the Christian faith such as the nature of God (Trinity), The person of Christ (both God the Son and Man), The Holy Spirit (As God the third person of the Trinity), Salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone etc but may differ in their liturgical approach or method of worship, some are high church (heavy emphasis on tradition and ceremony) and some are low church (de-emphasis on tradition and ceremony).

By contrast, a cult (of the Christian variety) will depart from these essentials of Christianity i.e. Trinity, Salvation through Christ alone, the virgin birth, etc but may very well resemble the same liturgical approach, and/or methods of worship as orthodox Christianity. c.f. Oneness Pentecostalism, Charismatic cults etc. We discuss the families of Christian denominations along with each denomination in particular on our Christian Denominations page.

Definition & Description of a Cult

The definition and description of a sect or denomination differs from the definition of a cult in that a cult will fully depart from the essentials of the main faith but will consider itself to be the only “authentic” version of the original faith e.g. Nation of Islam, Mormonism. Or in some cases will create itself from scratch by following a dynamic leader e.g. Scientology, Charismatic cults and the Santa Muerte Death Cult. A cult can be usually be identified by a leader/founder or group who claim to have private revelation from God and/or interpretation of His word whereby they then provide a group-exclusive pathway to heaven, eternal life. This is in direct opposition to the Bible which states that NO revelation (prophecy) came by private interpretation (2 Pet 1:20) and that salvation comes by no other person (or organization) other than the person of Christ Jesus (Acts 4:12).

Select the links in each of the group names above and throughout this page to be taken to more information on that particular belief system.

There are a number of criteria to consider when examining a particular religion or faith. This criteria is used to determine whether the faith is a “cult” or simply a “cult-like” sect, religion, or denomination. Have a look at the list below and see how your group measures up.

Private revelation of God or Ultimate/Higher Power via one supreme leader or group of leaders who claim to possess an exclusive position as mediator/messenger of that Power.
Those private revelations/visions/teachings of the supreme leader or group will usually contradict and/or attempt to refute the essential doctrines of the Christian faith and sometimes the very faith or discipline from which it originally emerges.
The founding and/or continuing leadership is generally charismatic (attractive, persuasive, endearing, etc) with an extraordinary ability to communicate and usually re-write the Bible or introduce new scriptures which serve as a guiding authority and discipline introduced by the author.
The group will tend to function in an exclusive manner (not inclusive i.e. you must be one of them to continue in fellowship with the group). This exclusivity can result in members referring to their movement as the “one true group, church, gathering, etc".
Isolation can occur in the new member from their non-member family or friends and is often encouraged by the group ("you are one of us now and they are not." etc.) This separation is often used as an effort to gain control of the new member.
Relationship to the god/higher power of this ‘religion’ is only through the founder, his writings or those leaders which replace the founder of that group. Rarely is direct relationship/revelation of the god/higher power made available to the common member. This is yet another effort to control adherents.
Often times detractors or those that question said founder or leadership are branded as spiritual malfeasants or “enemies of the church” “Suppressive Persons” etc. often resulting in unfavorable, intimidating or sometimes aggressive conversations and behaviors from group members to the dissenting person.
Ideallic salvation/heaven/afterlife can only be achieved through this group alone and/or specific founder and his/her/their “secretly discovered and protected” teachings and writings.
Ideallic salvation/heaven/afterlife is usually based on stringent works, payments/donation and human effort to achieve acceptable status in the eyes of the higher powers etc.
Compulsory proselityzing: With most cultic groups, there tends to be a heavy emphasis on proselityzing for the furtherance of influence of that group. This is usually done through selling books, giving literature, flowers, knocking on doors, taking 2 year missions, setting up booths on Hollywood film productions etc.
There is usually an undue amount of pressure - socially and religiously - to “give” or make payments financially to that specific group only and no other.
There is usually a great level of control, overtly or otherwise, exerted over its members through the threat of expulsion and disassociation from the group - often citing others' expulsions as an example.
For whatever reason, the group will almost always disparage a biblical view of Jesus instead introducing a Jesus with completely different charateristics (even if they don't emerge from Christianity!)
Founders and leaders of the group will always demote and/or degrade the Bible as being untrustworthy for someone to read on their own - pointing that person back to the cult leader(s) to provide what they consider a "correct" interpretation - which always seems to contradict itself in other parts of Scripture.

The next to last point above causes great consternation for some whose grandparents, parents, siblings, and entire social network may be part of the cult and from whom, the expelled person would be ‘excommunicated’. Cults will use the threat of losing relationships of family-member cultists to keep the “straying or questioning” cult member in line. (method of control)

Cults ask, “How can a loving God send anyone to hell?”
The Christian response might logically be: “How can a righteous/just God send anyone to heaven?” “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God”; ‘Each one has gone astray’
Another Christian Response might be: Their (the self-condemned) understanding of God’s character is warped. He honors man’s free will choice to be separate from Him as he TRULY is! The Bible speaks of this sort of person: Rom 1:28 “They did not think it worthwhile to retain the true knowledge of God, He gave them over to a depraved mind…”

Groups which bear many (or all) of the characteristics of a cult:

Latter Day Saints (LDS) or Mormons – The god of Mormonism is one of many gods who comes from a planet near the star called Kolob whereas Biblical Christianity adheres to the fundamental that God is Creator of all things seen and unseen including any and all planets and any and all stars (even the star named ‘Kolob’ if such a star existed). You can read more about this group on our Latter Day Saints – Mormons page.

In addition to Latter Day Saints – LDS – Mormons, other cultic groups are: Jehovah’s Witnesses, Nation of Islam (Louis Farrakhan), Roman Catholicism, Rev Myung Sun Moon (Moonies), Christadelphians, Oneness Pentecostalism, I would add that MANY pseudo-Christian Charismatic groups – New Apostolic Reformation (Bill Johnson of Bethel) and Word Faith groups (Kenneth Copeland, Joel Osteen, Paula White etc.) are very much a part of these groups and meet many of the cult criteria above. Click the links in the group names above to read more about that particular group.

A group need not be affiliated with Christianity to be considered a cult. Consider the tragedy of the Heaven’s Gate cult. This cult resembled much of the more extreme “space visitor” and “space salvation” doctrines of Scientology but was not directly related to the views of any established world religion. It was simply a “science fiction” cult which seem to be growing in number (cf “Jediism” – newfound cult of the “Jedi” of the science fiction works of George Lucas.). Other non-Christian cults would include Transcendental Mediation (TM), Nation of Islam and the Santa Muerte Death Cult

There are cults that come from Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Atheism, and other world religions. Many of which have grown so large that the primary religion from which they emerged has simply recognized them as a “sect” and not a cult at all. A few examples of these groups are the Hare Krishas (Hinduism) Suffism (Islam), Tibetan Buddhism – a mix of animism and Buddhism (Buddhism).

The fastest growing religious movement in the world today is what some call “Charismatic Christianity”. The truth is, as a former charismatic myself, I can say first hand that these charismatic groups are anything but Christian. Charismatic churches and leaders, particularly the signs and wonders groups like Bethel Church, Toronto Vineyard or the word faith churches of Paula White, Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland and Joel Osteen all preach a completely different gospel than that which was preached by the Apostles in scripture. Therefore, as Bible-believing Christians we are to “mark” or “note” such men (and women) as deceivers and avoid them (i.e. move on from them having nothing to do with their churches or false doctrines.)

Groups which bear some of the characteristics of a cult:

Amish, Disciples of Christ, Potter’s House, Seventh Day Adventists. These groups are considered by some to be “Exo-orthodox” or “outside” of orthodox practices according to the Bible.

No one receives eternal life and eternal presence with God (from Whom all good things come – James 1:17), by belonging to the right church, denomination, world religion, or by having a particular world view. Rather only those who trust in the Lord Jesus (preached by the Apostles in the Bible) for their own sin. We will not trust in a Savior for sins that we either don’t believe we have or that we think aren’t deserving of hell. But the Bible says that ALL have sin and the wages of that sin is eternal separation from God (death). The good news is that the Bible says that you can know that YOU have eternal life. Click the button below to see if you are genuinely saved from your sins according to the Bible:

Religious Cults