What’s the definition of a cult? Step inside the weirdest organizations

What is the definition of a cult? Broadly, it is the formal devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work. This type of veneration can be applied broadly to any group of like minded people who share a common interest or obsession. Some may argue that fans of Star Trek or K-Pop are followers of a cult. Destructive cults still exist. These cults often demand complete devotion to a central figure. Economic & sexual exploitation of cult members is generally the true purpose of these groups. Members are often looking for a place to belong as they may feel increasingly isolated by our constantly changing modern world. Take a look at some of the strangest organizations that form the very definition of destructive cults.

NXIVM

NXIVM was a cult that started in upstate New York. Many young professionals joined the group looking for seminars in professional & personal development. Women who participated in NXIVM’s Executive Success Programs were recruited into a secret group called DOS. Members of DOS were branded and coerced into sexual slavery. Keith Raniere, the founder of NXIVM, allegedly ran several multi-level marketing pyramid schemes in the 90s. Raniere created his Executive Success Program based on the works of Ayn Rand, L. Ron Hubbard, Tony Robbins, as well as a hodgepodge of Eastern religious philosophy. The teachings of NVIXM fit the definition of a cult almost exactly. Raniere was the charismatic leader whose teachings were sacrosanct. Any deviation from his teachings or orders was criticized as a personal character flaw. Members were forced to have sex with Rainere and pay exorbitant amounts of money. In 2018, Raniere was arrested & indicted on federal charges of sex trafficking. In 2020, a federal judge sentenced Raniere to 120 years in prison. It is suspected that Raniere might have been involved in several homicides. A number of his former partners died of mysterious circumstances, including suicide, poisoning, and sudden cancer. Appeals were denied through 2025, including claims of evidence tampering, and the former Colonie campus was sold by the government. Raniere remains incarcerated at USP Tucson.

The Peoples Temple

The Peoples Temple of the Disciples of Christ, often referred to as the Peoples Temple, was founded in 1954 by Reverend Jim Jones. The organization began by combining Christianity with elements of leftist political ideology. Though the group’s teachings of charity, racial equality, and communal living don’t seem outwardly destructive, the Temple’s leadership truly was dangerous. Jones often preached that a nuclear holocaust was imminent. He preyed on Cold War-era fears to coerce people into giving large donations to his group. On November 18, 1978, in a settlement in Guyana called Jonestown, 909 people died in a mass murder & suicide. Cult leader Jim Jones ordered his congregation to drink a cyanide-laced batch of grape Flavor Aid. It was the greatest deliberate loss of American civilian lives until the events of September 11th, 2001.

Aum Shinrikyo

Aum Shinrikyo, or as it is now known Aleph, is a Japanese doomsday cult that is notorious for carrying out deadly terrorist attacks. This group borrows a variety of ideas from Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, as well as the predictions of Nostradamus. The group’s leader Shoko Asahara, born Chizuo Matsumoto, claimed to have visions of the end of the world. Asahara claimed that he would be able to take the sins of the world upon himself so that his followers may live forever. His followers began covertly manufacturing a dangerous VX gas and sarin, two dangerous nerve gases. Aum Shinrikyo members carried out a series of violent murders and terrorist attacks in the mid 90s. On March 20, 1995, the group released sarin gas on the Tokyo Metro. This attack killed fourteen people and resulted in serious injuries to more than 5,000 people. Asahara was arrested along with several of the senior members of the cult. Asahara was executed in July 2018. Aleph remains under surveillance with activity restrictions extended through 2026. The second son of Asahara has been identified as the current leader of the group, which has roughly 1,190 members as of 2025.

Heaven’s Gate

For many, Heaven’s Gate is the very definition of a dangerous cult. The group was formed by Bonnie Nettles and Marshall Applewhite in the 1970s. The two believed that they were chosen to fulfill a number of biblical prophecies and usher in a new phase in human spirituality. Many refused to take Heaven’s Gate seriously. This is fairly typical with cults, likely because their beliefs are seen as being so bizarre. However, many members of the cult believed so deeply that they surrendered their lives for it. In 1997, under the direction of Applewhite, thirty-eight members of the cult committed suicide. They believed their souls would board an unidentified flying object and be lifted to a realm above human consciousness. The group’s 1997 website remains active as of 2026, and its story has been revisited in several documentaries and films during the 2020s.

Contemporary Cult Cases

Recent events show that destructive groups continue to operate and attract followers. In Kenya, the Shakahola Forest starvation cult led by Pastor Paul Mackenzie has been linked to hundreds of deaths, with charges still pending. The successor organization to Aum Shinrikyo, known as Aleph, remains under active government restrictions. These cases demonstrate that the patterns of control and exploitation identified in earlier groups have not disappeared.

How Cults Recruit in the Digital Age

Modern isolation has become a key factor in recruitment. Groups such as Shincheonji expanded rapidly during the pandemic by offering online classes that promised community and purpose. Targeted outreach through social media and messaging apps allows leaders to reach individuals who already feel disconnected. These tactics mirror the isolation described in earlier definitions of cults while adapting to new technology.

Legal and Societal Responses to Cults

Governments have responded with monitoring, asset forfeiture, and restrictions. Japan has extended surveillance of Aleph through 2026. In the United States, NXIVM properties were seized and sold. International practices now include tracking financial flows and supporting survivors through legal and counseling services. These measures aim to limit the reach of groups that fit the definition of a cult.

Survivor Perspectives and Recovery

Survivors of NXIVM, Jonestown, and similar groups have shared their experiences in documentaries and interviews. Many describe the pull of belonging that drew them in and the difficulty of rebuilding afterward. Isolation remains a central theme in these accounts, echoing the recruitment patterns noted in the broader definition of cults.

The Evolution of Cult Definitions

Scholarly sources such as Britannica note that definitions of cults focus on charismatic control, exploitation, and resistance to outside influence. The term resists a single rigid classification and carries a pejorative weight in public discussion. The original broad definition of formal devotion remains useful, while newer research emphasizes the psychological and social mechanisms that sustain destructive groups.

The cases examined here illustrate how groups that match the definition of a cult continue to appear across decades and regions. From NXIVM’s legal aftermath to ongoing restrictions on Aleph and new incidents in Kenya, the themes of isolation, control, and exploitation persist. Survivors continue to speak out, and legal systems adjust their responses. The record shows that these organizations adapt to new tools and circumstances while following recognizable patterns of behavior.