Church, Sect, and Cult

A church is a well-established religious organization with a large membership, structured leadership, and mainstream practices. A sect is a smaller, more devout subgroup that often separates from a larger church, typically emphasizing strict beliefs or practices. A cult is a group with intense commitment to a charismatic leader, often involving unorthodox beliefs, isolation, or control over members’ lives. Unlike churches or sects, cults usually operate outside mainstream society and can foster dependence or manipulation. These terms reflect differences in size, beliefs, complexity, and societal acceptance of the group.