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“In Modern English, a cult is a term, considered pejorative by some, for a social group that is defined by its unusual religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs and rituals,[1] or its common interest in a particular personality, object, or goal. This sense of the term is controversial and weakly defined, – having divergent definitions both in popular culture and academia – and has also been an ongoing source of contention among scholars across several fields of study.[2][3]: 348–356  An older sense of the word involves a set of conventional religious devotional practices within its culture, is related to a particular figure, and is frequently associated with a particular place.[4] References to the imperial cult of ancient Rome, for example, use the word in this sense. While the word is still being used in its literal and original sense, a derived sense of "excessive devotion" arose in the 19th century. [I] Then, in the 1930s, cults became an object of sociological study within the context of religious behavior.[5] Since the 1940s, the Christian counter-cult movement has opposed some sects and new religious movements, labeling them "cults" because of their unorthodox beliefs. Since the 1970s, the secular anti-cult movement has opposed certain groups and, as a reaction to acts of violence, frequently charged those cults with practicing mind control. Scholars and the media have disputed some of the claims and actions of anti-cult movements, leading to further public controversy. Sociological classifications of religious movements may identify a cult as a social group with socially deviant or novel beliefs and practices,[6] although this is often unclear.[7][8][9] Other researchers present a less-organized picture of cults, saying that they arise spontaneously around novel beliefs and practices.[10] Groups labeled as "cults" range in size from local groups with a few followers to international organizations with millions of adherents.[11].” 

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