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This list of controversial new religious movements includes every group that has a lot of controversy around it, relative to its size, regardless of the question whether the controversy is justified. The list does not include groups that clearly fit the profile of a cult. These are included in the list of purported cults. There is ongoing debate among academics on acceptability of usage of the word "cult" in scholarly research papers.
The Church of Scientology, founded by L. Ron Hubbard, uses a form of psychotherapy called Dianetics that some people claim is designed to hypnotize members into a more weak-minded and paranoid state. A sub-organization of the church -- known as the Sea Organization -- has paramilitary trappings, but is not armed. Critics also say the church seems to function as a for-profit organization, as it requires fixed-price donations for many of its services, which are required to advance in orders. An extensive discussion of the cult allegations against Scientology are included in the BambooWeb article on the church.
On its Web site, Scientology says it is not a cult but "a religion in the fullest sense of the word." It also says:
References:
Primerica is a large financial services company, which is a member of Citigroup, and is considered a cult by some of its opponents. According to the testimonies of victims, Primerica seeks converts by luring friends and relatives of its employees, some of which purchase insurance and some join full-time as recruiters deriving profits from new converts, thus employing a MLM scheme. Some accuse Primerica of employing mind-control.
Primerica attracted criticism due to what some describe as dubious practices, unscrupulousness and agressiveness in client relationships and usage of religious practices to prevent employees from quitting Primerica and disclosing the truth about it. During the regular meetings, recruiters shout "yes" and "amen" and demonstrate other distinctive qualities of a cult.
The company combats negative public image by funding advertizing and PR campaigns. References:
Elan Vital is an organization that supports the work of Prem Rawat , known also as Maharaji by his students. This organization exists in several countries with the purpose of organizing events in which Prem Rawat is invited to speak. They also engage in fundraising and in some countries they broadcast public addresses of Prem Rawat.
According to Elan Vital's website, the Divine Light Mission changed its name to Elan Vital in 1987. The Divine Light Mission, a new religious movement was criticized by the anti-cult movement in the1970s. A few ex-followers, called ex-premies became vocal critics, which Elan Vital considers them a hate group due to activities of harassement and libel that verge on the illegal . One of those vocal critics, Mike Finch has replied to some of these allegations.
Some Jewish critics have called Jews for Jesus a cult or claim it uses cultlike tactics to seek converts. They claim that it often deceives people in saying who they are and exploits people's religious insecurities. Many of the critics sharply disagree with the organization's claim that it is possible to become a Christian yet remain Jewish.
The organization says in a letter to a member on its Web site that those concerned about Jews for Jesus being a cult have "been influenced by propaganda promulgated by those who would detract from the credibility of your witness and ours. Some Jewish community leaders spread this kind of misinformation in order to counteract Jewish evangelism, which they erroneously consider a threat to Jewish survival. ... If your friend finds Jesus as her Savior, she will measure our doctrine and our conduct in the light of the Scriptures. Then she will know that Jews for Jesus is not a cult."
References
This group utilizes an MLM network to sell nutrition and cosmetics products. Attributes similar to those used by cults erned Herbalife reputation of being cult, cleverly disguised as legitimate business. To advance in ranks and increase returns from activity, Herbalife adepts need not only to sell the goods, but to recruit friends and relatives, who in turn will recruit the next distributors, thus building a "distribution network". Internal structure and control of Herbalife that is similar to a paramilitary organization aids its critics. Herbalife, however attributes the negative publicity to increased business competition and its own commercial success.
This controversial and iconoclastic guru (1931-1990) has considerable influence in the "New Age" circles of some countries (Brazil for instance), where his books are sold in mainstream bookstores with nearly as much acceptance as those of the Dalai Lama. His teachings emphasize the search for personal freedom (definitely including sexual activity), often to the point of damaging ethical discernment and leading to enthusiastic yet destructive behavior. His books are often very caustic in their criticism of many institutions and traditional teachings. His followers caused the Wasco County, Oregon scandal (involving political fraud and salmonella poisoning). Much of the information about him is of dubious quality, such as his death supposedly being caused by poisoning with radioactive Thallium.
While it may have been a cult once, nowadays, few people are active in a hierarchically organized group based on the organizational lineage of Rajneesh. Some people may be involved in several unhealthy cult-like groups based on the teachings of Rajneesh.
References
Sahaja Yoga is a cult of personality, led by Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi. Members advertise this new religious movement, also known as Vishwa Nirmala Dharma, as a "unique form of meditation." Critics and former members call Sahaja Yoga a form of brainwashing designed to recruite new members who are expected to devote their lives to recruiting more members and enriching the cult's founder, Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi.
Former members report that new recruits are led to believe that they have been "enlightened," or given their "self realization," at their first meeting. Former members now believe this is a means of gaining new recruits.
Once recruited, new and veteran cult members are expected to donate significant amounts of money to "projects in India," "puja dakshinat," and "gifts" for Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, a former devotee of the guru, Osho who claims to be the Sathya Sai Organisation that was founded by Sathya Sai Baba a cult. The reason is that these ex-members say that the allegations of sexual abuse carried out by Sathya Sai Baba are correct and the Sathya Sai organization refuses to properly investigate these. Ex-member Robert Priddy who maintains an extensive website about Sathya Sai Baba believes that it is a secretive, autocratic personality cult that has strong cultic characteristics.
Followers purport Sathya Sai Baba's group is not a cult because it displays atypical characteristics like charity and tolerance towards other beliefs. Also, it does not claim to be the only way to God and truth, and does not advocate proselytizing. They point out that often cults will expect their adherents to abandon worldly duties and to severe ties with their families, which is something Sathya Sai Baba has explicitly said not to do.
References
Lupo LeBoucher, a former member, had this to say about the Temple of Set:
"More trivially, they are your typical mail-order cult in any number of ways. They require large amounts of participation on the parts of their members, to the extent that participation in the group becomes a central organizing principle in their lives. They sponsor getaway vacation/conventions which all members are required to attend. They have strict hierarchy, a charismatic leader and apocalyptic prophecy (the "Gifted of Set" are supposed to survive an upcoming apocalypse, according to their Seminal document "The Book of Coming Forth By Night" - though lately they have been making noises that this is only a metaphorical apocalypse [perhaps to avoid legal intervention in the wake of other post apocalytics, such as the Branch Davidians and the Solar Temple mass suicides, and the Aum nerve gas attacks; there was literal belief in this passage as prophecy in the not-too distant past]. They have a number of secret documents which one must have certain levels of "attainment" to read; much like the OT grade documents of Scientology. They have all manner of bizarre theories about atlantis, ancient astronauts, "Tesla Physics," a theory of creationism, holocaust revisionism, and so on..."
References
Note that a quick survey of Usenet posts and Internet web pages will likely show that those who disagree with Lupo LeBoucher are as numerous as those who agree with them. Further, while it is easy to find those who agree with him among past members of the Temple, it is equally easy to find those who disagree with him among past members of the Temple, as is the case with any purported cult.
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