New religious movements and cults in popular culture

s and cults have appeared as themes or subjects in literature and popular culture. Beginning in the 1700s authors in the English-speaking world began introducing members of cults as antagonists. Satanists, Yakuzas, Triads, Thuggees, and sects of the Latter Day Saint movement were popular choices. In the twentieth century concern for the rights and feelings of religious minorities led authors to invent fictional cults for their villains to belong to. New religious movements and cults then began to appear in more modern culture in the 1950s and 1960s and became more prominent in the 1970s and 1980s into the 2000s. In the twenty-first century came the new display NRMs and cults in popular culture by being displayed in the entertainment industry such as through movies, TV shows, documentaries, and novels.
A new religious movement is a religious community or ethical, spiritual, or philosophical group of modern origins, which has a peripheral place within its nation's dominant religious culture. NRMs may be novel in origin or they may be part of a wider religion, in which case they will be distinct from pre-existing denominations. Scholars continue to try to reach definitions and define boundaries. Around the world, it has been estimated that the amount of NRMs fall in the tens of thousands worldwide. Most NRMs will tend to only have a few members while some of them have thousands of members, and a few of them have more than a million members.
The word cult in current usage is a term often used to describe a new religious movement or any group whose beliefs, practices, or organizational structures are viewed as abnormal, eccentric, or bizarre by the larger society. The term cult has been most commonly used as a pejorative term for a religious group that falls outside the mainstream and, by implication, engages in questionable activities. Many new religions are controversially labeled as cults. Cults are often depicted as organizations that exert control over their members, sometimes through manipulation, coercion, or psychological abuse.
At the same time, the label "cult" has been used in popular culture and media as a sensationalized term, contributing to stigmatization and fear of these groups, sometimes based more on social prejudice than factual analysis. Thus, it remains a highly charged term, with the potential for misapplication and overgeneralization, often leading to unfairly dismissing groups with unfamiliar or unconventional belief systems.

Literature

Early twentieth century

In Dashiell Hammett's The Dain Curse, much of the mystery puzzle revolves around the Temple of the Holy Grail, a fictitious California circle that Hammett's characters repeatedly describe as a "cult". Hammett depicts it as starting as a scam, although the putative leader begins to believe in his own fraudulent claims.
A.E.W. Mason, in The Prisoner in the Opal, one of his Inspector Hanaud mysteries, describes the unmasking of a Satanist cult.
Aldous Huxley wrote the dystopian novel, Brave New World which is set in a future society where traditional religion has been replaced by a secular, state-enforced belief system. The novel critiques the loss of spiritual depth in favor of mass consumerism and artificial happiness. While not a traditional cult, the state-sponsored religious-like movement, "Community, Identity, Stability", functions like a cult in that it enforces absolute conformity through ritualistic behaviors and psychological conditioning.
American writer H. P. Lovecraft had a hand in cosmic horror through the 1920s-1930s. Lovecraft’s cosmic horror often involved secretive cults worshipping ancient gods or supernatural entities, a reflection of fears surrounding the marginalization of traditional religious systems and the rise of unconventional beliefs. In Lovecraft’s "The Call of Cthulhu", a cult is central to the narrative, worshipping the Cthulhu entity, a monstrous being said to control and manipulate those who follow it. The cults in Lovecraft’s works, such as the Cult of Cthulhu, are often depicted as depraved, secretive, and capable of dangerous power, serving as metaphors for humanity’s insignificant place in the universe and the dangers of unknown forces.

Mid and late twentieth century

Science-fiction writer Robert A. Heinlein wrote two novels that deal with fictional cult-like groups. A leading figure in his early "Future History" series, Nehemiah Scudder, a religious "prophet", becomes dictator of the United States. By his own admission in an afterword, Heinlein poured into this book his distrust of all forms of religious fundamentalism, the Ku Klux Klan, the Communist Party and other movements that he regarded as authoritarian. Heinlein also stated in the afterword that he had worked out the plot of other books about Scudder, but had decided not to write them — in part because he found Scudder so unpleasant. Heinlein's novel Stranger in a Strange Land features two cults: the "Dionysian Church of the New Revelation, Fosterite", and the protagonist Valentine Michael Smith's own "Church of All Worlds". Heinlein treats of the motives and methods of religious leaders in some detail.
In That Hideous Strength, C. S. Lewis describes the National Institute for Co-ordinated Experiments, or "NICE", a quasi-governmental front concealing a kind of doomsday cult that worships a disembodied head kept alive by scientific means. Lewis' novel is notable for its elaboration of his 1944 address "The Inner Ring." The latter work criticizes the lust to "belong" to a powerful clique — a common human failing that Lewis believed was the basis for people being seduced into power-hungry and spiritually twisted movements.
In William Campbell Gault's Sweet Wild Wench, L.A. private eye Joe Puma investigates the "Children of Proton", a fictional cult that has attracted the support of the daughter of a wealthy businessman.
Gore Vidal's Messiah depicts the rise of Cavism, a nontheistic new religion of radical death acceptance, from its origins as a fringe cult to its ultimate takeover of the established world order. Vidal's Kalki, a science-fiction novel, recounts how a small but scientifically adept cult kills off the entire human race by means of germ warfare.
In the 1977 short story "Children of the Corn" by Stephen King and the film franchise based on it, the town of Gatlin in Nebraska ends up under the control of a cult of children who worship an evil entity called "He Who Walks Behind the Rows" living in the cornfields.

Twenty-first century

The twenty-first century saw continuation of signs of NRM's and cults in popular culture. Over the next several decades, the twenty-first century saw more novels revolving around this topic, although with the advancement of technology, it began to see more through the internet via, shows, documentaries, and movies.
Popular French author Michel Houellebecq's 2005 science-fiction novel, The Possibility of an Island, describes a cloning group that resembles the Raëlians.
Robert Muchamore has written a book for teenagers, Divine Madness, about a religious cult that has a vast number of members: the main characters of the book must infiltrate to discover a sinister plot.
The novel Godless centers around a teenager who forms a religious cult that worships his hometown's water tower.
The Hulu series The Path revolves around a fictional NRM, the Meyerist Movement, and explores the lives of members as they struggle with faith, power, and manipulation. The show blends elements of psychological drama and thriller, illustrating how cults can control individuals and shape their worldview. The Meyerist Movement is not based on any real-world religion but seems to borrow elements from various real cults and NRMs, such as Scientology and the Hare Krishna movement.
In 2018, the documentary series called Wild Wild Country came to Netflix. The series chronicles showed the rise and fall of the Rajneeshpuram community in Oregon, led by Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. The series provides a detailed and balanced exploration of the community’s complex dynamic, highlighting both the allure of the Rajneesh’s teachings and the destructive behaviors of his followers.
The Vow, another documentary series on HBO, examines the NXIVM cult, led by Keith Raniere. NXIVM presented itself as a self-help organization but was later exposed as a sex-trafficking and exploitation ring. The show delves into how charismatic leadership, manipulation, and exploitation can be disguised as self-improvement programs, capturing the psychological and emotional traps set by cult leaders.
In 2019, a horror film called Midsommar directed by Ari Aster was released. It presents a Swedish pagan cult that lures a group of Americans to participate in an idyllic yet disturbing midsummer festival. As the group becomes entangled in the cult's rituals, the film critiques the dangers of groupthink, blind obedience, and the allure of belonging.
The Master, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, follows the rise of a charismatic leader, Lancaster Dodd. The film examines the psychological effects of blind devotion to a powerful figure and the way cults use psychological techniques to entrench their followers.
Karyn Kusama directed The Invitation, a psychological thriller centered around a dinner party where the guests slowly realize that the hosts have become involved in a mysterious cult. The film explores themes of grief, manipulation, and the subtle ways in which cults can prey on individuals' vulnerabilities, offering a commentary on the dangers of ideological extremism and the ease with which people can be manipulated into harmful beliefs.
The Girls is a novel that draws inspiration from the Manson Family cult, specifically the events surrounding the infamous murders committed by Charles Manson’s followers in the 1960s. While the story is fictional, it explores how vulnerable young women can be seduced into dangerous cults, manipulated by a charismatic leader, and subjected to a groupthink mentality. The novel critiques the social dynamics within cults and how they prey on the emotional needs of their members.
The Religion is a novel published by Tim Willocks in 2006. While not entirely set in the 21st century, Willocks' novel takes place in the historical context of the Crusades and reflects how cult-like movements and religious extremism have always been part of human history. It critiques the way religious fervor can justify violence and manipulation.
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief is a HBO documentary, based on Lawrence Wright’s book Going Clear, critiquing the Church of Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige. It sheds light on the organization’s psychological manipulation, aggressive tactics against critics, and its ability to retain control over followers. It uses interviews with former members to expose the inner workings of Scientology and has helped reignite public scrutiny of the church.
The documentary Holy Hell follows the experiences of former members of the Buddha Field, a Los Angeles-based cult led by a man named Michel, who presented himself as a spiritual guru. The film offers a firsthand look at the emotional and psychological toll cults can have on individuals, including the exploitation and manipulation of vulnerable members