Sects and Cults

Sects and cults are smaller groups of faith that may or may not have their fundamentals in traditional religions. Sects are subgroups from a single faith or religion, such as Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, and others. In recent times, sects also refer to any religious group that has separated itself from an established religion and now follows its own rules. There are approximately 4,500 different sects of different religions globally. On the other hand, a cult is a social group that follows unusual religious, philosophical, spiritual beliefs to attain a common interest or goal in life. The followers of cults are different from their ancestors. 

Differences between Cults and Sects

The differences between cult and sect are as follows:

Let us study some sects and cults and their differences in brief.

Sects in Hinduism

Hinduism has four major sects – Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism.

Check out the Tips for UPSC Preparation

Vaishnavism 

This sect worships Lord Vishnu, and the followers call themselves vaishnavites. The followers give significance to Lord Vishnu and His ten incarnations. Their beliefs and practices that help develop notions such as Bhakti and Bhakti Yoga are based on ancient texts like Bhagavad Gita and the Padma, Vishnu, Bhagavata Puranas and the Upanishads. The sect has enjoyed significant recognition internationally since the mid-1900s through the Gaudiya Vaishnava branch.

Shaivism 

This sect worships Lord Shiva as their most Supreme Being, and the followers call themselves Shaivas. They have a firm faith that Lord Shiva is the be all and end of all things. The devotees of Shaivism put sacred ash – which in Sanskrit is called bhasma or vibhuti – on their foreheads and other body parts.

Shaktism

Followers of this sect are ardent worshippers of Devi or Shakti, whom they consider as the Hindu Divine Mother or the Supreme Brahman itself. The sect has various tantric and non-tantric disciplines spread across the Indian subcontinent and beyond.

Read about UPSC question paper 2019

Smartism 

Followers of Smartism follow all Vedas and Shastras and believe that all Hindu deities are forms of the Brahman. 

Islam 

Islam is the religion followed by Muslims all over the world. They believe in one God called Allah. Though all sects inside Islam pray to Allah, they are different in other aspects. These sects are:

Sunni Islam 

The Sunni sect is the largest sect of Islam globally. The followers of this sect are called Sunnis, and they follow ‘sunnah,’ – the tradition and practices of Prophet Muhammad. They consist 85% to 90% of the total Muslim population. They believe that Abu Bakr was the first caliph and Prophet Muhammad’s successor. 

Shia Islam 

Shia is a derivation of an Arabic term, shi’at ‘Ali. The followers of this sect are Shia Muslims. They believe that Ali was the true successor of Prophet Muhammad, which is different from what the Sunni Muslims believe. This sect is the second largest among Muslims.

Ismailis or Seveners 

The Ismailis belong to those Shia Muslims who split up in 765 AD over the disagreement of the 6th Imam. The sixth imam was the Ja’far al-Sadiq, and they believe that Ismail, the eldest son of Imam Ja’far, was his rightful successor.

Zaidiyyah or Fivers 

This sect of the Shia community believes the grandson of Ali, Zayd ibn Ali, is the fifth Imam. 

Also read UPSC question paper 2022

Christianity

Christianity is broadly divided into three sects that have their sub-sects. The sects are as follows:

Roman Catholicism 

Roman Catholics believe Jesus is the son of God whose aim was to eradicate sins from earth through his teachings, death and resurrection.

Protestantism 

Protestantism originated in the 16th century, and its followers hold the Bible as the ultimate authority in matters of religious truth. 

Orthodox Christianity 

For an Orthodox Christian, Jesus Christ is God himself. They also believe in the incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Buddhism

The three sects of Buddhism are: 

• Theravada
• Mahayana
• Vajrayana

Cults 

Cults can be classified as:

• Destructive cults
• Doomsday cults
• Political cults
• Polygamist cults
• Racist cults
• Terrorist cults 

Conclusion

Sects and cults are religious organisations that differ from each other in terms of their origins and primary deity. Sects are divisions formed in a major religion, whereas cults are groups that follow religious, philosophical, and spiritual beliefs that are niche and unorthodox.