Why can the word cult have negative connotations when applied to religious groups?

The term "cult" has acquired significant negative connotations because it is frequently used as a pejorative label to cast doubt on the legitimacy of a religious group's practices. While historically the word simply denoted worship or specific religious rites, its modern usage often implies that a group is unorthodox, spurious, or engages in dangerous and coercive activities.12

This negative perception was heavily influenced by the anti-cult movement of the 1970s, which popularized the theory that members of such groups were "brainwashed" and stripped of their free will. High-profile incidents involving violent groups, such as the Peoples Temple and the Manson Family, further cemented these associations in the public consciousness.1

Because the term is often used to marginalize groups that exist in tension with mainstream society, many scholars and sociologists now prefer the neutral term new religious movement (NRM). This terminology helps avoid the stigmatizing implications of the word "cult," which can unfairly characterize diverse groups as inherently exploitative or fanatical when, in reality, the vast majority of these movements are benign.13