RECOVER FROM COERCIVE CONTROL
Summary of Groups Operating in Australia
Renee believes that coercive control is composed of multiple elements. The more coercive features a group has, and the more intense these features are, the more likely it is to be considered a cult.
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Below is a list of groups analysed using the Renee Cult Ranking (RCR). These assessments may change over time, as groups can evolve—either improving or worsening. It is also recognised that individual experiences of coercive control can vary within the same group, depending on factors like proximity to the inner circle.
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New groups are added regularly.
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Due to the number of columns in the table, it is best viewed on a desktop.
Renée's Definition of "Cult"
Renée's understanding of the term "cult" is that it can be used describe any group​ that shares a common focus. These operate on a continuum from harmless to destructive, depending on the level of top-down coercive control it exercises on its members. Renée's Cult Ranking System is designed to help determine the level of destructive behaviours within any group.
* Ideologies encompass broad categories, with many groups transcending multiple areas, such as religious political parties.
A = Authoritative Leadership
B = Control Over Information
C = Deception
D = Exclusive Knowledge
E = Exploitation
F = Fear, Guilt, &/or Intimidation
G = Isolation
H = Micro-Management of Daily Tasks
I = Monitoring Thoughts &/or Behaviors
J = Punishment & Discipline
K = Thought Reform
L = Us vs. Them Mentality
Ideology* | Group | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | Total | RCR | CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CHRISTIAN | Agape Ministries | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 36 | 10. Extremely Destructive Cult | Y |
ISLAM | Al-Furqan | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 36 | 10. Extremely Destructive Cult | Y |
ISLAM | Al-Qaeda | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 36 | 10. Extremely Destructive Cult | Y |
MLM | Amway | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 05. Cultish | Y |
INDIGENOUS | Australian Aboriginal Societies (Before Colonisation) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 01. Benign Group | Y |
POLITICIAL | Australian Greens Party | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 01. Benign Group | Y |
POLITICIAL | Australian Liberal Party (Current) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 02. Mostly Benign Group | Y |
POLITICIAL | Australian Nationalist Movement | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 27 | 08. Likely Destructive Cult | Y |
CHRISTIAN | Brethren | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 34 | 09. Highly Destructive Cult | Y |
CHRISTIAN | Brisbane Christian Fellowship | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 30 | 08. Likely Destructive Cult | Y |
CHRISTIAN | Church of Christ | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 28 | 08. Likely Destructive Cult | Y |
CHRISTIAN | Church of England | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 01. Benign Group | Y |
CHRISTIAN | City Builders Church (Sale, Victoria) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 24 | 07. Significantly Harmful Cult | Y |
JUDAISM | Conservative Judaism | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 01. Benign Group | Y |
POLITICIAL | Creativity Movement/Alliance | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 33 | 09. Highly Destructive Cult | Y |
BUDDHISM | Dharmaguptaka | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 02. Mostly Benign Group | Y |
CHRISTIAN | Divine Truth | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 24 | 07. Significantly Harmful Cult | Y |
OTHER | Druidism in Australia | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 03. Verge of Cultish | Y |
CHRISTIAN | Eastern Orthodox Christianity | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 03. Verge of Cultish | Y |
POLITICIAL | Freeman on the Land | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 05. Cultish | Y |
BUDDHISM | Gelug school | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 04. A Bit Cultish | Y |
CHRISTIAN | Gloriavale Christian Community | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 36 | 10. Extremely Destructive Cult | Y |
HINDU | Hare Krishna (ISKCON) | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 06. Cult | Y |
MLM | Herbalife | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1.5 | 18.5 | 05. Cultish | Y |
CHRISTIAN | Hillsong Church | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 05. Cultish | Y |
PSYCHOLOGY | Ideal Human Environment | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 36 | 10. Extremely Destructive Cult | Y |
ISLAM | Islamic State in Australia | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 36 | 10. Extremely Destructive Cult | Y |
CHRISTIAN | Jehovah’s Witnesses | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 33 | 09. Highly Destructive Cult | Y |
CHRISTIAN | Jesus Christians | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 36 | 10. Extremely Destructive Cult | Y |
BUDDHISM | Jin-Gang-Dhyana | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 36 | 10. Extremely Destructive Cult | Y |
OTHER | Kenja Communication | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 31 | 09. Highly Destructive Cult | Y |
POLITICIAL | LaRouche | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 27 | 08. Likely Destructive Cult | Y |
POLITICIAL | Labour Party of Australia (Current) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 02. Mostly Benign Group | Y |
CHRISTIAN | Lutheran | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 01. Benign Group | Y |
POLITICIAL | Magnificat Meal Movement | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 36 | 10. Extremely Destructive Cult | Y |
BUDDHISM | Mahayana in Australia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 01. Benign Group | Y |
CHRISTIAN | Modern Catholic Church | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 04. A Bit Cultish | Y |
POLITICIAL | National Socialist Order in Australia | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 35 | 10. Extremely Destructive Cult | Y |
BUDDHISM | Nikaya in Australia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 01. Benign Group | Y |
CHRISTIAN | Order of Saint Charbel | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 36 | 10. Extremely Destructive Cult | Y |
JUDAISM | Orthodox Judaism | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 04. A Bit Cultish | Y |
PAGAN | Paganism in Australia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 01. Benign Group | NY |
CHRISTIAN | Pentecostal Church | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 04. A Bit Cultish | Y |
CHRISTIAN | Presbyterian Church | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 01. Benign Group | Y |
CHRISTIAN | Providence (JMS) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 36 | 10. Extremely Destructive Cult | Y |
POLITICIAL | Qanon | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 28 | 08. Likely Destructive Cult | Y |
SPIRITUAL | Quakers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 00. Safe Group | Y |
EXTRATERRESTRIAL | Raelians | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 1 | 1.5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 06. Cult | Y |
JUDAISM | Reformed Judaism | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 00. Safe Group | Y |
OTHER | Scientology | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 35 | 10. Extremely Destructive Cult | Y |
HINDU | Shaivism | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 01. Benign Group | Y |
ISLAM | Shia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 03. Verge of Cultish | Y |
CHRISTIAN | Shincheonji (SCJ) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 36 | 10. Extremely Destructive Cult | Y |
SPIRITUAL | Sikhism | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 01. Benign Group | Y |
HINDU | Smartism | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 00. Safe Group | Y |
POLITICIAL | Sovereign Citizens Australia | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 31 | 09. Highly Destructive Cult | Y |
CHRISTIAN MYSTERICISM | Steiner (Anthroposophy) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 03. Verge of Cultish | Y |
ISLAM | Sufi Islam | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 01. Benign Group | Y |
OTHER | Sukyo Mahikari | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 04. A Bit Cultish | Y |
ISLAM | Sunni Islam | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 03. Verge of Cultish | Y |
CHRISTIAN | Swedenborgian Church | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 01. Benign Group | Y |
CHRISTIAN | The Family International (Children of God) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 36 | 10. Extremely Destructive Cult | Y |
POLITICIAL | The New Guard | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 27 | 08. Likely Destructive Cult | Y |
CHRISTIAN | The Salvation Army | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 02. Mostly Benign Group | Y |
CHRISTIAN | The Truth (Australian Sect) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 25 | 07. Significantly Harmful Cult | Y |
SPIRITUAL | Theosophical Society | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.5 | 1 | 10 | 03. Verge of Cultish | Y |
BUDDHISM | Theravada | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 01. Benign Group | Y |
MLM | Tupperware | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 5.5 | 02. Mostly Benign Group | Y |
CHRISTIAN | Twelve Tribes | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 36 | 10. Extremely Destructive Cult | Y |
CHRISTIAN | Uniting Church in Australia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 00. Safe Group | Y |
NEW AGE | Universal Knowledge | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 30 | 08. Likely Destructive Cult | Y |
NEW AGE | Universal Medicine | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 24 | 07. Significantly Harmful Cult | Y |
HINDU | Vaishnavism | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 01. Benign Group | Y |
PSYCHOLOGY | Vibrational Individual Program | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 05. Cultish | NY |
BUDDHISM | Vipassana Australia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 03. Verge of Cultish | Y |
PAGAN | Wicca | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 00. Safe Group | Y |
INDIGENOUS | Yezidi Community in Australia | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 03. Verge of Cultish | Y |
ZOROASTRIAN | Zoroastrian Community in Australia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 01. Benign Group | Y |