Low Risk Groups
Cults With a Little "c"
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Renée's Cult Ranking System, aims to separate the wheat from the chaff. This means that while some groups may attract the term "cult", they are not necessarily destructive or harmful. For example, popular personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, Dalai Lama, Steve Irwin, and Fred Hollows may be described as having cult followers but their influence is generally considered to be positive. ​
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A group may hold quirky, strange, or even bizarre ideologies, but if no one is being harmed, then it's a matter of personal choice. Basic human rights affirm that everyone is entitled to "freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. This right includes freedom to change one's religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest one's religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance." This principle establishes the dividing line of "freedom of religion" (italic emphasis is mine).
These assessments evaluate group dynamics, particularly patterns associated with coercive control. They are not determinations about whether any individual has or has not experienced trauma, abuse, or harm. Personal impact varies widely. Coercive control often develops through an accumulation of influences rather than a single event, though specific moments — such as discovering deception or betrayal — can themselves be deeply distressing or traumatic. If your experiences in a group have affected your wellbeing, support from a trauma-informed counsellor or therapist can be an important step toward understanding, healing, and regaining a sense of autonomy.
