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The emergence and rapid growth of many new religious movements since the 1940s has caught the attention of the public, media and academia alike and has been the source of interest, fear and controversy. Sects and cults have many definitions depending on the user's frame of reference. Beckford describes cults as "...relatively small, new, and unconventional religious groups...", whilst other people's perceptions of cults are far more negative. A popular concept of a cult is …

…questions and not too many answers at present. Reaching consensus is not going to be an easy task. There are many new NRM's, but the numbers involved are not nearly as large as the reactions to them would suggest. I believe that ignorance is a major factor involved and that education and a more unbiased stance on the side of the media are necessary for us to move forward and resolve the challenges facing us.