Cult

Cult is a descriptive term used in religious and historical studies to refer to the organized practices of worship within a tradition. This includes rituals, offerings, sacred spaces, calendars, and roles associated with honoring a deity or maintaining a relationship with the divine. In ancient societies, every recognized religion had a cult, and the term carried no negative meaning. Modern popular usage often treats “cult” as a label for harmful or fringe groups, but this sense does not reflect its scholarly use. In academic contexts, cult describes practice and structure, not legitimacy, size, or moral value.