Worked comparison examples
Pre-canned juxtapositions of named groups in the dataset — useful as teaching examples for how the BITE-axis evaluation distinguishes different organisational patterns. Each example links to the interactive Compare tool with the relevant groups already loaded.
For definitional comparisons (cult vs religion, shunning vs healthy boundaries, etc.) see the comparison explainer pages instead.
Cult vs religion — Scientology vs mainstream Sunni Islam
A top-band documented high-control organisation against the broader Sunni Muslim tradition. Illustrates how the BITE framework distinguishes organisational mechanics from tradition.
Open in compare toolShunning vs healthy boundaries — Jehovah's Witnesses vs Society of Jesus
A documented shunning organisation against a low-control Catholic religious order. Illustrates organisational severance vs ordinary community discipline.
Open in compare toolSpiritual abuse vs ordinary disagreement — Rigpa vs mainstream Tibetan Buddhism
The Rigpa profile (post-2017 documented spiritual abuse) against the broader Tibetan Buddhist mainstream. Illustrates abuse-enabled-by-spiritual-authority vs ordinary theological tradition.
Open in compare toolReforming group vs unreformed splinter — Worldwide Church of God vs Philadelphia Church of God
The Worldwide Church of God's documented reform trajectory against its splinter group Philadelphia Church of God under Gerald Flurry. Same doctrinal heritage; very different operational paths.
Open in compare toolHistorical group vs active splinter — original Branch Davidians vs Davidian splinter groups
Historical (dissolved 1993) original Branch Davidians against successor splinter movements. Illustrates how movements can persist through historical-phase boundaries.
Open in compare tool
Suggest additional worked-example pairings via the corrections route.