Educational tool only. All groups exist on a spectrum of control. Individual experiences vary. Based on publicly available reports, ex-member accounts, court records, and expert analyses — not medical or legal advice.
365 group profiles operating in Global. All scores are BITE-derived from publicly available sources.
Salafist-jihadist ideology and recruitment network of the so-called 'Islamic State'. Documented patterns of extreme indoctrination, sexual slavery, mass execution, and total information control. Listed as a terrorist organisation by virtually all governments.
Broader Salafi-jihadist ideological movement encompassing al-Qaeda, ISIS, Boko Haram, al-Shabaab, and successor cells. Designated terrorist by virtually every government; rejected by mainstream Sunni and Shia scholarship.
One of the most heavily documented high-control religious organisations in the modern era, with court records and ex-member testimony spanning five decades. Practices include Disconnection from family, billion-year Sea Org contracts, the 'Suppressive Person' designation, and the auditing-confessional system used as organisational leverage. Substantially more publicity in 2022–2026 driven by the Danny Masterson 2023 conviction, Leah Remini's August 2023 lawsuit against Scientology and David Miscavige, and Mike Rinder's *A Billion Years* memoir.
Korean apocalyptic Christian movement founded by Lee Man-hee (1984) claiming to be the promised pastor of Revelation. Notorious for deceptive 'gospel-fishing' recruitment via front churches and the 2020 COVID-19 super-spreading event in Daegu.
South Korean apocalyptic Christian movement founded 1984 in Anyang by Lee Man-hee (born 1931). Approximately 300,000 baptised members and millions of associated 'Bible students' globally. Centred on Lee's claim to be the 'promised pastor' who uniquely interprets the Book of Revelation. Globally notorious after the February 2020 Daegu COVID-19 super-spreader event that produced South Korea's first major outbreak. Lee convicted 2020 of obstruction of disease-control investigations; acquitted of embezzlement charges on appeal 2021.
Small Mahdi-claimant Islamic-derived new religious movement founded ~2015 by Egyptian-American Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq (b. 1983). Hashem teaches he is the awaited Mahdi (Islamic eschatological end-times figure), Christ returned, and 'Riser of the House of Muhammad'. Distinct from — and rejected by — the mainstream Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Multi-jurisdiction asylum-claim trail (Egypt → Turkey → UK → Switzerland → US Texas) and documented coercive-control patterns including group-marriage rituals, communal child-rearing, surrendered passports, and shunning of departing members.
Christian restorationist movement governed by the Watchtower Society's 'Governing Body'. Independently assessed as high-control by Steven Hassan and Kimmy O'Donnell, with documented practices around shunning, blood-transfusion refusal, and information restriction.
Online new-age movement led by Amy Carlson ('Mother God'), who claimed to be the reincarnation of multiple historical and pop-cultural figures. Carlson died in 2021; members continued to display her mummified body. Subject of HBO's 'Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God' (2023).
Los Angeles-based Shekinah Church and its 7M Films talent management business, led by Robert Shinn. Subject of Netflix's 'Dancing for the Devil' (2024) documenting how TikTok dancers under 7M contracts were severed from family.
Esoteric occult-political network associated with David Myatt. Texts explicitly endorse human sacrifice ('culling'), terrorism, and infiltration of mainstream institutions. Multiple O9A-associated members have been convicted of terrorism and violent crimes.
Seoul-based Korean Pentecostal sect founded in 1982 by Lee Jae-rock, who claimed to be sinless and capable of healing miracles. The Christian Council of Korea declared Manmin a heretical group in 1999. Lee was convicted in 2018 of raping eight female members and sentenced to 16 years.
Lagos-based Nigerian Pentecostal mega-ministry founded in 1987 by Temitope Balogun (TB) Joshua (1963–2021). Vast global televangelism reach via Emmanuel TV. The 2024 BBC 'Disciples: The Cult of TB Joshua' investigation documented decades of sexual and physical abuse of disciples; the 2014 SCOAN guesthouse collapse killed 116, mostly South African pilgrims.