[PapaBear3625]

The entire fields of sociology, social psychology, and psychology use these terms in these ways. They are clear and measurable and are not pejorative.

Do sociologists have a term for a group that uses the cover of religion to create a group closed against "outsiders", alienates members against "outsiders", and demands total loyalty of members to the group and its leaders?

[xzins]

that would probably be a cult....as in the Jim Jones example up above