A sex cult is a group or organization that uses sexual activity as a central element of its practices, worship, or ceremonies, typically as a tool for a charismatic leader to manipulate, exploit, and control members. Typically, the Leaders often position themselves as divine or enlightened figures and claim that sexual contact with them is a necessary part of spiritual growth or enlightenment. The group may encourage members to renounce their past lives, families, and outside relationships, creating an echo chamber where critical thinking is suppressed. By controlling members' sexual lives and relationships, leaders break down personal boundaries and foster a deep reliance on the group and its leader for emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being with the Practices that would typically be considered abusive or coercive are reframed as "spiritual" acts, "tests" of faith, or a path to "self-improvement" or "sexual liberation" and the Cults often recruit people who are going through personal crises or seeking a sense of belonging, and then groom them for sexual exploitation.
Some Examples of groups that have been described as sex cults include NXIVM, the Children of God (The Family International), and the Rajneesh movement (Osho). These groups are often associated with allegations of sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and the long-term psychological trauma of survivors.