New worrying trends in cults and sects highlighted in Belgian report

The emergence of new sectarian and cult trends in Belgium includes virtual, social media and health-related platforms, according to the latest report by the Centre of study and advice on harmful sectarian organisations (CIAOSN).

The findings have been published in its latest activity report, 2024-2025. Alongside long established sectarian groups, it observed new emerging forms, often targetting young people, that were accompanied by risks of abuse.

They were part of a growing trend of ideological hybridisation, in which spiritual and religious groups developed anti-establishment and conspiracy beliefs, sometimes coupled with identity-based logics.

Trends around health and well-being were also on the rise, said the centre, which falls under the Ministry of Justice. A growing rejection of conventional medicine has led to a rise in therapeutic and spiritual currents such as iatrosophia, German New Medicine, sometimes through personal development and coaching groups.

Female-orientated trends

Some trends were specifically female oriented. The CIAOSN noted an increase in curiosity around groups emanating from the Sacred Feminine movement, a broad group mixing different beliefs such as New-Age and Neo-Paganism, as well as rituals and practice promoting healing and well-being. 

In a similar vein, “donation circles”, also known as “mandalas” or “dream weaves" were developing among female audiences. They claimed to strengthen sisterhood against patriarchy and guarantee financial abundance for participants through female solidarity. 

But these practices were not without risks as members were invited to support the dreams of others by making donations. However, the way these circles operate was similar to affiliate marketing and even a Ponzi scheme: a fraudulent form of pyramid selling which is banned in Belgium.

More dangerously, the report warned of the risks of pro-Ana (pro-anorexia) coaching, in which older men, often under the guise of spirituality, incited very young women and girls to adopt toxic eating behaviours. 

Masculinism among religious and spiritual groups was generally on the rise. Masculinist, antifeminist and misogynic discourses were also spreading through a fragmented network of online subcultures, in some cases legitimising violence.

Incels (involuntary celibates) were one of the most well-known manifestations of this broad phenomenon. It targetted women as the cause of changing society norms that included widespread celibacy.  

Young people targetted

Significantly, the CIASON observed a growing targetting of younger audiences through social media, gaming and virtual platforms. 

Confronted by a quest of meaning in their lives, a sentiment of insecurity in the face of growing social challenges, younger audiences tended to be attracted to certain spiritual and religious revivalism or to virtual communities.

But some online communities, not specifically religious, encouraged forms of violence such as auto mutilation. They were also found to incite the sharing of sexual content that could be used to blackmail the youngsters, and they also incited suicide.

Security service alert

In 2025, Belgian security services warned about the virtual group 764, a violent nihilistic extremist network. It emerged initially in 2021 on Discord and Telegram and has since spread through Europe and Belgium among minors. 

The group blends multiple ideological references like neo-Nazism, misogyny, Satanism and racism, and aiming to provoke the fall of society through the cult of violence.

CIAOSN was created following a parliamentary investigation commission in 1996. Belgian authorities were worried at the time by the 1995 collective suicide across France, Switzerland and Canada by members of the Order of the Solar Temple. 

The Centre is an independent and non-repressive body that collects and analyses data around sectarian movements. It also operates an open library in Brussels on the topic as its main mission is to offer documentation and advice to Belgian authorities and the general public.

Illustration: © CIAOSN