The word “cult” conjures images of secret rituals, robed ceremonies and devotion to an oddly charismatic leader. But in ancient Greece 3,000 years ago, cults were not extremist groups. Instead, they were ordinary religious communities, woven into daily life and civic tradition. Greek cults are one of many types of paganism, an originally derogatory term used to describe non-Christians up until the 19th century. Today, it is an umbrella term for nature-oriented spiritual religions stemming from pre-Christian practices.
Although specific values vary from one pagan religion to another, they are typically dedicated to similar principles: a strong connection to nature, personal accountability and the freedom for individuals to choose which deities to follow. Pagan worship often takes place within smaller communities, rather than hierarchical institutions.
These communities formed in ancient Greece are commonly referred to as mystery cults. The Eleusinian Mysteries are well-known, centered around the myth of Demeter and Persephone: after Persephone was taken by Hades to the underworld, Demeter’s grief made the Earth barren. This was seen as fall and winter. Eventually, a compromise allowed Persephone to return for half of the year, and Demeter made the earth bloom. This was seen as spring and summer.
Followers of the Eleusinian Mysteries believed that the rituals offered deeper spiritual insight into life and the afterlife. They maintained the ideology that death was not an end, but a transformation, like Persephone’s seasonal rebirth. The cult attracted followers across the Greek world for nearly 2,000 years.
“In the ancient world, most were not that interested in issues of belief,” Stanford University religious studies professor Michael Penn said. “Gods didn’t care what you believed. They cared what you did through rituals.”
Many of these ancient communities faded as Christianity and other major world religions expanded. However, in recent decades, revival movements have reignited interest in pagan religions. For example, paganism became popular in the 1960s within hippie communities who rejected mainstream societal ideals.
A widely known modern paganism movement is neopaganism, which attempts to revive and re-interpret ancient spiritual practices for contemporary society, such as Wicca, which emerged in the mid-20th century. Wiccan rituals include an altar and a casting circle, which invite the Wiccan God and Goddess to join with chanting and dancing. The Goddess serves as a mother, symbolizing fertility and growth, while the God represents strength and protection.
“Spiritual religious practices with nature, including paganism, are innate to human beings,” said Olga Louchakova-Schwartz, professor and researcher of religion, culture and society at the University of California, Davis. “It is only when religions considerably age that a theoretical structure emerges which is separate from those very organic practices.”
Paganism allows for highly individualistic belief systems. Major religions such as Christianity and Islam have central texts and authority figures, while paganism has no single scripture or deity.
“With the existence of paganism, where you’re allowed some freedom, it attracts more people because they can keep the aspects of the religion that they align with, while also adding their own identity,” junior Ethan Zang said.
The word “cult” has been associated with paganism because of its stereotypical non-mainstream beliefs and practices. But the word, originally derived from “culture” and “cultivation,” didn’t always come with negative connotations. The term “cult” became pejorative over time, coming to describe hierarchical groups that engaged in controversial or exploitative activities.
“When I think of the word cult, I think of something that is religion-like,” junior Raghav Shrivastava said. “It is devotion to a single person rather than a set of ideas.”
High-profile tragedies in the 20th century, like the Jonestown Massacre, reinforced public fear of cults, leading to anti-cult movements. In 1960s America, many opposed radical ideas, afraid that their friends and families would be recruited and manipulated. The Cult Awareness Network was founded in the 1970s to provide information and support families concerned about loved ones in cults. It offered hotline services and worked to reverse members’ beliefs through intensive interventions.
“I feel people are drawn to non-mainstream religions because they are vulnerable and want something or someone to believe in,” sophomore Saanvi Kakani said. “There are so many religions out there to satisfy whatever needs they require.”
In some ways, modern wellness movements echo the concept of traditional cults. Astrology, tarot reading and even yoga revolve around shared rituals, personal guidance teachers and those seeking self-growth and connection. Individuals use these routines as tools for self-reflection, emotional grounding and creating communities with shared values, similar to pagan systems.
Despite dramatic changes in society over thousands of years, the motivations behind spiritual belief remain consistent. Ancient Greek cults once helped communities understand the mysteries of life and nature. Meanwhile, modern alternative religions provide meaning, identity and connection in a rapidly changing world.
