In the 20th century, especially after the Second World War, a huge number of new religious teachings, most of which are often referred to as sects. One of the main features of these exercises compared with classical sects is a great isolation or even complete independence from the original religions. Such teachings are characterized not so much by the desire to correct existing religions as by the search for new and non-traditional practices and ways of religious knowledge. On the basis of this wave, in particular, the New Age movement arose.
In addition to sects that arose on the basis of other religions (for example, neo-Hinduism or Aum Shinrikyo), and completely new teachings, there are so-called syncretic sects that combine elements of different religions (for example, the Cao Dai sect in Vietnam, which combines some features of Christianity , Buddhism and Taoism).