A CULT is a small religious group that is often seen as unorthodox or extremist. A SECT is a smaller group within a larger religion, usually with different beliefs or practices. A DENOMINATION is a large and organized religious group, often with its own set of beliefs and practices. An ORDER is a religious group that follows a particular rule or set of rules, such as the Franciscan ORDER. A SYNOD is a council of church leaders who meet to discuss matters of doctrine and practice. All of these terms refer to different types of religious groups.