I think "cult" has too many dimensions to draw a useful line. I'll break out some of them to get more precise definitions.dande48 wrote: ↑22 May 2018, 13:28I think the universal definition is "an ideological group I don't particularly like at this moment." Still, I imagine some concrete lines have to be drawn.DevilsAdvocate wrote: ↑22 May 2018, 07:29 I don't think there is any clear dividing line or consistent definition of "cult" that everyone is going to agree with.
Fundamentalist: Requires belief in fundamental claims to be a member in good standing.
Narcissistic: Includes as a fundamental claim that it is superior to all other religions.
Doomsday: Includes as a fundamental claim that the world will end soon.
Charismatic: Teaches and encourages "gifts of the Spirit" sorts of behavior such as faith healing, wild meditation, holy rolling, and snake handling.
Vindictive: Performs boundary policing that causes grief or harm to people who leave or want to leave.
Extortionist: Requires absolute or income-proportional donations.
Authoritarian: Teaches members to strictly obey. Provides no safe, meaningful channel for upward communication.
Coercive: Uses a few means of strong social control or many means of weak social control to manipulate members.
Echo chamber: Teaches members to refer only to official materials.
Culty: Takes the place of members' families. (Better word?)
Isolationist: Cuts off members' ties to the outside world.
Codependent: Makes members depend on it for their self-esteem.
Communal: Requires members to live together.
Have I missed anything major?