Noted psychiatrist and author Robert Jay Lifton developed the following definition of a cult. This definition is focused primarily upon three principal criteria and was first published in a paper titled "Cult Formation" in 1981 :
1. a charismatic leader who increasingly becomes an object of worship as the general principles that may have originally sustained the group lose their power;
2. a process of coercive persuasion or thought reform;
3. economic, sexual, and other exploitation of group members by the leader and the ruling coterie.
So basically 3 main criteria. I think you can see that there isn't necessarily a bright line that can distinguish a cult from a religion, because all religions have at least a tinge of "cultiness" to them.
I suppose you could add that a cult likes to socially isolate its members from non-members, through such things as communal living.
A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool.
William Shakespeare
Abdul Alhazred wrote: ↑Tue Mar 12, 2019 1:29 pm
Is Scientology still a "cult" even though it survived the death of their leader?
What about Chabad?
Sometimes another leader takes over. David Miscavige is the new leader of Scientology.
Like I said, there's not really a bright line. A cult can sort of mellow into a more mainstream religion over time, if it survives the death of its founder. I suppose Christianity probably started as a cult.
A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool.
William Shakespeare
A religion is merely a cult that has become sufficiently popular to be accepted.
--J.D.
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Shit. That's going to end up in your sig." – Pyrrho
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