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.
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.
Witness wrote: ↑Wed Mar 13, 2019 1:00 am
What would Jesus do?
Jesus would buy the Inland Empire spa resort, Gilman Hot Springs, for cash, using the alias of the "Scottish Highland Quietude Club", then have 1,000 of the church's elite Sea Org members move there, to guard and maintain the $10 million mansion built for Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, while awaiting his reincarnation.
Jesus would have high fences topped with blades and watched around the clock by patrols, cameras and motion detectors.