Jun 17, 2006
Much is said about cults. But what is a cult? What makes a cult different from any other group of people who come together for a reason, especially a religious reason?
There are many definitions of cults. According to some, a cult is any religious group that does not agree with the person speaking. And, there might even be some who will want to claim that you are enmeshed in a cult. After all, you're listening to this podcast, right? A cult does not have to be a group of robed fanatics chanting at an airport or shopping mall. It might appear on the surface to be very mainstream.
But what is a real definition of a cult? We'll take an evaluation frame authored by someone whose name might be familiar to most, and we'll see.
More than that, let's take a look at a more important question: how to tell if a particular group might fit the definition of the word "cult", especially one that is actually dangerous.