Thread by @LoganLancing

People often stumble when trying to wrap their heads around what a cult is. Cults are defined more by what they DO than what they BELIEVE.

Understanding this distinction is crucial.

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Cults are fundamentally more about their actions and the methods they use to enforce their beliefs than the beliefs themselves. It's the practices, the strict adherence to doctrine, and the enforcement mechanisms that set them apart from weird or whacky groups and communities.

We live in a world full of weird and wacky ideas. People believe in all sorts of things. But merely holding unusual or fringe beliefs doesn't necessarily make a group a cult.

Robert Jay Lifton, in his seminal work "Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism," provides valuable insights into how cults operate. He outlines specific mechanisms they use to exert control over their members' minds and actions.

One key aspect Lifton describes is "Milieu Control." This involves controlling the environment and all forms of communication, effectively isolating members from the outside world. This isolation strengthens the group's influence and weakens external perspectives.

Cults often employ "Loaded Language" to constrict thinking. They use specialized jargon and clichés that simplify complex issues into brief, definitive-sounding phrases. This language discourages thinking and creates barriers between members and outsiders.

Cults also enforce a "Demand for Purity." Cults create an us-vs-them mentality by pressuring members to conform to an unattainable ideal of purity. This creates guilt and shame, making members more submissive and dependent on the group for redemption.

"Sacred Science" refers to the group's doctrine being considered the ultimate, unchallengeable truth. Questioning or doubting the doctrine is not tolerated, which suppresses individual thought and reinforces the group's absolute authority.

Lifton discusses "Doctrine Over Person," where personal experiences or feelings that contradict the doctrine are dismissed or reinterpreted. The group's beliefs take precedence over individual realities, eroding personal autonomy.

With the "Cult of Confession," members are encouraged—or coerced—to confess past sins or doubts, often in group settings. This practice creates vulnerability and a loss of personal boundaries, which the cult can exploit.

"Mystical Manipulation" involves the group convincing members that their ideology is spiritually or supernaturally superior. They may interpret coincidences as divine signs, enhancing the perceived legitimacy of the group's mission.

Lastly, "Dispensing of Existence" is the idea that those outside the group are unworthy or unenlightened. The cult views itself as the sole possessor of truth, which justifies dismissing or devaluing those who don't conform.

It's these manipulative practices—controlling environments, restricting language, demanding purity, enforcing unchallengeable doctrines, overriding personal experiences, exploiting confessions, manipulating beliefs, and devaluing outsiders—that define a cult.

I think this distinction is an important one, and I hope this thread helps add some clarity to the topic.