That’s a recursive definition. I wonder if that was intentional.
The really funny thing is how cults grow into big religions and then big religions subdivide into these denominations that fight forever about who is the “correct” one.
Literally Sunni / Shia started as: after Mohammed died, should Muslims follow his son or his chief cleric.
A cult happens when there’s one guy at the top who knows it’s all bullshit. Religion happens when that guy is dead.
I mean, that’s the classical definition of a cult. But a modern definition of a cult is a group of people living under an authoritarian religious leader.
I’m not a big fan of using the word cult anymore because it’s definition is so dilutes. I like the term High Control Group. It’s a lot more transparent as to what it is. Fits basically everything classically considered a cult, and leaves out the more benign religions that aren’t hurting anyone
“Benign religions that aren’t hurting anyone”
Ain’t. No. Such. Thing.
Religions cannot exist without an outgroup to reject together.
Just like you can’t become a Dolphins fan without hating the Jets (or Spurs/Arsenal or whatever rivals you have locally).