The term cult describes a specific set of organizational behaviors that do distinguish an exploitative group from one that may be dysfunctional but does not damage people the way cults do CULTS DO DAMAGE IN SPECIFIC WAYS.
It is because the term "cult" is specific and powerful that putting cult into the search engine will give you exactly the information that cults conceal from you when recruiting you.
Anyone who tries to take the power out of the term cult by joking about it, trivializing it, claiming a cult is the same thing as a New Religious Movement is being strategically defensive.
Beware.
Non cultic groups do not conceal information from prospective recruits.
Rachel Goldberg was eventually invited to an evening event at the apartment of a very beguiling person who gave the sales pitch for NXIVM and Keith Raniere.
Goldberg mentions something important: This recruiter used the "other people" gambit. This was a subtle, effective way to create a sense of intimacy by making a distinction between this elite group at his apartment and the silly other people outside the charmed circle who dare suggest that Raneire is leading a cult.
It is because the term "cult" is specific and powerful that putting cult into the search engine will give you exactly the information that cults conceal from you when recruiting you.
Anyone who tries to take the power out of the term cult by joking about it, trivializing it, claiming a cult is the same thing as a New Religious Movement is being strategically defensive.
Beware.
Non cultic groups do not conceal information from prospective recruits.
Rachel Goldberg was eventually invited to an evening event at the apartment of a very beguiling person who gave the sales pitch for NXIVM and Keith Raniere.
Goldberg mentions something important: This recruiter used the "other people" gambit. This was a subtle, effective way to create a sense of intimacy by making a distinction between this elite group at his apartment and the silly other people outside the charmed circle who dare suggest that Raneire is leading a cult.
Quote
Matt came across as pragmatic and down to earth. And most of all, he obviously believed in his pitch. I found it endearing.
He shared individual stories of those who’d benefited from the program — most notably, how one of his siblings had cured his speech disorder through ESP, all thanks to Keith Raniere’s technology. He even preemptively addressed criticisms.
“Some people think we’re a pyramid scheme, some people think we’re a cult. But we’re really none of those things. We’ve got CEOs, entrepreneurs, politicians …” and he named some fairly high-profile people that I won’t mention here, because, y’know, sex-trafficking affiliations. (Because he’d mentioned cults, I went home and went way deep into ESP Googleland afterward. There were freaky rumors bubbling up, but nothing like what’s now come to light.)