Episode 6: What makes a cult a cult?

Are cults simply harmless fringe groups with unusual ideas, or something more? Are they always religious? Are they always harmful? Who gets to decide if the word cult is applied to a group, and what if people disagree? Are there some objective measures we can use to define cults? Today Lindy, Liz and Caz talk about some of the different ways cults are defined, drawing on common definitions and exploring some leading international experts’ understandings of what makes a group culty. 

Show Notes:

Recovery from Cults - by Michael Langone
Wikipedia page - definition of cult
Britannica dictionary - definition of cult
Janya Lalich - What Makes a Cult a Cult?
Steve Hassan article - Combatting Cult Mind Control, the BITE Model, and the Continuum Influence
Dr Norris Report - Gloriavale Employment Court
Checklist of Cult Indicators - compiled by Michael Langone
Olive Leaf Network - High Demand Hand