Cult is a term, in most contexts pejorative, for a relatively small group which is typically led by a charismatic and self-appointed leader, who tightly controls its members, requiring unwavering devotion to a set of beliefs and practices which are considered deviant.
Wikipedia
Minority group
Self-appointed leader
Religious (not in the church sense but unwavering devotion to any set of beliefs or practices)
Considered deviant
Deviance or the sociology of deviance explores the actions and/or behaviors that violate social norms across formally enacted rules as well as informal violations of social norms. Although deviance may have a negative connotation, the violation of social norms is not always a negative action; positive deviation exists in some situations. Although a norm is violated, a behavior can still be classified as positive or acceptable. Social norms differ throughout society and between cultures.
Wikipedia
So if you live in a communist country and a group of Christians gather, they are considered deviant because they go against the social norm.
I don't know if LGBTQ would be considered a cult.
They are a minority group. They have an unwavering devotion to their beliefs and practices. And in the heteroaexual world are considered deviant.
But who is their self-appointed leader? Do they have one?
Some say MAGA is a cult.
We are not a minority group even though the media portrays as small.
Some say Trump is a self-appointed leader and yet it is the people which "elected" him.
I don't believe the MAGA movement goes against social norms but tries to uphold them.
And only the deviant consider them deviant, in my opinion..lol
I would consider a group like ISIS or Hammas or KKK a cult.
They are not a majority group.
They have a self-appointed leader, (such as the Grand Wizard or Imperial Wizard, a Caliph is the leader of the Caliphate)
Their unwavering devotion is their belief and practices of the destruction of other people.
And are deviant in the social norms of their country. Unless their country is wholly a cult, then it goes against the norm of the collective world view.
so far.. lol
I think the operative word in the idea of a cult is it's deviance to the social norms.
Even though Christianity in it's beginnings may have been considered a cult by the religious establishment.
They didn't deviate from the social norms of the people. They upheld the good. Hospitality, generosity, kindness, etc..
I suppose it depends on whose eyes are judging them as a cult.
I suppose some could consider Mormons a cult because the practices of having more than one wife goes against the social norm.
Although not all Mormons are Polygamous.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — After nine people belonging to a Mormon offshoot community were killed in Mexico this week, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a short statement expressing sympathy for the victims while clarifying that they didn't belong to the mainstream church.
kutv.com
What happens when the social norms change?
If LGBTQ became the majority rule, then would heterosexuals be considered a cult?
The world consists of labels. Labels are meant to divide and conquer.
And I guess you could say Christianity is a label to keeps those that follow it's beliefs and practices seperate from the world and it's deviant behaviors.
But is it a cult?
I believe the world is a cult even though it is in the majority. It's deviance outweighs it's need in a minority category.
I guess you would have to judge it by it's fruit..
Hugs
