What defines cult-like activity?
There’s a very specific set of elements that define cult-like activity.
Limiting what a person can read. Censorship. Most churches limit what a member can read, but they do this unofficially with shaming and threats. There are 460+ examples of censorship here, mostly centered around COVID-19.
Gas lighting. We have seen a lot of gaslighting and censorship since 2020 about COVID-19. Gas lighting is when you tell someone something is true when it’s not, or that it’s false when it’s true.
Limiting who you can talk to (in order to limit information and separate the person from friends and family). Cults will often encourage people to break ties with family who disapprove of the cult narrative.
Propaganda means repeating a narrative until people believe it. But no cult members can provide facts to support the narrative.
Using shaming, guilt, or other negative activity to change a person’s behavior to support the narrative.
Here's a few more:
1. In the beginning, the cult love bombs you and praises you for adopting their values.
2. Important decisions can only be made by the cult leaders.
3. Critical thinking and questioning are met with resistance and punishment.
4. Instead of responding to questioning, the cult engages in gaslighting and ad hominem attacks.
5. Members are forbidden to discuss any information that is considered harmful to the cult.
6. Food, work, and relationships may be monitored and controlled.
7. The cult expects total devotion, and cult members are often willing to risk their life in service of the cult.