"the only difference between a cult and a religion is the scale"
NO. NO IT ISN'T. THIS IS WHAT THE CULTS WANT YOU TO THINK IT IS NOT TRUE. THERE ARE RELIGIONS THAT ARE NOT CULTS AND CULTS THAT ARE NOT RELIGIOUS AND YOU MUST LEARN THE DIFFERENCE
When people use the word "cult" in casual settings, 99% of the time they are talking about destructive cults.
These are inherently abusive groups, and often parallel the dynamics of abusive romantic relationships.
The B.I.T.E. model is a shorthand method for identifying if a group meets the general sociological criteria for a destructive cult.
Basically, does the organization or group exert Behavioral, Informational, Thought, and Emotional control over members. And this control in enforced through punishment ranging from social consequences to corporal punishment to ostracization from the group.
Does the group dictate what you can eat and when you can eat it? What you can wear? When you are permitted to sleep? How you use language? Where you can go? Who you can communicate with?
That is Behavioral control.
Does the group control what media you can consume? Are you told by the group not to research certain topics? Does the group tell you that only thwir approved information sources are truthful?
That is Informational control.
Does the group tell you that thinking about certain topics will have negative spiritual consequences? Do they tell you how the leader thinks and instructs you to adopt those same thoughts? Does the group use incessant indoctrination, such as hours-long sermons or speeches, to prevent you from forming independent thoughts? Are you punished for expressing any unapproved opinions or ideas?
That is Thought control and Emotional control.
If a group meets all of these criteria, the likelihood is that it is a destructive cult, rather than a legitimate spiritual or personal development organization.
