Hey (: I have some questions regarding your post about cults. Would you say all / most cults are negative? If not, what are examples of positive cults? What separates a coven from a cult? What separates a church from a cult? Thank you 🌸
I would say that all cults have a negative mental and emotional effect on their members, even if the cult’s message and goals are positive. What makes a group a cult is their use of thought control techniques like those laid out in Stephen Hassan’s BITE model. These techniques are very bad for your mental health because they strip you of agency and individuality, so yes, I’m going to say that all cults are negative.
Like I said, a cult is a group that uses thought control techniques to shape the behavior of its members. A coven and a church can both be a cult, but so can any group that uses these techniques. A nonprofit can be a cult. A political party can be a cult. A book club can be a cult.
If you’re curious about whether a specific group is a cult, I recommend familiarizing yourself with the BITE model and looking for those warning signs in the group or its members. The book Recovering Agency by Luna Lindsey is a very good look at the way cults operate, and is specifically focused on the Mormon church.
