What Is A Cult?

Does everyone remember Jim Jones? Do you remember how nobody could wrap their head around how his followers couldn't see the stranglehold he had on them? Their apparent inability to see the warning signs along the way didn't end well for any of them! Over time we've had various cults pop up here and there, but none grew to a fever pitch like the MAGA movement.

Why do I call this a cult? Well, actually let me correct that and call it a political cult for now.  How has Donald Trump hoodwinked so many people when he's been in the public eye for several decades? We all know him to be a cheat, a scoundrel, a liar, a lousy businessman, a horrible husband and father and basically lower than "swamp" scum. Does that cover it? Please feel free to jump in and add to the list if you feel so inclined.

How to Recognize a Cult

Sometimes individuals disagree about whether a group, such as certain religious groups (Scientology, Jehovah Witness, etc., are actually cults. Even researchers sometimes can’t agree on what constitutes a cult. I guess we'll just have to rely on the old adage "if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck then it most likely is a duck."

Most people can agree that cults have a leader. And the leader (or group of people who serve as leaders) are responsible for the rules that guide its members.

According to the Cult Education Institute (a nonprofit library with archived information about cults, controversial groups and movements), there are specific warning signs to look out for when considering whether any group might be a cult. Cults are characterized by:

Absolute authoritarianism without accountability
Zero tolerance for criticism or questions
Lack of meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget, etc.
Unreasonable fears about the outside world that often involve evil conspiracies and persecutions
A belief that former followers are always wrong for leaving and there is never a legitimate reason for anyone else to leave
Abuse of members...abuse can be physical, sexual, mental, emotional, financial or all of the above
Records, books, articles, or programs documenting the abuses of the leader or group are often ridiculed and made to seem like insignificant fabrications
Followers feeling they are never able to be “good enough”
A belief that the leader is right at all times
A belief that the leader is the exclusive means of knowing “truth” or giving validation


Cults are dangerous because they typically rely on deceptive and authoritarian practices to make members dependent on and obedient to the group. Cults often cut members off from other forms of social and financial support and pose both physical and psychological risks to members of the group. So, you tell me, does MAGA qualify as being considered a cult by using the criteria listed above? You tell me!