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Cult seems like an unfair, if not outright incorrect description "A cult is a group which is typically led by a charismatic and self-appointed leader, who tigh
by IntelMiner 2y ago
Cult seems like an unfair, if not outright incorrect description
"A cult is a 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 (outside the norms of society)"
Meanwhile the Amish are a bunch of loosely knit groups that don't all even have the same views on technology. That's why some of them use cars, and even computers! [1]
[1] https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2013/02/25/172886170/a-computer-fit-for-the-amish https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2013/02/25/172886170/a-co...
- jbaber 2y agoObviously the use is pejorative here and "cult" is the only word for "sect led by disingenuous person taking advantage of a bunch of people". But "cult" is a very overloaded word. I'm a bit leery of using the first sentence of a wikipedia article as a dictionary definition with no alternatives. I'm used to "cult" meaning "dangerous sect", but also just "new religion", "tiny religion", or "overly specific religion". e.g. calling early Christianity a Jewish cult or talking about the Greek Cult of Athena