> As for abuse, it's clear that whether something is a cult has little to do with it, given horrible cases such as from the catholic church. It's plain to me th

> As for abuse, it's clear that whether something is a cult has little to do with it, given horrible cases such as from the catholic church. It's plain to me that it is caused by the fact that the perpetrators can hide behind the institutional authority given to them. When you give people opportunity, there will always be bad apples grabbing their chance. Sure. You get sexual abuse in the army as well. But obviously, the fewer controls you have the easier it is. As you say, "when you give people opportunity, there will always be bad apples grabbing their chance." In a closed society with little supervision, it turns out there are a lot more opportunities for breaking the rules, and a lot less risk of retribution.