Nate Armbruster
A cult. is defined as, “a cult is a social group that is defined by its unusual religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs and rituals, or its common interest in a particular personality, object, or goal.”
In some cases they’re more obvious than others. Many cult-like groups like to pretend that they arent, and people are discussing those groups in this AskReddit thread.
What is a cult that pretends it’s not cult?
#1
The Herbalife company. Despite being accused of being a pyramid scheme, they continue to function similarly. There are some people from my childhood who became addicted to it, and they act very much like members of a cult.
#2
Scientology.
EnIdiot Added:
They bought out the Cult Awareness Network so they wouldn’t be on the list.
#3
Yesterday, I actually observed a job posting that stated “Don’t bother applying if receiving money is your main motivation. Here, we live like a family.”
One of the most degrading things I’ve ever read was that.
Just to be clear, this job was compensated. They simply stated that they wouldn’t be paying you much, I presume.
#4
The Duggar Family
#5
Ballet.
You are basically at their whim. You are expected to pay tuition, costumes, dance wear, dance shoes, travel fees, competition fees, production fees, tickets, and do volunteer work and give up your entire schedule.
If you complain at all about anything valid or not- they shun you by not giving your kid a good role or not moving them up a level. And they withhold attention to your child.
You literally must schedule all life around ballet. And pay thousands and thousands of dollars so your kid can be in the back.
If you quit all the former dance parents and friends will shun you.
#6
Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Excellent-Captain-93 Added:
As someone who comes from a family of Jehovahs and has actively practiced this faith in past times
It is 100% a cult
#7
Crossfitter here. We are absolutely a cult.
Phish fan also. HUGE cult.
#8
The troubled teen industry (youth residential “therapy” programs that are underregulated and rampant with abuse, SA, and children’s deaths)
Edit: the earlier programs were closely based off the teachings of a cult called Synanon. Not every program open right now is a cult itself but their history is abusive and most programs do significantly more harm than good.
#9
Southern Pentecostal Baptist Snake Handlers
Grew up going to one of these churches. Long drive to a small church hidden in the woods. They honestly believed only their members were gonna make it to heaven. We saw some crazy stuff in that building.
#10
There’s the usual answers like religions, tech start-ups, etc.
And then there’s the BTS Army.
#11
Texas A&M
mrbuh Added:
My mom likes to tell the story about when I visited there as a high school senior. It was a one night sleepover tour.
I hated it.
When she came to pick me up the following day I was waiting at the curb, sitting on my packed suitcase. I hopped immediately into the car and the first thing I said was, “It’s a cult. Let’s get out of here.”
#12
My folks are in Amway, starting when I was in middle school. They were supposed to be millionaires by the time my dad retired (they are not).
Growing up, they were hardly ever home. They were gone every weekend at events that of course they paid to attend. Every time we were driving, they played self help tapes.
The worst though was that they wanted everything to be positive, nothing negative. Sad? Be happy. Angry? Be happy. I couldn’t have any kind of relationship with them beyond pretending everything was fine. A whole household bottles up their feelings for years. Once I was 17, I was hardly ever home. I slept at friends’ homes or came back super late, after everyone was asleep. I left the day I turned 18.
It has completely consumed their lives. All of their social life is Amway, not because they cut people out who didn’t join, because everyone who wouldn’t got sick of the sales pitch over and over. After I became an adult and left their home, any time we came back to visit, they were trying to recruit me and my wife. We stopped going over except for the primary holidays, and now hardly that anymore. They’ve stopped the sales pitch, but it’s their whole identity. We have nothing to talk about, except what’s going on with us, which doesn’t last long. It’s beyond awkward.
Fortunately, my wife has a delightful family.
#13
A lot of my friends and family tell me I’m unknowingly in the cult of jeep owners… I mean it’s a jeep thing they wouldn’t understand.
#14
The Amish. They control nearly every aspect of their followers’ lives and live in incredibly insular society. Sure they let their kids experience the outside world and choose for themselves through rumspringa, but they seemingly set them up for failure by throwing them into the deep end with no preparation at a time in their lives (17-21) when people aren’t noted for great decision making. When the kids almost inevitably end up crashing and burning back into the fold, they are forced to remain for the rest of their lives through the threat of shunning where even your own parents will treat you as if you are dead and invisible. Sure they look quaint with their beards, buggies, and barns, but if you actually look at them critically, they’re as bad as any other cult, they’ve just been around longer.
#15
Definitely MAGA. Some family members of mine, who I no longer talk to, got so crazy with Trump that they were comparing him to Jesus. Anyone who said different was threatened. My uncle knew I was an Obama supporter and he got to a point where he was constantly harassing me, and threatening to shoot me over it. Never thought he would do it so I never took it that seriously. Haven’t talked to him in a few years but I’ve heard that he’s completely off the rails with it.
#16
Megachurches. They’re money cults.
#17
Sororities and fraternities
#18
The Grateful Dead Family.
What a wonderful mixed bag of both amazing people and assholes.
