I agree that “cult” is a loaded and derogatory word and probably should be abandoned in favor of more information-carrying terminology. It might be better described as the centralized authority model. I stand by my claim that the centralized authority model is a return to old territory, though, and this meshes well with Scott’s model of the formation of the bi-modal distribution of peoples’ priors about this (marginalized groups have probably been exposed more to the centralized authority model than privileged Westerners).
“cult” … might be better described as the centralized authority model.
I don’t know about that. There are a lot of organizations with highly centralized authority which are not cults (by any definition). For example, the military.
I would probably define “cult” as an entity which, when faced with the question “Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?” strongly encourages the answer “You, of course you!” In more abstract terms, a cult depends on controlling the information flow to its members, both through isolation and through inculating high trust for “internal” claims and low trust for all “external” claims.
I agree that “cult” is a loaded and derogatory word and probably should be abandoned in favor of more information-carrying terminology. It might be better described as the centralized authority model. I stand by my claim that the centralized authority model is a return to old territory, though, and this meshes well with Scott’s model of the formation of the bi-modal distribution of peoples’ priors about this (marginalized groups have probably been exposed more to the centralized authority model than privileged Westerners).
I don’t know about that. There are a lot of organizations with highly centralized authority which are not cults (by any definition). For example, the military.
I would probably define “cult” as an entity which, when faced with the question “Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?” strongly encourages the answer “You, of course you!” In more abstract terms, a cult depends on controlling the information flow to its members, both through isolation and through inculating high trust for “internal” claims and low trust for all “external” claims.