30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

A cult is an organized group with unusual, and often extreme, religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs and rituals. It is usually headed by a charismatic leader who tries to isolate its members from the rest of society and dominate them through psychological manipulation.

However, the exact definition can vary both in popular culture and academia. So, Reddit user Foreigndrunks wanted to learn more about how different people interpret them and asked everyone on the platform to share real-life examples that dodge the cult label but still reflect the vibe.

Continue scrolling to check out the answers and the chat we had with psychoanalyst Robin Stern, Ph.D.. You’ll find it between the entries.

#1

Child beauty pageants; the people who attend them and the parents who put their kids through them. An absolute shower of dirty filthy nonces whichever way you look at it.

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: signalstonoise88, gstockstudio / freepik

#2

Jehovas witnesses. Officially it’s a normal religion but in my opinion it’s definitely a cult.

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: QuuxJn, conceptphoto.info / flickr

#3

Scientology

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: Cj_is_our_god, Alexey Taktarov / unsplash

#4

Mormons.

I know a lot of religions can lean towards “culty”. But, I work with quite a few Mormon and they all seem to give that cult vibe. From the stories of their missions to their special underwear… it just all screams “Cult”.

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: mrrockabilly, Bailey Burton / unsplash

#5

Being forced to do the pledge of allegiance in schools

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: Brokesqwuirtle, NCDOTcommunications / flickr

#6

American evangelicals

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: anon, freepik

#7

Mom groups.

I’m a newish mom and I’ve been scared off. It’s a whole new layer of “pseudoscience” and isolation from differences of opinion.

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: Sauteedmushroom2, prostooleh / freepik

#8

Joel Osteen and his following.

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: AndromedaPantera, Joel Osteen / Youtube

#9

Political parties.

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: BlueRFR3100, wavebreakmedia_micro / freepik

#10

Influencers

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: Expensive_Rhubarb_87, Daiga Ellaby / unsplash

#11

Sororities and fraternities

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: plokiju8, Nima Sarram / unsplash

#12

Glorification of national sports teams

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: ShagThatSlag, Robert Hernandez Villalta / pexels

#13

Cheerleading

My daughter did competition for a few years

It definitely felt like a cult with the participation parts that parents play.

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: Cracktower, freepik

#14

The NRA. As a gun owner, I can’t stand being lumped in with them. They don’t share my politics at all. But many states require you to be a member in order to get your LTC. Total b******t.

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: anon, Rusty Clark ~ 100K Photos / flickr

#15

Very controversial but tesla

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: memelord_andromeda, Milan Csizmadia / unsplash

#16

Toxic positivity. Mental health initiatives in the workplace. These are not labeled cults, but they are totally cultish. Edit: they usually come down to nothing more than emails exhorting you to take care of yourself and links to appropriate websites.

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: Past_Figure_940, Drazen Zigic / freepik

#17

Essential oils

The people who use them and the people who sell them…..

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: Fluffy_Momma_C, freepik

#18

The Wellness Community

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: Certain-Poet6785, Kateryna Hliznitsova / unsplash

#19

Anyone invested in crypto. That’s all my husband talks about plus his friends

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: Mariah_Kits, diana.grytsku / freepik

#20

I am really into yoga and am looking for a yoga retreat to go to. Some of them are very cult like based on their web pages. Yikes.

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: anon, EyeEm / freepik

#21

CrossFit

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: Nice_Block, aleksandarlittlewolf / freepik

#22

People who push you to :

– Monetize your hobby.
– Industrialise your monetized hobby.

I’m not talking about people offering money for your services.

I am talking about people who look down on you for NOT making MORE money out of your hobby. While they themselves don’t produce anything.

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: littlebubulle, DC Studio / freepik

#23

NFTs, especially when the people advertising them say it’s the next big thing, then commit art theft on people who don’t want their art used

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: Mochiman3, Dylan Calluy / freepik

#24

Disney enthusiasts

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: GSG_2022, Jennie Park mydisneyadventures / flickr

#25

Reality Shifting. Tiktokers actually think they can travel to hogwarts in their sleep.

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: Jolly-Sun-1715, freepik

#26

Vegans.

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: Standard_Row1833, freepik

#27

Apple products and their fan base

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: BigBearSD, Laurenz Heymann / unsplash

#28

TikTok

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: LogicalBobcat7370, S O C I A L . C U T / unsplash

#29

Any organization or company that you can’t leave with your dignity intact.

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: AthenaSholen, freepik

#30

Kpop fans

30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One

Image source: anon, freepik

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