A cult may be positive or negative, depending on its effect on its individual members. One goal of a negative or destructive cult is to try to make its members think in specific, distorted ways that prevent rational decision making.
Positive Cult |
Negative Cult |
separation from distractions |
isolation from outside influences that might contradict teachings |
liberates |
enslaves; mental, emotional, physical and economic dependence |
honest |
dishonest and partial truths |
spontaneous |
contrived |
self-discipline |
manipulative, coercive, behavior control |
instructs, educates and guides |
abuses, shames, brainwashes |
respect of personal boundaries |
lack of physical privacy and personal boundaries |
confession to identify areas for personal growth |
confession as a means to remove any sense of mental privacy |
functional thought |
dysfunctional thought (all-or-nothing, black and white) |
encourages the individual |
discourages any independent thought |
encourages questioning |
discourages questions |
group as source of mutual support |
conformity with subservience to the group ("marching in step") |
mentor or teacher who guides |
charismatic leader who dictates |
tolerant of others, open-minded |
intolerant of anyone who thinks differently, alienated, close-minded |