My question, even though it by definition might make affirming answerers question whether they are pariahs or a part of the cultural arena, is why does nobody agree? Why are cultures “always precious” while cults are “always suspicious”?
Imho, because there’s really no consistent methodology applied to the analysis of cults or culture used by regular people. I’m sure there is considerable lap between the analysis of Scientology and the analysis of Islam as cults that use a particular theory of cults to do that analysis. But for regular people discussing cults vs culture, I think it’s important to ask how they define both.