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26 Organizations In Modern Society That Should Be Called Cults Despite Formally Not Called One, According To Folks Online
How often do we use the words "cult" or "iconic" in relation to celebrities, movies or TV shows, sports teams, brands or hobbies? Perhaps too often. But does this mean that the object of our admiration and worship has all the signs of a real cult? Some will laugh and say no. Someone will think and say: "Perhaps..."
Recently, a viral thread has appeared in the AskReddit community, dedicated to various people and phenomena in our lives that have all the signs of a cult, while not actually being a cult. So here's a selection of the most interesting points in this list, carefully collected by Bored Panda.
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The dudes with the "toxic masculinity" type of views and opinions.
Bro, being disrespectful to women doesn't make you an alpha male, it makes you an a*****e.
I feel like the guy in the photo is not representative of the alpha male you refer to. Maybe you know him, though.
Perhaps the closest thing to a real cult today are various brands which create a real obsession among loyal fans. Don't you think, for example, all those queues of thousands on the eve of the launch of a popular smartphone brand resemble devout adherents of some religion? And a charismatic corporate CEO presenting a new product to exalted fans can easily pass for a prophet or a religious leader...
Fox News
i’m not american but sometimes i see clips, man i love watching old cis white men arguing whether or not i deserve rights as a human being 😊👍 /s
"In religious studies, a cult is defined by a group led by a charismatic leader and which usually triggers behavior-altering habits in followers. The general public tends to use the term for new-age religions or those with beliefs considered radical or extreme," Jarrett Fuller, a contributing editor to Eye on Design, writes in his recent article.
"Often unspoken, however, is that these groups are usually funded through selling a product or service, whether that's tools and methods for self-help, books, and other content, or simply access to the club, complicating the lines between religion and company, self-help and grip." Yes, in recent decades, the role of religion in modern society has been gradually declining, and new subjects and objects of worship have taken its place.
Political parties
HOA's
screw you karen, i’m going to make my mailbox one centimetre higher on purpose now
Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) from the Philippines is a cult pretending to be a religion. These people visit your home when you miss church, require you to declare your earnings (and then ask for contributions). And even dictate who to vote during elections. Big yikes.
Let's take a look at the list of the most-followed TikTok accounts. The two leaders on this list, Khaby Lame and Charli D'Amelio, have over 150 million followers each, which is comparable to the population of an entire country from the world's top ten. Isn't there a reason to compare many contemporary influencers to true prophets? Among the leaders in terms of the number of followers on Instagram, there are mainly stars of sports, cinema and music. By the way, have you forgotten that the very word "culture" comes from the root "cult"?
Apple fanboys.
Realistically any overly aggressive brand loyalty, but Apple people are the worst.
TBH I don't see what is the fuss about iphones since they are just too expensive, barely change anything in updates, basically the same thing since the last 4 years & I don't see why people feel so rich just flexing their phones in front of everybody since they are just being ripped off.
the cult of idealization of productivity. I’m glad that people manage their time and are motivated, but when every second one screams that “you need to get up at 4 in the morning, because the strongest do it” sorry, but I don’t see the point in this if there is no goal. it would be better to say HOW HEALTHY SLEEP is important.
I honestly like getting up very early, but if it's voluntary. Everything sleeps, I have peace and can write uninterrupted.
Be that as it may, today we are surrounded by many phenomena, the attitude towards which sometimes resembles religion, and moreover, they even have their own priests (suffice to recall, let's say HOA...) But such is the modern world - so all we can do is perhaps just scroll to the very end of this list, like the submissions you consider the truest, and maybe add some of your own ideas in the comments. After all, worshiping pandas is perhaps the most decent and approved 'cult' we know.
Disney
You can be an adult who likes Disney movies and not be a "Disney Adult" if that is what this is referring to.
Peloton
It's basically a pay to exercise service. You spend up to $2500 on a bike then need a subscription to tune into their broadcasts to work out with them.
lululemon. i worked there and we had “regulars” that would come in each week for new stuff. the employee culture is weird too
Again, too old to know or care. So I looked it up. $70 for a pair of plain running shorts? Why?
Jeep owners
Weight Watchers
Best place to eat a cake is right outside their doors just when everyone leaving.
Competitive dance.
Also: competitive cheerleading. (if this appears farther down, i apologize for the repetition)
MrBeast worshippers
Texas A&M
Texas A&M is a university in Texas, famous for it's football team and the students' general redneck demeanor. Texas treats college sports like a religion. People are loyal to the team across generations, even if they never attended the university. It's truly bizarre.
Texas treats peewee football as a religion! :) Any football is sacred.
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College football programs in general. The football coach at OSU is highest paid state employee in Ohio. The players get nothing but a 1 in a zillion chance of becoming pro (I won't get started on that rant).
YES! I've been saying this for years. Very strange that people are so devoted to it, even years past graduation. I know people who worship it and never went there! WTF?
Can someone explain for those is us not blessed enough to live in the US?
Sorry, but I live in the US (Massachusetts) and I don't understand this one either.
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I’m going to Texas A&M when I graduate high school. My uncle is a Texas A&M graduate and he only got his job because he went to college there. All of the employees graduated from Texas A&M. It’s kind of like a family in a way. But I agree, kind of cult-like lol.
Academia
Oh! Academia! I thought you said macadamia, isn't that just nuts! 🤣
MAGA idiots. They think they have a right to overthrow the federal government, and they excuse all manner of criminal acts and inappropriate behavior.
Get ready America...you've got either Desantis or trump next...you think things are bad now........
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Veganism. Wait—hear me out. I am vegan, happily so, but many vegans will shame you for not practicing it the same way they do or for not doing it for the “right “ reasons.
correct. I support vegans even though I am not one, and have dated 3. You guys are on the money with moral stance. I'll convert when the meat substitutes are readily available at takeout places and are not double the price.
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Help can people please stop referring to multi-level marketing as MLMs?? Lmao every time I see something like this my little gay brain goes straight to men-loving-men and I can't figure out what they mean
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My mum follows a spiritual organization which I believe is a cult. It’s called Brahma Kumaris and they believe that the world is 5000 years old and that it goes through a 5000 year cycle and each phase in the cycle is 1250 years. There’s just a lot of weird things they believe in so you can do your own research on them. They created a “documentary” called Polaris and it’s so insane that you have to watch it for how wrong it is
This group has an official website. Although I have never heard of it, it seems to simply be a branch of Hinduism. (I have a PhD in Comparative Religion, with concentrations in Hinduism and Judaism.) While the mythology of Hinduism is quite different from Biblical myths, the practices of moral and charitable living should seem familiar to all religious people. Really the defining aspect of a cult, as opposed to a religion or just a club of like-minded people, is the issue of freedom. Are members free to join or quit as they please? Free to come and go? To spend time with whoever they choose? To spend their own money? To choose their own careers? These are the crucial things.
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This is a list of groups some idiot hates for their own personal reasons. This has zero legitimacy.
If I could like that comment a million times, I would. I said the same thing, basically.
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*Sigh*. The word "cult" has a precise meaning, and it doesn't apply to groups of people who have an irrational attachment to something. Misidentifying these groups as "cults" makes it harder to understand what they actually are, and how terrifying they can be. Most of the things listed here are not, by any definition, cults. You can read more about the actual characteristics of cults here: https://janjalalich.com/help/characteristics-associated-with-cults/
The french word for a religious service is literally "culte".
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No one goes to PTA meetings anymore, they don't take an interest in their kid's academic performance. At least here. Now 20 years ago I would have agreed with you.
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Bikers, but they can be useful like that group that goes to stand up for bullying victims in court.
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Why are MLMs not on here? Or direct sale companies like Avon and Mary Kay?
I agree with the posters here who feel this is a dumb article. There's a difference between a group that becomes a big part of one's life and a group that completely takes over and keeps one from thinking for themselves. Putting high school theatre groups on the same level as the Mormon church is nonsense. There can be controlling behavior in lots of groups. But most of them fall short of being a full on cult.
* People taking the moral high ground on every issue while siding with our corrupt government or corporations* If you find yourself on the side of the corporations, you are not the good gals/guys/thems.
American Football fans. I'm a fan of a team myself, but some are rabid about loyalty to their team and even the wife of a coach of one team won't go to another teams games because of the threat of violence.
Got a few: SCA/LARP/Renaissance fair people. I love my medieval, but I got other hobbies too! C'mon! The fitness crowd. I have a seasonal gig at a state park, and the number of people wearing $300 hiking shoes is astounding. Side-by-side owners. Groups of 2 or 3 is okay, but more than that at a time are tearing up the trails. "I don't care, it's a rental anyway" f-u! Pot heads. We get it. You smoke. We can smell you from 50 feet away. Spray on some fabreeze and quit making that your entire personality.
I feel so called out by Ren fest 😭. I'm putting together my own costume this year for the first time, and I have so many things left to buy and craft. It's rolling on over $100 USD. It's a LOT cheaper than buying an already put together costume tho. I'm having a lot of fun with it. My dress and corset just came in last week too. The dang thing isn't til October/November too. But I have so much left to do. Fell in love with it the first time I remember going. I promise I have other hobbies 😭
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Vegans not all vegans though only those who make their whole life about it and try to force others to try and not eat meat
BMW motorcycle riders, at least the old "Airheads." Want to start a never ending, vitriolic thread? Ask them what oil to use
Those super sensitive bored panda readers that believe in anything posted here. see them downvote lol
AA fits no definition of cult. You are free to come or go as you please, believe what you want, donate a dollar, a quarter, or absolutely nothing. They exist solely to help the struggling alcoholic, and are responsible for saving many, many lives from the hell that is addiction.
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MAGA idiots. They think they have a right to overthrow the federal government, and they excuse all manner of criminal acts and inappropriate behavior.
Get ready America...you've got either Desantis or trump next...you think things are bad now........
Load More Replies... Veganism. Wait—hear me out. I am vegan, happily so, but many vegans will shame you for not practicing it the same way they do or for not doing it for the “right “ reasons.
correct. I support vegans even though I am not one, and have dated 3. You guys are on the money with moral stance. I'll convert when the meat substitutes are readily available at takeout places and are not double the price.
Load More Replies... Help can people please stop referring to multi-level marketing as MLMs?? Lmao every time I see something like this my little gay brain goes straight to men-loving-men and I can't figure out what they mean
Load More Replies... My mum follows a spiritual organization which I believe is a cult. It’s called Brahma Kumaris and they believe that the world is 5000 years old and that it goes through a 5000 year cycle and each phase in the cycle is 1250 years. There’s just a lot of weird things they believe in so you can do your own research on them. They created a “documentary” called Polaris and it’s so insane that you have to watch it for how wrong it is
This group has an official website. Although I have never heard of it, it seems to simply be a branch of Hinduism. (I have a PhD in Comparative Religion, with concentrations in Hinduism and Judaism.) While the mythology of Hinduism is quite different from Biblical myths, the practices of moral and charitable living should seem familiar to all religious people. Really the defining aspect of a cult, as opposed to a religion or just a club of like-minded people, is the issue of freedom. Are members free to join or quit as they please? Free to come and go? To spend time with whoever they choose? To spend their own money? To choose their own careers? These are the crucial things.
Load More Replies... This is a list of groups some idiot hates for their own personal reasons. This has zero legitimacy.
If I could like that comment a million times, I would. I said the same thing, basically.
Load More Replies... *Sigh*. The word "cult" has a precise meaning, and it doesn't apply to groups of people who have an irrational attachment to something. Misidentifying these groups as "cults" makes it harder to understand what they actually are, and how terrifying they can be. Most of the things listed here are not, by any definition, cults. You can read more about the actual characteristics of cults here: https://janjalalich.com/help/characteristics-associated-with-cults/
The french word for a religious service is literally "culte".
Load More Replies... No one goes to PTA meetings anymore, they don't take an interest in their kid's academic performance. At least here. Now 20 years ago I would have agreed with you.
Load More Replies... Bikers, but they can be useful like that group that goes to stand up for bullying victims in court.
Load More Replies... Why are MLMs not on here? Or direct sale companies like Avon and Mary Kay?
I agree with the posters here who feel this is a dumb article. There's a difference between a group that becomes a big part of one's life and a group that completely takes over and keeps one from thinking for themselves. Putting high school theatre groups on the same level as the Mormon church is nonsense. There can be controlling behavior in lots of groups. But most of them fall short of being a full on cult.
* People taking the moral high ground on every issue while siding with our corrupt government or corporations* If you find yourself on the side of the corporations, you are not the good gals/guys/thems.
American Football fans. I'm a fan of a team myself, but some are rabid about loyalty to their team and even the wife of a coach of one team won't go to another teams games because of the threat of violence.
Got a few: SCA/LARP/Renaissance fair people. I love my medieval, but I got other hobbies too! C'mon! The fitness crowd. I have a seasonal gig at a state park, and the number of people wearing $300 hiking shoes is astounding. Side-by-side owners. Groups of 2 or 3 is okay, but more than that at a time are tearing up the trails. "I don't care, it's a rental anyway" f-u! Pot heads. We get it. You smoke. We can smell you from 50 feet away. Spray on some fabreeze and quit making that your entire personality.
I feel so called out by Ren fest 😭. I'm putting together my own costume this year for the first time, and I have so many things left to buy and craft. It's rolling on over $100 USD. It's a LOT cheaper than buying an already put together costume tho. I'm having a lot of fun with it. My dress and corset just came in last week too. The dang thing isn't til October/November too. But I have so much left to do. Fell in love with it the first time I remember going. I promise I have other hobbies 😭
Load More Replies... Vegans not all vegans though only those who make their whole life about it and try to force others to try and not eat meat
BMW motorcycle riders, at least the old "Airheads." Want to start a never ending, vitriolic thread? Ask them what oil to use
Those super sensitive bored panda readers that believe in anything posted here. see them downvote lol
AA fits no definition of cult. You are free to come or go as you please, believe what you want, donate a dollar, a quarter, or absolutely nothing. They exist solely to help the struggling alcoholic, and are responsible for saving many, many lives from the hell that is addiction.
Load More Replies...