A cult is an ideological
organization, held together by charismatic relationships, and
demanding high levels of commitment.
Cults are at risk of
becoming exploitatively manipulative and abusive to members.
Many professionals and
researchers use the term "cult" to refer to a continuum of
manipulation and abusiveness.
Different people respond
differently
to the same cultic environment.
ICSA does not produce an
official list of
"cults,"
Because of the ambiguity
in the concept "cult," ICSA tries to use the term judiciously
and focus inquirers’ attention on potentially harmful practices,
rather than a label.
