Scientology a Cult by Design

One of the hardest things to get people to understand is what makes a cult a cult isn't esoteric beliefs about disembodied seventy five million year old ghosts or a fake navy or even the E Meter. What makes a cult is a group that tries to control all or nearly all the decision making of its members. By having such absolute control the cult denies the individuality, value, boundaries, independence and judgment of its members.

Doing this requires violating human rights and setting up an abuser/master and victim/slave relationship between the cult leader and the member. You have to be willing to deny the humanity of another and disregard their value and human rights to have a cult. You have to be willing to falsely pretend infallible authority and unquestionable superior perfection to lead others to get a cult. It requires idealization of a leader and absolute acceptance of the decisions and doctrine set forth.

It does not matter what the doctrine is about, it could be religious, political, business related or just about anything. I have read about political, religious and other cults. Carpet cleaning, exercise, and horse grooming cults. The control and elevated leaders and abuse make the cult. Always the abuse.

Scientology gets high marks in the control and abuse categories. The trail of people utterly ruined is Hubbard's legacy.