Oh, I nearly sperged.
I think you're right about the misconception most people have about cults. Usually, the image associated with cult like behavior is more like "occult" behavior, involving secretive rituals and hidden knowledge. Imagine hooded druids chanting around stone hedge with glowing glyphs edged into the ground, and only those with the appropriate gesticulation are permitted in the circle. Hence Victor's belief that MBTI is a cult- because it requires a certain knowledge about typology before you can be readily understood. However, by that same logic, any other formal study of anything could be considered a cult; but already we're working with a misnomer.
This reminds me of an event that took place many years ago. At the time, I was attending a non-denominational church that was extremely conservative; though for the sake of accommodating
all of its members, it wasn't always outrightly so. I could sense that somewhere within the heart of the institution, namely within some of the elders, there was a kind of ardent, scowling darkness that was not unlike Fred Phelps and the Westborough Baptist Church.
One night, I decided to invite one of my friends (ENTP) to church, for both religious and social reasons. He was already attending a more mainstream non-denominational church that was more liberal in its approach; so as you can imagine there was a kind of culture clash. It was the first time I could see my own religion from an outsider's perspective; and from that vantage point it did seem like a cult. The epitome of this mentality flickered around the time we took communion, during a drawn out prayer beforehand. My friend snickered "Is this a cult?", as the church referred to Eucharist as a remembrance of blood and sanctity. I was embarrassed, and I attempted to shroud my feelings - I felt somewhat responsible for my friend's behavior that night because it reflected on me and my family.
Fast-forward about 5 years, after much deliberate spiritual contemplation, and deviation from religion itself.
The same friend was picking me up to attend the next showing of Avatar. Before we headed off, he fumbled around in my disheveled room. In the corner there were a few books by G.K. Chesterton, a book on Christian Mysticism and a few others by non-denominational authors. I'm sure he glanced at them momentarily, assessing the situation. I think he's always thought of me as an elated and somewhat immature person with spiritual inclinations, so it probably didn't surprise him; but the notice went unspoken.
After seeing the movie, we sputtered down the road, talking about the significance of Avatar. No doubt, it was full of environmental overtones, but it also had an anti-imperialistic message. I noted that environmentalism had some roots in paganism, but it also had roots in Christianity, seeing as Christianity tends to preach that man has a certain dominion over the rest of nature. Taken the right way, that could be a message of responsibility, while more Eastern Religions give a message of harmony. This devolved into a discussion about 2012, zombies, and the Apocalypse.
Right before I exited his truck, he noted that we were safeguarded against the fires of hell because we were saved by Christ. Somehow I knew his comment was compelled because he had been baptized recently in a separate sect from where he attended previously, and also because his Fe responded to the books that he observed in my room. My gut writhed in the injustice of what he said. I really didn't want to believe it as a literal concept - that we would be whisked away in a Rapture while others would be left to rot. And once again, I felt a similar kind of responsibility that I felt back when we were taking communion. He gave me a high-five, which I reciprocated only limply.
I understand that not all people feel the same intrinsic force that tells me that this concept of literal damnation is wrong, and no amount of rigorous learning will tell me otherwise. Ironically, some might find a similar intrinsic feeling that insists on them being correct and me being deluded. So it becomes a process of understanding that demands the ability to shift perspectives and appreciate different beliefs for what they are worth and how they can serve their own purposes. Very very difficult.
