163 Culture & Dharma - MAGA is Not a Cult, A Former Cult Member Debunks the Ignorance

So many on the Left (and others) call MAGA and Trumpsters a cult, but I 100% disagree. It may or may not have cult-like attributes, but according to traditional academic definitions its not a cult. Based on my own experience in a religious cult, years studying cults, and following politics I put this argument to rest in what I believe in a concise detailed argument. This is not about defending MAGA, but using the word "cult" properly, because if everything is a cult (or racist, nazi, etc) than nothing is, and it devalues the trauma of those involved, not to mention clouds our intellectual assessment of things. Live 7/12/2025, pre-recorded May 2025.0:00 – Intro to debunking MAGA is a cult based on Robert J. Lifton's 8 points of cult criteria | long lists of cult criteria excludes people | short lists of cult criteria makes everything a cult3:13 – Why discuss MAGA & cults vs religious topics4:50 – Cults must have all 8 points of Lifton's criteria to be a cult7:26 – MAGA is not all conservatives8:54 – Ex-member of Adidam cult10:22 – Overview of Lifton's 8 points (pdf can be found here )11:09 – Cult criteria point 1: Milieu control - controlling communication & losing autonomy | book banning & censorship | punishment | isolation | us vs them (i.e. fear of the stranger) | acting & speaking a certain required way | MAGA is not all the same, hating a stereotype27:00 – Cult criteria point 2: Mystical Manipulation - conformity & cult is the only path to salvation | claiming to be a god/divine | becoming a group pawn38:17 – Cult criteria point 3: Demand For Purity - good vs absolutely evil | individual vs group | conservatives as all hateful & unchanging | shame | confusing, black & white thinking47:29 – The R.I.N.O. situation (i.e. Republican In Name Only)50:22 – Cult criteria point 4: Confession - group confession sessions | Scientology pit | keeping secrets to avoid punishments | Candace Owens & Ben Shapiro reputations | Christian hypocrisy55:57 – Sub-set smaller groups do not represent all of MAGA58:29 – Cult criteria point 5: Sacred Science - sacredness around basic doctrine (world vision) | Adidam eternal copyright | criticizing beliefs | reaching out to young people1:03:26 – Cult criteria point 6: Loaded Language - thought stopping jargon & words given new insider meanings | Adidam new definition of cult | liberals always change definitions | Make America Great Again1:06:36 – Cult criteria point 7: Doctrine over person - personal feelings/experience vs official doctrine, contradictions & doubts | asking questions not allowed | lack of Trump ideology, as is only an empty brand1:15:33 – Cult criteria point 8: Dispensing of Existence - vision of truth & fear manipulation of outside evil | leaving a cult | losing family who is MAGA | bad outcomes after leaving cult1:20:09 – Concluding thoughts | broad generalities | authoritative list of cult criteria, debunking other criteria for cults

For seekers who’ve outgrown spiritual fluff. This isn’t about trends, vibes, or blind devotion. This is real talk for real seekers.

I’m Premanand Das Bhagat (Aaron Joy), in Portland, Maine, USA. I'm a Integral Vedic Counselor, Certified Spiritual Life Coach and Ayurveda Specialist. I'm a student of Dr. David Frawley and devotee of Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya, following the non-Advaita, non-Universalist Vaishnava lineage of Ramanuja.

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