Replying to Avatar myrmepropagandist

I don't know who started it, but I keep hearing the word "cult" to describe Trump's most devoted followers. I think there are two issues with this:

1. It muddies the concept of what a real cult is. There are several cult-like features of MAGA. It could even be called a "cult of personality" -- but actual cults are a more narrow thing.

2. It might be a useful form of counterattack -- but "Christian Nationalist" is still more accurate, though probably less likely to land with general audiences.
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myrmepropagandist 2y ago

The main reason the "cult" label has caught on is probably due to the intransigent nature of loved ones who have fallen into MAGA- it feels like trying to talk someone out of a cult.

But real cults don't just alienate people from their families they isolate them physical and financially. They control all aspects of their lives from diet, to who they socialize with to finances... it's just much more involved. IMO.

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myrmepropagandist 2y ago

And to me calling MAGA "a cult" feels like it's dodging the way that these ideas permeate the country and republicans to different degrees.

A real cult has much sharper borders. MAGA is smeared across the national conciseness-- it's not a matter of dealing with a small band of fanatics-- there are also all of the people who can see that maybe Jan. 6 went to far... but still think "there were problems with the election" --and every other incremental degree of buy-in to the myths.