> One definition of a cult I've liked is "A cult is a group you can't leave with your dignity intact". You can really get a good understanding if something is a cult by the way they talk about their ex members. A healthy organization will pretty much just say "Sad to see you go, come back anytime". Unhealthy organizations spend a fair amount of time warning members about how how dangerous/bad/sinful/sad/miserable their ex members are.

OK but those without dignity here are the ones acting like that, not the person leaving.

> And yes, I'd call several mainstream religions cults because of this.

Oh definitely. And it's disgusting that their hate speech is protected because it's religious.