Let's talk about cults.

Join us for a discussion on Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell as we explore how language builds loyalty, suppresses doubt, and manufactures identity.

The argument is deceptively simple: cults don't recruit through force or trickery. They recruit primarily through language. Loaded terms that bypass critical thinking, thought-terminating clichés that make doubt feel like weakness. They create a "us-vs-them vocabulary" that makes the outside world feel hostile and the inside feel like the only place that truly understands you.

A key theme in Montell's work is that these same tactics are used in our every day lives, from MLMs to CrossFit. Words like influencer and fandoms are becoming the norm. The stakes are much lower, but the tactics are still the same. They aren't cults, just cult-ish.

In this discussion we hope to dive deeper to see if these claims hold up.

Questions to consider:
Who is most susceptible to joining a cult?
Why are cults more prevalent during times of turbulence? What is the difference between marketing and manipulation? What is the relationship between language and belief?

All are welcome and no reading is required! We will use the book as a jumping off point for a larger discussion on how the language of cults is used in our everyday lives.