In Reply to: Don Lattin on using the words "cults" and "fundamentalist" posted by Peabody on December 06, 2006 at 14:44:15:
I really don't care what Don Lattin says about the use of the word cult but I do agree that just saying "cult" could be confusing. I believe the Family deserves the moniker "destructive cult" as much as Jim Jones, Koresh, Manson, Applewhite and others deserve it. Same with Warren Jeffs destructive cult.
The reason is because in all of these, the leaders cross the line into criminal and destructive behavior and turn it into doctrine.
For me, to refer to the Family as a "New Religious Movement" would be providing it with an air of legitimacy. To me, that name says 'fledgling legitimate religious group'.
Because of the damage the Family does to its adherents or way too many of them, and the damage done to those born into the Family, the best I could call it is a Highly Destructive Cult. That title separates it from positive cult applications like the Cult of Mary thing or "Cult classic movie" etc.