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How often do we use the words "cult" or "iconic" in relation to celebrities, movies or TV shows, sports teams, brands or hobbies? Perhaps too often. But does this mean that the object of our admiration and worship has all the signs of a real cult? Some will laugh and say no. Someone will think and say: "Perhaps..."

Recently, a viral thread has appeared in the AskReddit community, dedicated to various people and phenomena in our lives that have all the signs of a cult, while not actually being a cult. So here's a selection of the most interesting points in this list, carefully collected by Bored Panda.

#1

26 Organizations In Modern Society That Should Be Called Cults Despite Formally Not Called One, According To Folks Online The dudes with the "toxic masculinity" type of views and opinions.

Bro, being disrespectful to women doesn't make you an alpha male, it makes you an a*****e.

SmackEh , Andrew Nevins Report

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Kevin the Manager
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel like the guy in the photo is not representative of the alpha male you refer to. Maybe you know him, though.

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#3

26 Organizations In Modern Society That Should Be Called Cults Despite Formally Not Called One, According To Folks Online elon musk fanboys who meat ride everything he says

111lilac , JD Lasica Report

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David H
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ironically until just 2 years ago all his fanboys were on the left, now its mostly on the right.

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Perhaps the closest thing to a real cult today are various brands which create a real obsession among loyal fans. Don't you think, for example, all those queues of thousands on the eve of the launch of a popular smartphone brand resemble devout adherents of some religion? And a charismatic corporate CEO presenting a new product to exalted fans can easily pass for a prophet or a religious leader...

#4

26 Organizations In Modern Society That Should Be Called Cults Despite Formally Not Called One, According To Folks Online Fox News

Brunchwithbears , Johnny Silvercloud Report

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ЛеснойКороль(ForestKing)H/H
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i’m not american but sometimes i see clips, man i love watching old cis white men arguing whether or not i deserve rights as a human being 😊👍 /s

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"In religious studies, a cult is defined by a group led by a charismatic leader and which usually triggers behavior-altering habits in followers. The general public tends to use the term for new-age religions or those with beliefs considered radical or extreme," Jarrett Fuller, a contributing editor to Eye on Design, writes in his recent article.

"Often unspoken, however, is that these groups are usually funded through selling a product or service, whether that's tools and methods for self-help, books, and other content, or simply access to the club, complicating the lines between religion and company, self-help and grip." Yes, in recent decades, the role of religion in modern society has been gradually declining, and new subjects and objects of worship have taken its place.

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#9

26 Organizations In Modern Society That Should Be Called Cults Despite Formally Not Called One, According To Folks Online Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) from the Philippines is a cult pretending to be a religion. These people visit your home when you miss church, require you to declare your earnings (and then ask for contributions). And even dictate who to vote during elections. Big yikes.

The_Wild_Tonberry , Reb2008 Report

Let's take a look at the list of the most-followed TikTok accounts. The two leaders on this list, Khaby Lame and Charli D'Amelio, have over 150 million followers each, which is comparable to the population of an entire country from the world's top ten. Isn't there a reason to compare many contemporary influencers to true prophets? Among the leaders in terms of the number of followers on Instagram, there are mainly stars of sports, cinema and music. By the way, have you forgotten that the very word "culture" comes from the root "cult"?

#10

26 Organizations In Modern Society That Should Be Called Cults Despite Formally Not Called One, According To Folks Online Apple fanboys.

Realistically any overly aggressive brand loyalty, but Apple people are the worst.

No-Patient1365 , Kanesue Report

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Cristian Gonzalez
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

TBH I don't see what is the fuss about iphones since they are just too expensive, barely change anything in updates, basically the same thing since the last 4 years & I don't see why people feel so rich just flexing their phones in front of everybody since they are just being ripped off.

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#11

26 Organizations In Modern Society That Should Be Called Cults Despite Formally Not Called One, According To Folks Online sororities and greek life in general

alibababutnotreally , Juan Vargas Report

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David H
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At one time Universities like Harvard required students to be members of a fraternity, and then put maximum number of student a frat could accept, and then only recognized 1 Jewish and 1 Black frat, as a way to limit the number of non-White students at Harvard

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#12

26 Organizations In Modern Society That Should Be Called Cults Despite Formally Not Called One, According To Folks Online the cult of idealization of productivity. I’m glad that people manage their time and are motivated, but when every second one screams that “you need to get up at 4 in the morning, because the strongest do it” sorry, but I don’t see the point in this if there is no goal. it would be better to say HOW HEALTHY SLEEP is important.

dashaaas , Thirdman Report

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Luke Branwen
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I honestly like getting up very early, but if it's voluntary. Everything sleeps, I have peace and can write uninterrupted.

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Be that as it may, today we are surrounded by many phenomena, the attitude towards which sometimes resembles religion, and moreover, they even have their own priests (suffice to recall, let's say HOA...) But such is the modern world - so all we can do is perhaps just scroll to the very end of this list, like the submissions you consider the truest, and maybe add some of your own ideas in the comments. After all, worshiping pandas is perhaps the most decent and approved 'cult' we know.

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#13

26 Organizations In Modern Society That Should Be Called Cults Despite Formally Not Called One, According To Folks Online Disney

brattcatt420 , Craig Adderley Report

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King Itchy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can be an adult who likes Disney movies and not be a "Disney Adult" if that is what this is referring to.

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#14

26 Organizations In Modern Society That Should Be Called Cults Despite Formally Not Called One, According To Folks Online Peloton

C-LOgreen , SpartyZag Report

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David Wambold
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's basically a pay to exercise service. You spend up to $2500 on a bike then need a subscription to tune into their broadcasts to work out with them.

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#15

26 Organizations In Modern Society That Should Be Called Cults Despite Formally Not Called One, According To Folks Online lululemon. i worked there and we had “regulars” that would come in each week for new stuff. the employee culture is weird too

pink_grapeFruity , Carolyn Coles Report

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Hill Branda
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Again, too old to know or care. So I looked it up. $70 for a pair of plain running shorts? Why?

Agnes Jekyll
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Their staff go through "Landmark" training, which is the corporate side of EST--which is literally a cult. Former employees have said they could not progress if they didn't continue taking Landmark classes. So, yes, Lulu Lemon is a branch of a cult.

Bored Potato
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For those who don't know: Lululemon is a brand that sells yoga stuff and sportswear. It's really expensive but it's mostly worth it. The quality of the products is fantastic.

Susan Reid Smith
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

lululemon is also a multi-level marketing, or pyramid sales group. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-level_marketing

J. Grawn
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Overpriced name brand like many others. Go ahead. Waste your money. I'm laughing all the way to the bank.

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#17

26 Organizations In Modern Society That Should Be Called Cults Despite Formally Not Called One, According To Folks Online Weight Watchers

pittypaterson , theimpulsivebuy Report

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Will Cable
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Best place to eat a cake is right outside their doors just when everyone leaving.

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#18

26 Organizations In Modern Society That Should Be Called Cults Despite Formally Not Called One, According To Folks Online Taylor Swift fans ✨

eternally_inept , taylorswift Report

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Honeybee
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like her songs and I believe liking someone’s music is not the sign of a cult. The ones that would kill for her maybe. But she never asks people to

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#19

26 Organizations In Modern Society That Should Be Called Cults Despite Formally Not Called One, According To Folks Online Competitive dance.

MaryinPgh , Yaroslav Shuraev Report

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SweetCheesySpaghetti
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also: competitive cheerleading. (if this appears farther down, i apologize for the repetition)

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#24

26 Organizations In Modern Society That Should Be Called Cults Despite Formally Not Called One, According To Folks Online Texas A&M

CJK5Hookers , Texas A&M Health Science Center Report

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Hill Branda
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Texas A&M is a university in Texas, famous for it's football team and the students' general redneck demeanor. Texas treats college sports like a religion. People are loyal to the team across generations, even if they never attended the university. It's truly bizarre.

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#25

26 Organizations In Modern Society That Should Be Called Cults Despite Formally Not Called One, According To Folks Online Academia

NeatureNature , cottonbro studio Report

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