This elitism habitually manifests itself in claims to be the single and exclusive keeper and guardian of the most ancient, hidden, esoteric and arcane knowledge and wisdom. With Ozymandian conceit, the cults declare they are the Few, the Enlightened, the Illumined, the Chosen. The cult provides a celestial ego trip of stellar proportions. Moreover, this doctrine of exclusivity is not the special domain of the cultist. Anti-cultists also sometimes exhibit a version of the hidden knowledge syndrome.
Cynicism arrives with context.
The Solar Temple is only one of hundreds and hundreds of similar groups to appropriate the Rosicrucian and Knights Templar lineage. The Heaven's Gate cult is similarly only one of many in the UFO paradigm of alien avatars from Von Daniken's dream. Not every cult member is a helpless mind-rinsed recruit. Some go looking not only for spiritual status but also for supernatural revenge. This sounds like vicious anticipation, not somber warning.