Today, the cults are still recruiting large numbers of people, and are still sensationalized in the media.
Many people are desperate to change themselves and to change the world.
Some are so lonely and alienated from family, religion, or friendships that any group that looks loving and supportive is very magnetic, even if the price is one's personal freedom. There is a problem, though, in defining exactly what a cult is. The point at which a group actually crosses the line between what is acceptable and what is not depends a great deal on a person's values. It may be hard to define exactly what a cult is since it is such a subjective, emotionally laden label. However, we would warn people about a group that manifests many of the following traits.