To that Baird says that any group that is different will always be the target of accusations. It started with Jesus. He was called a lot worse than a cult leader. The church in the first century was called a cult. And I don't think that Jesus was a cult leader and I don't think that the first century church was a cult.
Singer points out the difference in today's so-called cults.
There is a modern day double set of ethics. It's okay to lie and deceive outsiders, but total honesty is demanded amongst members. There are totalistic rules for everything and the rule is totalitarian. Singer says this means today's cults expect your undivided attention and time. It's not just a 'come on Sunday and forget the rest of the week' proposition.