The cult playbook: an infallible leader and opaque funding
A Logos TV video applies the BITE model and the European Parliament's criteria to the Catholic Church. The same test also points to Podemos.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Are you in a cult? The test neither the Church nor Podemos would pass
How do you know if you belong to a cult? According to the criteria used by experts, the first clue is not the size of the group but how its members are treated. A video by Juan Surroca on Logos TV has applied that manual to the Catholic Church – with Steven Hassan's BITE model and the European Parliament's criteria on the table – and the result has peine the uncomfortable question: where does faith end and cult-like control begin?
The pattern that repeats in institutions and parties
The analysis doesn't stop at the Vatican. Applying the same test, some have sought the pattern in Spanish politics: leader worship, ideological purity that turns dissenters into traitors, control of the narrative and opaque funding. The list of those expelled illustrates the thesis, with names ranging from Errejón to the anticapis. The same mirror has been held up to Opus Dei, though no verdict has been reached.
The cult you can't see
Some go further and point to the great invisibilized cult: the one selling climate antiestéticar, tax hikes and a state that takes care of you. In its starkest form, the argument holds that all those who demand blind loyalty and money in exchange for future salvation – whether eternal or earthly – are the same. It makes no difference whether the leader wears a cassock, a Brussels suit or a high-visibility vest.
The curious thing about the cult detector is that it is rarely turned on the person wielding it. Experts say that is precisely the first warning sign.
How do you know if you belong to a cult? According to the criteria used by experts, the first clue is not the size of the group but how its members are treated. A video by Juan Surroca on Logos TV has applied that manual to the Catholic Church – with Steven Hassan's BITE model and the European Parliament's criteria on the table – and the result has peine the uncomfortable question: where does faith end and cult-like control begin?
The pattern that repeats in institutions and parties
The analysis doesn't stop at the Vatican. Applying the same test, some have sought the pattern in Spanish politics: leader worship, ideological purity that turns dissenters into traitors, control of the narrative and opaque funding. The list of those expelled illustrates the thesis, with names ranging from Errejón to the anticapis. The same mirror has been held up to Opus Dei, though no verdict has been reached.
The cult you can't see
Some go further and point to the great invisibilized cult: the one selling climate antiestéticar, tax hikes and a state that takes care of you. In its starkest form, the argument holds that all those who demand blind loyalty and money in exchange for future salvation – whether eternal or earthly – are the same. It makes no difference whether the leader wears a cassock, a Brussels suit or a high-visibility vest.
The curious thing about the cult detector is that it is rarely turned on the person wielding it. Experts say that is precisely the first warning sign.
Also available in: Deutsch
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (20 replies).
More summaries
-
Pope Leo XIV still refuses to condemn Israel and US strikes on Iran
Pope Leo XIV has not condemned Israel and the United States' attack on Iran. He faces criticism for his even-handedness and comparisons with John Paul II.
-
Yolanda Díaz defends her bid to lead the ILO in Geneva
Yolanda Díaz is seeking to lead the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva, facing scrutiny over her English skills and employment figures.
-
Spain's sanchismo propaganda machine under fire over a young recruit's rise
A photo sparks a debate over sexism, cronyism and promotions within the Spanish government's propaganda apparatus. The new recruit is being judged on her looks and alleged...
-
Verdict or propaganda? The TV show splitting viewers in Spain
A Spanish TV show called 'Hay sentencia' is accused of being publicly funded propaganda. Viewers compare it to a rigged trial, with the shadow of Ábalos looming over it.
-
Belgium revives military service debate with letters to young people
Belgium is sending letters to teenagers inviting them to enlist voluntarily in the armed forces. Target: 1,000 places by 2026. A first step towards compulsory service?
-
Oscar Puente and 'mañaquismo': the photo reigniting the controversy
An old photo of Oscar Puente has reignited the debate over his public image and 'mañaquismo': does it reflect a political shift or is it just a picture?