The first test of whether you are in a cult is when people who don't know you hear you talk or read what you've written and all come to the conclusion you are in a cult.

The second is to tell those who are the leaders, whether they call themselves mom and dad or minister or whatever that you are thinking of changing your life goals and becoming something else. The stronger their reaction the more likely you are in a cult.

For Tim I'd thinking telling his parents he wants to go to a public high school for his senior year and then go to UCLA might be enough to get him dragged off to a re-education camp.

IFF is correct. If cult members were able to recognize that they were being brainwashed by a cult ... there wouldn't be any.

DA Morgan