What is a Cult? Guerriero's Diagnostic Criteria

It's hard to believe that I graduated with my Master of Social Work in May 2002 - twenty years ago!  Students in my cohort were given a choice of completing a capstone project or writing a thesis.  I was one of only four students who decided to write a thesis.  Everyone told me I was nuts, but I knew this was going to be easy.  My thesis was titled: Cults Awareness Programs for Today's College Students: A Proposal and Plan for Community Well Being.  I was so passionate about the topic, the thesis practically wrote itself. (I completed it only two weekends!)  It is said that most people look back on their dissertations and theses with embarrassment over the sophomoric writing style, and I am no exception.  But one thing I am very proud of is one section of my thesis in which I attempt to explain what a cult exactly is.  It may come as a surprise to many, but in the field of cult awareness, there really is no agreed upon definition of a cult.  
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