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Although the majority of groups to which the word "cult" is applied are religious in nature, a significant number are non-religious. Political cults, mostly far-leftist or far-rightist in their ideologies, have received considerable attention from journalists and scholars but are only a minute percentage of the total number of so-called cults in the United States. Indeed, clear documentation of cult-like practices exists for only about a dozen ideological cadre or racial combat organizations, although vague charges have been leveled at a somewhat larger number. See Dennis Tourish and Tim Wohlforth, "On the Edge: Political Cults Right and Left," Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2000. ]

The word cult is almost never used in regard to political parties, even if they were to share many or most other characteristics associated with religious cults. The idea of a 'political cult' is missing from modern political discussion. The assertion that a political party is a cult would surely be dismissed out of hand by most people, and probably would be attacked vigorously by the political party in question. The idea seen in political discussions that is closest to the idea of a political cult is that of a personality cult. The idea of a political cult tends to invalidate any strong or committed belief in any political system, policy, or leader.

This said, a political cult would demonstrate many of the features of a religious cult, but without the features of belief in a specific religion. If anything, the beliefs would be centered on a political philosophy, and or personality. Not all characteristics of a religious cult would apply to a political cult. Using one list of characteristics, one could include the following items on a diagnostic list.

1. The group is preoccupied with making money. In a political context, this would be excessive fund raising, especially by illegal means.
2. The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations). In a political context, this would apply to dictators, as well as political leaders who seek to powers where they are not subject to oversight.
3. The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members' participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group. In a political context, this could include criminal activities, ranging from rigging elections to promoting a politically expedient war.
4. The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society. In a political context, this would apply to their attitudes vs political opponents.
5. Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished. In a political context, those not following the 'party line' would be relegated to the fringes.
6. The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law. In a political context, this is the classic 'cult of personality'

There are likely other characterisitics that could be added to the above list. Persons who are members of a political cult might not be aware of this, and would tend to vigoursly defend and justify their political beliefs.

The Effects of Partisan Politics

Recent research reveals that political partisans ignore facts that contradict their own sense of reality. According to a report on research by Drew Westen, director of clinical psychology at Emory University

The test subjects on both sides of the political aisle reached totally biased conclusions by ignoring information that could not rationally be discounted, Westen and his colleagues say.

Then, with their minds made up, brain activity ceased in the areas that deal with negative emotions such as disgust. But activity spiked in the circuits involved in reward, a response similar to what addicts experience when they get a fix, Westen explained.

The study points to a total lack of reason in political decision-making.

"None of the circuits involved in conscious reasoning were particularly engaged," Westen said. "Essentially, it appears as if partisans twirl the cognitive kaleidoscope until they get the conclusions they want, and then they get massively reinforced for it, with the elimination of negative emotional states and activation of positive ones."

Notably absent were any increases in activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain most associated with reasoning.

Simply put, the emotional considerations overwhelm any rational thinking. If anything, the rational part of the mind works to rationalize the emotional conclusional that was reached in advance.

Thus, in the end, a political cult would be something where rational thinking is absent, and emotional thought dominates the political party in question, opening the door to all of the other questionable activities cited above and elsewhere.

Religious Influence in Political Parties

The website Theocracy Watch has a summary documenting the growth of influence of certain strains of fundamentalist Christianity in the leadership and philosophy of the Republican Party in the United States.

Examples of political cults

Lyndon LaRouche's organization National Caucus of Labor Committees (NCLC) and the Ayn Rand cult are examples of political cults that have originated in the United States.

External links

• - Dennis Tourish and Tim Wohlforth, "On the Edge: Political Cults Right and Left," Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2000.
• - Characteristics of a cult checklist
• - News Report on effects of partisan politcs
• - Homepage of Doctor Drew Westen
• - Emory University
• - Theocracy Watch report on the expansion of religious influence in the Republican Party in the United States