My litmus test for cults are whether one can leave the belief system without coercive repercussions.
By that standard, Amish are not a cult, and Islam and Scientology are cults.
The Amish still practice economic and social shunning.
“My litmus test for cults are whether one can leave the belief system without coercive repercussions.”
The shunning among the Amish is very great.
I’ve had Amish businesses that lost all their employees when the church disagreed with something the Amish business owner did. The church forbid any member from working there. This has happened many, many times with my clients over the years.
The church community creates a dependency. The pain of being isolated from the group is very great when they shun you.