“It may be generally observed that groups terms cults manifest three defining characteristics:...”
You are neither an etymologist nor a grammarian, right?
You are avoiding the issue, but I will take the grammar knock, though that was due to hasty posting, but the use of what should have been “termed” was due to my awareness that going by the etymology of the word then “cult” would not be exclusively used as it typically is today in the pejorative to define groups such as the Moonies. This might help if needed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult_%28religious_practice%29