Cult: (n) a group or sect bound together by one leader and/or ideals

Because I am not a person to hide my feelings and have been known to speak out against “Mom and apple pie,” some souls have become so angry at me that they insisted I was trying to start a cult.

It is perhaps the greatest insult we can give to another person:

“You are so focused, so welcoming to other people, and they like you so much that you must be a cult leader.”

I’ve never taken offense to this—mainly because I know I’m not.

How do I know?

1. I’ve never gotten rich off anyone.
2. Nobody has ever had to work to supply me with grits and gravy.
3. I’ve never tried to limit the efforts and quality of others to make myself look superior.
4. I closed my dungeon of torture decades ago.
5. I’m not certain enough about what I believe to demand that other toe the line to it.
6. If I had a cult, where are all the adoring women?
7. In my life, people come and go. I’ve never held anybody at gunpoint to stay with me.

We should be careful what we say.

Because there are cults out there, and some of them are well-respected political parties and religious denominations.