This cult, or cult-like body leaning toward becoming a cult, could be a job, job-related, an extracurricular group, a political group, or a more obvious religious or religious-masquerading org:
They bring up the cult or cult leader in most conversations.
They build their lives around it, often paying to do so with money and/or the majority of their time/energy, and extolling virtues that would not exist for them with this group (illusions) if they were not paying dues to be a part of it.
The group is their source of identity.
They try to get you to return to the group after you leave and fade from your life when you do not (the rigidity of conformity; control seeking of peers, never of their dear leader).
They believe their membership in this group makes them superior to others, an unhealthy state of mind, but not one that applies to those who are experiencing a better life due to group participation, though there's a gray area there at times, until the control ramps up (cult) or does not (initial excitement later tempered and integrated with other activities and relations).
They are too busy with their cult to reach out to anyone who is not.
They badmouth anybody who leaves and/or listen to and believe badmouthing about fellow group members they previously regarded as valued colleagues, friends or even family because their cult leaders told them to do so, rarely rising to their defense (participation, even simply via silence, in smear campaigns; gossiping).
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