Here are three additional edge cases that can dull our discernment and make it harder to know what we’re looking at until it’s too late. False Negatives: Many healthy communities of practice will check several of these boxes (especially those regarding strong in-group identity and ritualized access to peak states). Religions, martial arts lineages, fraternal/sororal organizations, and start-ups can display positive versions of these dynamics, without devolving into cultic behavior.
