Cults are not necessarily about hatred, Frank. They may well be about a number of other things, such as: control, political power, popularity, money, etc...

Those do not necessarily equate with hatred, though they do tend to link with other less charges vices such as selfishness and greed.

The reason people connect cults in their mind with hatred is merely that those cults which are possible the most dramatic are those which encourage and practive hatred.

Ebbie, you are so right. Everyone believes in someone or something greater than themselves...even Stilly River Sage! :-) She just doesn't want to admit it, or else she is interpreting your phrase in far too narrow a fashion. That's my opinion, Stilly. You can't be human and NOT believe in someone or something greater than yourself unless you're completely insane and ready for a padded cell.

There are such people, but I know you're not one of them. Or do you wish to assert that there is NOT anything or anyone out there that is greater (meaning "larger" and possibly more important, though not "better") than yourself? Well?

As Spock said in many Star Trek episodes: "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." That is the recognition of something greater than oneself. That is the recognition that moved Joan of Arc, Abraham Lincoln, Gandhi, Einstein, and every other great benefactor of the human race that has ever lived. It is the recognition of a dog that freely gives its own life in defence of its human family too.

And THAT is the cornerstone of spiritualiy: Love that is large enough to overcome mere self-interest.