Comment by saalweachter

I think the promise of secret knowledge is important, but I think cults also need a second thing: "That thing you fear? You're right to fear it, and only we can protect you from it. If you don't do what we say, it's going to be so much worse than it is now, but if you do, everything will be good and perfect."

In the rationalist cults, you typically have the fear of death and non-existence, coupled with the promise of AGI, the Singularity and immortality, weighed against the AI Apocalypse.