Age: 29, Gender: Male, Nationality: Lebanese, Main language: Arabic, Language of interview: English, lives in Germany -- Interviewer: When you hear the word cult, what comes to your mind? Interviewee: Weird people coming together to do weird things. OR import but underground art Interviewee: Charles Manson and his group Interviewee: Satanist cults? Interviewee: That's what they're called no? Some people use cult/sect interchangeably Interviewee: I wouldn't say Shi'a muslims are a cult, they are a religious sect Interviewee: But they sometimes have cult-like activities like self-flagellation Interviewee: Similarly I wouldn't think of catholicism as a cult, but a religious sect Interviewee: But when catholics in Ethiopia (to give an example) practice self-flagellation or self-crucifixion then it feels more like a cult Interviewee: And re: cult in the arts Interviewee: Ziad Rahbani's work in theater and music is 'cult' in Lebanon --- Interview Notes: gathered on instagram after posting a story asking for people to share their thoughts on the word "cult." The interview was conducted via direct message, on Thursday, August 13th 2026. Personal information have been anonymized.