It wasn't my opinion; it is the opinion of experts in the field,
Name your experts!
There should be over 100 experts just like in all scientific fields, engineering fields, biochemistry fields, biology fields etc.
There is NO CULT-"Fields" --- Thus no experts!
"Cult" is a controversial term, having divergent
definitions both in culture and academia. The "Idea" of a
cult has also been an ongoing source of contention among scholars
across several fields of study.
Several fields of study because there is no major study of cults. You can't go to a University and get a degree in "Cults" The closest is Religious studies. But that is not a major in cults.
There is still no uniformity of what a cult actually is.
So called experts that you are probably referring are people who
were in a cult like Steven Hassan who
holds a Master’s degree
in counseling psychology from Cambridge College,, is a Licensed
Mental Health Counselor and has written three books
But he is not an expert because there is no legal term for a “Cult Expert” He just knows a little bit more than your average person of organizations that influence certain groups of people and the methods they use.
Cult expert, thought reform consultant, exit counselor, intervention specialist, cult specialist, et cetera are all names that anyone who has been in a so called cult for at least 6 months can adopt and be considered an expert---and actually make money on the subject.
The media still refers to cult experts as d-programmers — people who deprogram someone who has been programmed through brain washing or mind control because it sounds sensational.
But there is no such thing as a ‘cult expert’ and the term ‘cult expert’ is not protected.
It’s not like the term Lawyer, or Doctor, Scientist, which is protected by the use of a Degree or license.
Anyone can use it regardless of ability, approach, or level of acceptance by recognized authorities in the field.
Among cult experts you can encounter—professionals, lay experts, or loose cannons, rogues, charlatans and sundry unethical types
Some cult experts are trained and licensed mental health counselors, while others have no formal counseling training.
Some self-proclaimed ‘cult experts’ have a bias for or against one or more religions.
Some people give themselves big titles, along with lofty sounding names apparently designed to cover up the fact that, say, their ‘education institute’ is essentially a one-person affair.
So NO----There are no ‘Experts in the field of cults, because as of yet-there is no such thing, because there is still no consensus on what a cult actually is.