BITE axis: General
Spectrum of Control
The CLCI's core editorial principle: groups exist on a continuum from low-control / mainstream to destructive / extreme — never as binary 'cult' / 'not cult'.
How it looks in practice
Mainstream Methodism scores around 6 (some doctrinal commitment, low control). An IFB church operating with strict modesty rules and shunning of departed members might score 25. The FLDS under Warren Jeffs scores 37. Same broad religious tradition (Christianity), three different control intensities, three different CLCI scores.
BITE-model connection
The spectrum framing is built into the entire 0-40 CLCI scale — there is no binary 'high-control' boundary. Editorial guidance recommends treating 0-10 as low/reference, 11-20 as moderate, 21-30 as high, 31-40 as extreme, but the spectrum is continuous.