I'm wary of anyone belonging to what is considered a cult, or even 'ordained' mainstream religion. In general, that is - obviously you speak as you find.
As an independent human being I don't want to be told what I can or cannot do in life, what I can or cannot study (or, even if I can study), that I can only use technology for certain purposes, and live life within limiting, strict confines.
Also, women often don't fare well under some cults and religions. Especially those where the menfolk make the decisions about a woman's role...
Having said that, one of my best friends was the local vicar and his wife. Both outgoing, progressive - very caring, kind and considerate individuals with an encompassing love for the whole of humankind. What's not to like!
But, in general... hmm.
My only real experience with a cult was meeting a Jehovah's Witness ( some say JWs are not a cult, I beg to differ) who together with her husband, ran the local newsagents. Her husband suffered ill-health and she ran the shop frequently. She would not sell cigarettes to anyone (that's before we know what we now know about smoking) although the shop was licensed to sell tobacco. The same would have applied to alcohol had they a license. But she lived off the proceeds when the goods were sold by her husband. He told me that she attempted to cut him off from his family and friends - he was a model-railway enthusiast and she tried to stop his friends and fellow enthusiasts from meeting him, both in the home and elsewhere. He sunk into depression - noticeably - and would confide in some of his customers like me who'd known him for years. He was too emotionally weak and mentally beaten down to think about divorce. One day, she knocked on my door (along with other's) to say he'd died and that she would be selling-up and moving away (she had frequently called along our street as a JW advocate and got to "know" us individually).
Nothing really horrendous about this, but a very sad story.