Word "cult" seems to be used in very vague sense by everyone, and people have different definitions. Here's something I wrote about Paul Graham's and a few other "cults". It's only vaguely relevant, as I used the label "cult" differently.

If you are not into Paul Graham's cult / meme complex, and you hear people who really are - talking how working 100 hours a week on built to sell startup is the best way to prove your worth as a hacker and a human being - they really sound like "cult" members.