Actually, the distinction between a cult and a commune is quite well established. Cults have these characteristics: 1) It has a living charismatic leader 2) You give them all your money 3) You are kept away from your old friends and family 4) You can’t leave when you might like Communes (at least the FEC communes) do none of these things. For more insight into this see https://funologist.org/2015/06/19/you-are-a-cult-right/