Jeff Reed falls under the influence of a religious cult called Souls for Jesus (SFJ), led by Reverend Buford Hodges.

His parents hire deprogrammer John Morse, whose daughter committed suicide after becoming a member of SFJ.

[1] In a survey of 1970s fiction, John Sutherland called The Cult a roman à clef.

[8][9] A reviewer writing for The State believed that it would likely offend faithful Christians, as well as members of the Unification Church, but said "it is doubtful that any of them would read it anyway".

[10] Another reviewer described the story as interesting but also predictable, and suggested that if the reader was "looking for truth" they should instead read old newspaper headlines.