> By that definition Islam should be considered a cult as it calls for severe consequences for apostasy, ranging from social ostracism to the death penalty. However it's not a cult, it's a mainstream religion.

I make the distinction elsewhere that it is not the belief structure (e.g. apostasy) that I am talking about.

I am talking about how a cult cuts you off from non-believers entirely, and that is combined with financial control.

Islam, Judaism, they do neither of these things, at an individual level. And Islam really lacks "cult control" mechanisms because it has such a limited concept of hierarchy of faith or obedience to any non-family authority.

Cults work at the deeply personal, individual level.