Yes, they can. A recent example of non-religious cult-like behavior (fictionally speaking) is the Netflix series Travelers where there was this sort of devotion to "The Director" - who was an AI in a sort of role-reversal from the SkyNet from Terminator. Which is a completely random tangent and has nothing to do with the Jedi. /whoops.
The recruitment methods of the Jedi really bother me. Targeting children in the justification that a) they need to begin training while young and b) some idea that they're saving these kids from the Sith. The lack of contact with their families is chilling and very telling. I'm always surprised that Ahsoka is allowed to decline the offer to rejoin the Order at the end of The Clone Wars and simply allowed to leave. Although I suppose the end upheaval is imminent so maybe it makes sense.
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Which is a completely random tangent and has nothing to do with the Jedi. /whoops.
The recruitment methods of the Jedi really bother me. Targeting children in the justification that a) they need to begin training while young and b) some idea that they're saving these kids from the Sith. The lack of contact with their families is chilling and very telling.
I'm always surprised that Ahsoka is allowed to decline the offer to rejoin the Order at the end of The Clone Wars and simply allowed to leave. Although I suppose the end upheaval is imminent so maybe it makes sense.