Okay--first of all--go look at the except of Lifton's book:
[
www.culteducation.com]
Then read this link outlining the warning signs of a cult situation:
[
www.culteducation.com]
I used to go to a religious science church in the Seattle area for 2.5 years--a well known one in the RS world--the Center for Spiritual Living-- and I can tell you that they don't even come close to qualifying as a cult. The RS church is not hard core like the Christian Scientists--they do encourage people to go to doctors.
It's more of a church where people who want a "church experience" can go and not feel like they are going to hell for not believing in Jesus or Allah or whatever dogma.
Yes, it does have some wacky focus on manifestation and setting intention and creating your own reality and on prosperity consciousness (RS people are BIG into Prosperity)--but there is nothing cult level about it. Don't worry about your friend.
My own experience was that I dug it for a couple years (and this was first group experience I was comfortable having after having left a cult)--and then I was over it. It stopped working for me.
I think it's a bit of a juvenile religion in that it is pretty shallow--a sort of religion made around positive thinking. I noticed that a lot of people have had the same experience as myself: digging it for awhile, then leaving when they have plumbed the depths of what it has to offer.