"What other mainstream youth cult has such a fixation with love over death, eternal bonds, the struggle against darkness, and blood symbolism?" That sounds more like a decription of Xtianity than goth. Most goths I am aware of would probably take the opposite view (with the possible exception of eternal bonds); it's more like love & death, a love of death, and embracing the darkness within than light & redemption. I could understand a Catholic Goth perhaps, & see the attraction in ritual, repetition & mantra (not to mention the clothes, jewellery & wine) but other than that I remain puzzled.I suppose you could argue that Xtianity is a death cult, and take it from there...