2006-09-20 09:37:58 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Sociology
Pay no heed to the person who answered first. While I'm not Catholic, the church does not fall into the "cult" category.
In general, cults will require you to sever most ties with those close to you who don't follow the teachings.
Cults advocate intense personal training into the dogma of the cult. Rather than say, reading the Bible on your own, the leader would insist on only his interpretation of the holy text being used. To do that, there are generally hours upon hours spent sitting "at the feet" of the leader. Questioning is not permitted and is sometimes punishable by anything from not being allowed to eat to being locked in a closet somewhere for a day or more.
Many times, cults punish those who do not adhere. Leaving the "faith" is virtually impossible - if not from the brainwashing that's occurred, it can be made physically difficult. For instance, if a woman had been in the cult and had become pregnant and given birth, if she decided to leave after the child was born, the cult could apply pressure to her by threatening to keep the child away from her. Usually the people who end up in these things are not strong mentally anyway, and these threats are effective.
The leaders promote their "religion" as "special..." Its followers, by definition, are then special also. Holy book readings are administered as though written specifically for their "denomination." Note: this can apply to cults like the Branch Davidians as well as cults like Al Qaeda (which I believe qualifies as a cult given their methods of recruitment). I say Holy book here because a cult can use pretty much anything as a "bible" and thus I don't want to confuse the lower "b" bible with the Christian Bible.
Many cults are isolated into one area - there aren't branches of the cult, like there are churches, synagogues and mosques. Most cults foster a "family" atmosphere with members of the cult living in one area - if not one piece of property, then properties that are adjacent to one another.
A charismatic leader is a necessity. Followers from backgrounds that leave them vulnerable to predators are a must.
Some people want to include Scientology into the cult category. I think it's at least on the border, if it hasn't fallen completely into the cult side. It is incredibly hard to leave the group - if someone does leave, they are forbidden to discuss the more "sacred" of the tenets with anyone at the risk of being sued for copyright infringement (or something weird like that). Your "growth" in the movement isn't based on your own spiritual growth, but rather how much money you can continue to pay for a "cleaner" to cleanse you. There is some speculation that the "church" has actually killed to keep people from leaving (although the individuals involved were never convicted). I don't think it's a religion, but I'm not sure it gets cult status. It might, though.
2006-09-20 09:55:23 · answer #1 · answered by tagi_65 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
A promise of redemtion, of belonging to something, of being in a community, of purpose. Once in, you're initiated into the heirarchy and given a chance to gain rank.
Scientology was built from the ground up as a scam. And people must know it, since it sounds ridiculous. But some folks can't walk away from the things a cult offers.
2006-09-20 09:46:25 · answer #2 · answered by John K 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
compelled club, strategies administration and scarcity of private liberties. undeniable and easy. the rest is in simple terms yet another faith interior the pot. All of this enterprise approximately deviating from the Bible or taking issues out of context is loopy. each faith does that, they simply have self belief they do no longer and that anybody else does. The information of that's that we've a gazillion distinctive religions, even interior Christianity. All religions have been seen cults faster or later in historic previous. They have been *new* because of the fact they deviated from the classic doctrine of their day and made their own spin on it. i'm constructive the Catholic church seen Martin Luther a heretic and the reformed Christian church homes that accompanied as cults.
2016-10-15 05:35:55 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
umm its different in most cults if you do some research on jonestown that was one religious sect that committed mass suicide.
2006-09-20 09:47:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they are run by anyone who claims to be part of the "catholic church"
2006-09-20 09:39:41 · answer #5 · answered by Kyleontheweb 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They all want your money and possesions and dictate your life.
2006-09-20 09:57:29 · answer #6 · answered by Mightymo 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
if you want to control people, lie to them
-L Ron hubbard
2006-09-20 09:45:09 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋