Why are Christians who don't beleive in the trinity considered a cult?

Question

I thought a cult was a small group that bands around a charismatic leader, many times promoting him or her to infallible or godlike status like David Koresh, Charles Manson, or Jim Jones.
Please use biblical reasoning for your answers too and don't just cut and paste a long article, i'd like inteliigent and original answers please

Nobody gave scriptures as proof, but most of u are right that anything considered off the mainstream is called a cult and ansyong gave a good example of the early christians themselves being considered a cult by the jews. I'd like more than just a comment about God being in 3 forms and 1 John 5; 7 is not in all bibles cause it wasn't found in the earliest bible manuscripts.

While i do beleive that both tim and answerman are both sincere in their beliefs, the comments they left just confused me more. For example i thought jews are stumbled by the idea of Jesus being God. they don't even accept him as the messiah. And although both of u beleive in the trinity , one says it 's a mystery and the other says u can't know or understand God without it. Part of the problem is that when people don't want to debate an issue, they will resort to name calling such as labeling somebody a "liberal". It doesn't solve the problem on why Christians are so divided over this issue and must not impress the jews and muslims about our belief.

9,10. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

[Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come.] This obtained for an axiom in the Jewish schools; That prayer, wherein there is not mention of the kingdom of God, is not a prayer. Where these words are also added: "Abai saith, Like to this is that of Rabh to be reckoned, that it is a tradition I have not transgressed thy precepts, nor have I forgotten them" (they are the words of him that offereth the first-fruits, Deuteronomy 26:13). "'I have not transgressed,' that is, by not giving thanks: 'And I have not forgotten them'; that is, I have not forgot to commemorate thy name, and thy kingdom."

[Thy will be done, as in heaven, &c.] "What is the short prayer? R. Eliezer saith, Do thy will in heaven, and give quietness of spirit to them that fear thee beneath," or in earth

THIS is an example from what Tim was talking about

Answer 1

I don't know. The word Trinity is not ever mentioned in the bible. It's not -- look for yourself.

There is one God: Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Galatians 3:20; 1 Timothy 2:5.

Answer 2

People usually consider some one else that is not just like them a cult.

There are several Christian denominations that believe that God is One but described in three ways, the Jews do also.

In the Jewish New Testament Commentary, the writer said that there are several places in the Bible that clearly state that the Father, Jesus and the Holy Ghost is One. But he also says that there are several places where the Bible clearly says that the Father, Jesus and the Holy Ghost are Three.

As the Apostle Paul said "It is a mystery". Do not worry about this point, just love and follow what the Bible says to the Best of your understanding and trust God to lead you into all truth.

Answer 3

faith scholars frequently now no longer use the term "cult" on account that's extremely needless to say a subjective thank you to declare "we" are precise and people who disagree with us are incorrect -- so people who're incorrect are cult individuals. so which you're basically asking to pay attention from people who've sturdy perspectives on the difficulty, even in spite of the undeniable fact that Trinitarianism is a "mainstream" concept this is a lot too pervasive interior the Christian community international to be a "cult" even interior the previous type experience. so that's fairly useful to comb up on even the archaic meanings of non secular analyze words. needless to say, the question won't yield lots sensible suggestion because of the fact even those Christians who have not got self belief interior the Trinity will regularly question the cult statement.

Answer 4

A cult is basically synonimous with sect, but with a more negative connotation. Typically whenever a group of people will get together and agree on something that deviates from the main stream, they will be labeled a cult. In religious context, Christianity is subdivided into sects, that are more or less widely accepted. Now the group that you're describing as non believers in trinity, would deviate largely from the teachings of all 'standard' Christian sects, and therefore it will be called a cult. You might as well be a Scientologist.

Answer 5

There are criteria which must be met in order for a group to be considered a cult. Here they are:

1. It uses psychological coercion to recruit, indoctrinate and retain its members
2. It forms an elitist totalitarian society.
3. Its founder leader is self-appointed, dogmatic, messianic, not accountable and has charisma.
4. It believes 'the end justifies the means' in order to solicit funds recruit people.
5. Its wealth does not benefit its members or society.

Does Christianity meet the requirements? Does a certain demonination or sect meet the requirements based on disbelief in the trinity?

Reason it out for yourself.

Answer 6

If one does not believe in the trinity as laid out in the first seven eccumenical councils, one cannot truly know God. As a human being and as a finite being one cannot speak about the "infinite" or God in terms that are comprehensible and still convey the correct meaning. Therefore one has to know God in terms a human can talk about. Those terms can only be known in Christ. Therefore God can only be known in Christ. Christ has to be a person (upostasis) of a Trinitarian God because with out being so one cannot know God. Jesus has to be complete God for us to know God. Therefore anything that rejects the Trinity is a cult. (i.e. unitarianism, sabellianism, monarchianism etc.) All of these cults claim that there is only one God, but in that set up God is either a liar or unknowable.

Answer 7

No, a cult is, by definition....a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society.

They would be considered a cult, as the belief is not one that is synonymous with the large common belief of the rest of the religion.

I don't like the word cult by the way. If you think of it, almost any religion was considered a cult at one time or another.

Answer 8

It is a derogatory term used against minorities. Christians in the first century were called "Sect of the Nazarene". Anyway, it will not be man who will judge who really are the true followers of Christ. In the end, Christ will judge.

So, don't worry about the term.

Answer 9

if you add or take away from the bible then that it heresy. and it clearly talks about God in three forms. .. thus you are creating your own God in your own mind which is against the ten commandments which is against the bible- which is a cult.

Answer 10

What you say is true about cults, but Christians are always adapting and modifying things until they are okay by the whole.