what is the psychologists definition of a cult......would it include any of the religions?

Question

would it include any of the following:

not being allowed to leave freely?

not being allowed to marry outside the cult, but hypocritically encouraging others to marry into the cult?

discouraging members to make friends of unbelievers?

discouraging integration with non believing neighbours?

actively seeking educational apartheid from your neighbours children to prevent the cults teachings weakening their grip or being diluted?

only speaking the neighbours language when it is expedient?

have the keepers of the teahings give the teahings of the cult in a language that will be inaccessible to the surrounding unbelievers?

thinking of and treating non believers as second class sitizens?

allowing some members of the cult to treat other members of the cult as inferior purely on the basis of sex?

sometimes mutilating their female members sex organs to controll their sexuality?

desire to have a separate law to that of the unbelievers that surround them?

Answer 1

when you've stood in a school assembly listening to a thousand children chanting the lords prayer you'd soon see that all religion is a cult.

Answer 2

I invite you to read what Wikipedia have to say (see sources).

I also invite you to see what various dictionaries have defined the term "cult" as (see sources).

If you make it through all that (the above being roughly 50 pages on what cult means) 3 things may be clear:
1) The professional title you wanted was sociologist, not psychologist.
2) The cult classification includes many religions
3) The criteria for classifying a group as a cult is slightly more complicated than the 11 simple questions you have described, and to qualify as a cult a group does not have to adhere to every criteria, however the criteria you have described are certainly some of the criteria needed to qualify.

Many of the other answerers have jumped to conclusions regarding your intentions or motives for asking such a question, however I can see that you have gone to considerable lengths to ommit any personal circumstantial information. I respect your wishes, and although this makes it more difficult to answer your question with directed accuracy, I'm sure I would have worded it the same way if roles were reversed.

Good luck!

Answer 3

There are many definitions all over the Web but this is a one-stop for the info you seek. You will have to weigh it all and decide what you believe. I CAN tell you back when I became a religious zealot (an on-fire raving born again looneytune) my Baptist church felt that ALL CHURCHES not preaching fire and brimstone was a cult... EVERY one and all non-christ sects i.e. the jews, et al were pagans and cultists. and AA/Alanon = CULTS and so on

http://www.religioustolerance.org/cults.htm

Answer 4

When I hear the word "cult" I consider it to be a group that doesn't allow you to leave at your own wishes. Christianity does not do this. The bible tells us that many people will not accept the faith. A true christian knows that many will not believe. So the faith is not forced, it is free will.

Answer 5

I agree you've said it all.
A cult is a fledgling religion before the established ones come back and stomp on it, because it is a threat to the ones that are now the establishment and all powerful.

Answer 6

Let me give you a little insight into psychology friend.
PSYCHO/LOGICAL!
A cult is a secret organiztion that you don't even hear about until something crazy happens like they start killing people or themselves.
Many people however, use brainwashing techniques,
putting suggestions in peoples minds to dominate them.
Like you and me! "B1TCH", "JERK", "Nobody will want you", etc, etc!