What exactly is the definition of a cult?

Answer 1

a cult is a cohesive group of people (sometimes a relatively small and recently founded religious movement, sometimes numbering in the hundreds of thousands) devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding culture or society considers to be far outside the mainstream, sometimes reaching the point of a taboo. Its separate status may come about either due to its novel belief system, its idiosyncratic practices, its perceived harmful effects on members, or because it opposes the interests of the mainstream culture. Other non-religious groups may also display cult-like characteristics.

Answer 2

Counterfeit Christianity is probably the best description I can give for a cult. Counterfeit Christianity is an imitation of real Christianity. Bible terms like "Jesus Christ, Resurrection, Salvation, and Atonement" are used by the Cult, but entirely different meanings have been assigned to these terms by the various cult groups.
Like counterfeit money which is sometimes difficult to detect, so it is difficult to detect counterfeit Christianity, since it looks like the real thing. Experts examining counterfeit money often hold it up to a strong light and look for identifying marks. Counterfeit Christianity also has identifying marks which can be seen when held up to an even stronger light, the light of God's word, the bible.
We are at an advantage if we know what to expect from a cult. Cultists are very well trained to appear "Christian", and indeed believe they are the true church, and you need the deliverance! Therfore, be bold and ask the question, "Do you believe the group you represent is the only true church on the face of the earth?"
If they reply that they are, or if they are evasive, making remarks like "Well, every church has a measure of truth but...", you have made an early detection of a Cultist.
Every true Chistian, if asked the same question, regardless of his denomination, would reply that the true church is comprised of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, and HE (not some organization) is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE, (John 14:6). No legitimate denomonation would claim that they alone and their members have salvation exclusively, but the cults (the counterfeits) do.

Answer 3

Many people are followers not leaders. There are many people who feel that something is missing in their lives - that they have no purpose or meaning. Sometimes those people are drawn to someone who makes them feel loved and fulfilled, who gives them a reason for living.

There is nothing wrong with that in itself. But in a cult the leader is like a malignancy - a cancer. They take over the person's life in ways that are not good for the person such as having that person sever all ties with their family and friends. It is a form of total control. And like cancer which left untreated will eventually kill the person who has it, the cult leader kills the spirit of the person who has been absorbed or brainwashed by them. Sometimes as what happened with Jim Jones more than their spirit is killed.

A cult is when someone totally controls your life that benefits them more than it does you, and the horrible thing is that you can't see it.

Answer 4

When you remember that Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are the most successful cults in human history, other definitions turn a bit pale.

Answer 5

1. a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies.

2. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult.

3. the object of such devotion.

4. a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.

5. Sociology. a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.

6. a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader.

7. the members of such a religion or sect.

8. any system for treating human sickness that originated by a person usually claiming to have sole insight into the nature of disease, and that employs methods regarded as unorthodox or unscientific.

Answer 6

The word cult has no objective meaning. Its an emotional term used to put down anyone who does not conform with mainstream society.

Answer 7

Just an additional detail---

In most academic circles, "sect" has replaced "cult" as the descriptive term for a small, emergent religious group.

Answer 8

1 : formal religious veneration : WORSHIP
2 : a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents
3 : a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents
4 : a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator
5 a : great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book); especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b : the object of such devotion c : a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion

Answer 9

Dogmatic practice... and forget it this does not include every church. It's the act of making up unbiblical rules and attempting to enforce them. It is very geared towards discrimination of woman.
KKK
Secularism
Cult - like relationships ..it only takes two
Any group that requires you to get rid of your family is a big symptom and that includes pitting you against family members or suggesting you don't deal with relationship issues.

Answer 10

The Trinity is missing in cults. Many dont think Jesus is the saviour!