What are cults?

Answer 1

A cult is a group of people who organize around a strong authority figure. Cults, like many other groups, attempt to expand their influence for the purposes of power or money. However, to achieve these ends, destructive cults employ a potent mixture of influence techniques and deception to attain psychological control over members and new recruits. This fundamental level of control is known alternatively as 'brainwashing,' 'thought reform,' or 'mind control.' A successful induction by a destructive cult displaces a person's former identity and replaces it with a new one. That new identity may not be one that the person would have freely chosen under her own volition.

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 the various cult groups have assigned entirely different meanings to these terms.
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 churches, and you need the deliverance! Therefore, 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 Christian, 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 denomination would claim that they alone and their members have salvation exclusively, but the cults (the counterfeits) do.

Answer 3

Good question. Cults are a group of people, no matter how many, who follow certain religious practices or rituals that the surrounding culture or society considers to be far outside the mainstream. The question is what is considered outside the mainstream in today's society where almost anything goes. Religions do not like the word cult because of its negative implication but really cult comes from a Latin word meaning "care" and the word culture stems from cult. Most people run in the opposite direction when they hear the word "cult" and are right to do so. Most cults have an agenda that is the form of control and not in the best interest of its members. Stay away from a group of people that controls, manipulates and coerces others into their way of thinking whether labeled as a cult or not.

Answer 4

Some quotations on Cults Take your pick of which answer suits you best! be well.

Quotations about cults:
"...one person's cult is another's religion; all religions begin life as cults. An alternative definition is that a cult is a religion which you happen to dislike." Anthony Campbell

"Cult is a word without much use outside the realm of religious mudslinging." Philip Kennicott

"When someone uses the word 'cult,' it usually says more about them than the group," J. Gordon Melton, founder and director of The Institute for the Study of American Religion.

"It's easy to tell the difference - a cult is someone else's religion. Corollary: "A fanatic is someone who believes something more strongly than you do." Jim Heldberg
4
"I have often thought that the difference between a cult and a religion is an IRS ruling." Ron Barrier 4

Answer 5

people who worship a mere man and do what he wants, they live together. people keep saying Jehovah Witnesses are a cult, but we are not, we worship Jehovah God and Jesus Christ. a cult lives in one state. we live in 236 lands and in our own homes. they don't work outside, we as Jehovah Witnesses do work in business just like you. a cult also sleep with the man who they worship and he has many children from these woman. for example, jim jones, charles manson and they are still worshipping him and he is in jail. a cult also takes all your money and he lives rich and you poor. he tells you that you don't need the money.

Answer 6

a group of people get together with a believe that other people don't understand so it called a cult

some people even think that Christianity or other religions are a cult

Answer 7

A lot of people would define it as believing in something you don't. I would add that a cult would try and control every aspect of your life instead of letting you progress and learning to control yourself.

Answer 8

Cults are mans ideas of what there idea is to make other people believe what they believe and usually are communes where you have to give all your finances and materials to them

Answer 9

A cult is any group that indoctrinates children before they are old enough to logically evaluate what they are being told and then reinforces the indoctrination with threats of violence.

Such as hell fire and damnation or other punishment or violence.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 10

Cults are those that follow rules that are not part of God's doctrines.