It's very sad to watch cult members defend their beliefs! Has anyone ever helped a cult member??

Question

If you've helped free someone from a cult they feel is the true religion, how difficult was it, and what was the name of the cult? These members are almost hypnotized and trained to repeat and believe the same things over and over. Very sad.

Answer 1

Good question. Trying to explain logic and reason to those under the influence of mind control is entirely frustrating. I myself was one of Jehovah's Witnesses and I felt the same way they do. I used to firmly believe that I had the "truth" and the Watchtower organization is the only channel of communication God is using today. After learning the real "truth" behind the organization, I now have an opportunity to help others out of this bona fide cult. Check out the following information to transparently see that the Watchtower organization is a cult, and the so-called "apostates" did not fabricate this solidified information.
http://sixscreensofthewatchtower.com/screen4.html

Answer 2

Like all things, like all religions and beliefs, there are some who can be manipulated and abused - all in the name of 'faith'. Those who need help, should receive professional pyschiatric help! I helped someone who was getting 'sucked' in by scientology - they were a rather unpleasant bunch who manipulated and tormented this person, luckily I got support from a therapist, and a lawyer, so I was able to persecute the scientologists who finally backed off! The person they were trying to induce into their 'church' - was a schizophrenic and could easily be abused, manipulated and brainwashed by these 'scientologists' - they were very interested in him because i suspect of his 'wealth' !!!
But it is not just 'cults' people should be aware of , it is also the fanatics, the zealots that exist in ALL religions!

I suggest that those who are not sure what a cult really is, need to research some more and the definition of religion should also be researched!

Answer 3

I really like Iehova's answer. By that definition, I have never met a cult member. And by that definition, Mormons, Muslims, Witnesses, etc are not cult members either...they are not fringe groups, and can be found all over the world. In fact, Muslims account for fully 1/4 of the world's population.

It has been my experience on R&S that "cult" is a term that certain Christian denominations use to describe any religion that they don't like.

Bashing a religion does not make you smarter, does not make you holier and does not make the religion go away. The Spirit teaches by love. Not by arrogance.

Answer 4

I've freed Catholics, Baptists, Methodists...lol...Christianity is a cult, it's just a very popular one. I agree that it's very sad to see these mislead "sheep" REALLY believing that their religion is truth. I saw one one time repeating "Our father, who art in heaven....etc" over and over again, like the brainwashing you were talking about. It was amazing how when flaws in their belief structure and holes in their logic was pointed out, they always gave the same, conditioned response....truly sad...

Answer 5

Trinitarians try to use the term "cult" like a sledgehammer to obliterate any thinking analysis of what the supposed "cultist" actually believes. Trinitarians embrace a bizarre, non-etymological, quite arbitrary definition of the term "cult" which includes anyone who does not believe that Jesus is God Himself, rather than the Son of God. Interestingly, pagans in the first century slandered Christ's followers with the insulting term "Atheist" (!) because the Christians had a somewhat different idea from the pagans about the nature of God.

Jehovah's Witnesses teach that no salvation occurs without Christ, that accepting Christ's sacrifice is a requirement for true worship, that every prayer must acknowledge Christ, that Christ is the King of God's Kingdom, that Christ is the head of the Christian congregation, that Christ is immortal and above every creature, even that Christ was the 'master worker' in creating the universe! Secular authorities in academia and government routinely acknowledge that Jehovah's Witnesses are a Christian religion. With more than 16 million associating with Jehovah's Witnesses, the term "cult" seems very out of place in a fair discussion of Jehovah's Witnesses. Jehovah's Witnesses are Christians.

Sadly, Trinitarians seem more interested in perpetuating their human traditions, Greek philosophy, and Babylonish fetishes rather than reasonably examining the Scriptural definition of "Christian". In fact, the bible most closely associates being "Christian" with preaching about Christ and Christ's teachings. Review all the times the bible uses the term "Christian" and note that the context connects the term with:
"declaring the good news"
'teaching quite a crowd'
'open eyes, turn from dark to light'
"uttering sayings of truth"
"persuade"
"keep on glorifying"

(Acts 11:20-26) [The early disciples of Jesus] began talking to the Greek-speaking people, declaring the good news of the Lord Jesus... and taught quite a crowd, and it was first in Antioch that the disciples were by divine providence called Christians.

(Acts 26:17-28) [Jesus said to Paul] I am sending you, to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God... Paul said: “I am not going mad, Your Excellency Festus, but I am uttering sayings of truth and of soundness of mind. ...Do you, King Agrippa, believe the Prophets? I know you believe.” But Agrippa said to Paul: “In a short time you would persuade me to become a Christian.”

(1 Peter 4:14-16) If you are being reproached for the name of Christ, you are happy... But if he suffers as a Christian, let him not feel shame, but let him keep on glorifying God in this name


So why do anti-Witnesses try to hijack the term "Christian" and hide its Scriptural implications? Because anti-Witnesses recognize that it is the preaching work that makes it clear that the relatively small religion of Jehovah's Witnesses are by far the most prominent followers of Christ:

(Matthew 28:19,20) Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded

Answer 6

The term “cult” is used loosely by many who may not be fully aware of its connotations. To prevent confusion, some theologians actually avoid using the term.

The World Book Encyclopedia explains that “traditionally, the term cult referred to any form of worship or ritual observance.” By that criterion, all religious organizations could be classified as cults. However, in general usage today, the word “cult” has a different meaning. The same encyclopedia notes that “since the mid-1900’s, publicity about cults has altered the meaning of the term. Today, the term is applied to groups that follow a living leader who promotes new and unorthodox doctrines and practices.”

Endorsing the popular usage of the term, Newsweek magazine explains that cults “are normally small, fringe groups whose members derive their identity and purpose from a single, charismatic individual.” Similarly, Asiaweek magazine notes that “the term [cult] itself is vague, but it usually denotes a new religious creed built around a charismatic leader, who often proclaims himself to be the personification of God.”

The language used in a joint resolution of the 100th Congress of the State of Maryland, U.S.A., also conveys the derogatory connotation of the term cult. The resolution states that “a cult is a group or movement exhibiting excessive devotion to a person or idea and employing unethically manipulative techniques of persuasion and control to advance the goals of its leaders.”

Clearly, cults are generally understood to be religious groups with radical views and practices that clash with what is accepted today as normal social behavior. Usually they conduct their religious activities in secrecy. Many of these cultic groups actually isolate themselves in communes. Their devotion to a self-proclaimed human leader is likely to be unconditional and exclusive. Often these leaders boast of having been divinely chosen or even of being themselves divine in nature.

Occasionally, anticult organizations and the media have referred to Jehovah’s Witnesses as a cult. A number of recent newspaper articles lump the Witnesses with religious groups known for their questionable practices. But would it be accurate to refer to Jehovah’s Witnesses as a small fringe religious group? Cult members often isolate themselves from friends, family, and even society in general. Is that the case with Jehovah’s Witnesses? Are the Witnesses using deceptive and unethical techniques to recruit members?

Cult leaders are known to use manipulative methods to control the minds of their followers. Is there any evidence that Jehovah’s Witnesses do this? Is their worship cloaked in secrecy? Are they following and venerating a human leader? Pointedly, are Jehovah’s Witnesses a cult?

Answer 7

I've tried and tried for months to spread the truth about Scientology here on Y!A. Hopefully a few people have found my answers and have learned what it's really about.

Is Scientology a cult? Yes, & this is why:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070222202928AAC0iiu
What is the cult of Scientology all about? Find an overview here:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070116124002AAFUl25
This is what they believe in (including aliens):
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061124162841AAdJv3F
This is how they sell their cult to others:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061206112715AAJa34H
This shows how dangerous the cult really is: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070223101800AARKR3f

Answer 8

Yes i have led Jehovahs Witness, Muslims, Mormons and Unitarians to salvation through Christ Jesus.

Not to forget a few catholics too.