I am working on my Social Studies Thesis Paper, and wanted to know if anybody knew anything about this religious "cult" group. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
2007-03-08 07:42:59 · 9 answers · asked by phillyeagle111 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I accidently got briefly tied in with them when I got to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
My exit was very quick.
They believe that each city should have but one church - theirs. Their current goal is for each city with more than 150,000 people to have a church by ... I believe the year is 2015.
The heirarchy of the church is pyramidal. The leader of the church has three people that he disciples, those three people have three people, and so on and so forth down the line.
They provide an amazingly open and welcoming feel for potential new members.
They work you over ... I tell you what. I don't know if I have ever felt so lifted up (or buttered up) in all my life as when I was with a group of them.
After that hook, they get you a discipler. From there, they require certain things of you in order to gain membership and hold it. Usually something like a quota of people you should be trying to prosylatize or something of that nature.
This is very effective because they bring you in, make you feel very good about yourself, then give you a goal to accomplish.
Then things can get eh ... weird. At one point, I was told I needed to quit my job so that I would be available for the Tuesday and Thursday evening meetings. I started dating a girl from one of my classes, and that was frowned on because she was not part of the group. My would be 'discipler' went as far as to try and set me up with someone else from inside the 'church,' so as to keep me from falling away.
At that point, I really checked into the church and I got out of there as fast as humanly possible.
There have been reports of disciplers basically arranging marriages, jobs, moves to different cities. It gets nuts.
Most people that get involved don't want to leave the group, however, because of the discipline and companionship that they provide.
I mean, once you're in, they make you feel good about yourself, and then start making your choices for you. After a while, you get used to it, and its hard to do some of those things for yourself.
They believe that a person is saved, not by grace, but completely and totally by works. You must do certain things, and meet certain criteria to gain access to heaven.
They believe that big choices are better left to 'wiser' individuals within the church. (meaning you can lose control of your life to some other idiot.)
... I could go on, and you're welcome to e-mail me at rps_master@yahoo ... but I really don't have time to continue right now.
2007-03-08 08:00:02 · answer #1 · answered by Angry Moogle 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I was a member for about 2 years 12 years ago, I am very happy that I left and I do consider some of their their teachings to be cult like (discipling) or at least exceedingly legalistic, imo the biggest problem with the ICOC is that they left no room for faith in their teachings, they seemed to think by somehow monitoring virtually everything people did through 1 on 1 discipling they could forcibly keep everyone on a path to righteousness, there was no room for the individual to make decisions based on their own faith
they seem to be having big problems the last thing I heard, apparently the head of the ICOC "kip mcean" has stepped down and there is now a big rift in the ICOC with some churches falling away or refusing to be part of it
I should add that IMO the reply below this is also fairly accurate, really the key to understanding the ICOC is to understanding the personal discpling, they expected EVERYONE to have a personal 1 on 1 "discipler" who gave you advice that you were EXPECTED to follow
2007-03-08 15:56:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Looking from a social sciences standpoint, you'll have to pick a definition and stick with it.
Some characteristics of cults I've read and heard of:
1) Exclusivity - demand separation from family, friends and outsiders.
2) Urgency - there's a need to change and substantially.
3) Primacy of the group - "We alone will be saved"
4) Cling - those who attempt to leave are coerced/forced/shamed into returning.
5) Financial dependence - all moneys are directed to the group.
Note that #2 and #3, on their own, apply to most Christian churches in general.
2007-03-08 15:53:12 · answer #3 · answered by Veritatum17 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm a member of the church of Christ which is not a cult, but I know there are groups who have church of Christ in their name that are cults, but I'm not that familar with their doctrines; sorry.
2007-03-08 23:48:36 · answer #4 · answered by SusanB 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Very borderline depending on the congregation.
Most I have experienced are cult-like and have regulations and beliefs that hinder the freedom we have in Christ. However, I would not classify them in the same stance as LDS or JWs.
This link should help you with your paper.
http://www.reveal.org/abouticc/index.html
2007-03-08 15:46:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
How are you defining cult?
Seriously, in the strict religious studies/anthropological definition of cult, they are, but so are almost all Christian groups. It's not a perjorative in that way.
If you mean are they DANGEROUS, that's different.
(and I don't know.)
2007-03-08 15:46:55 · answer #6 · answered by LabGrrl 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Do a Yahoo or Google search on it. Yes it is a mind-control cult.
.
2007-03-08 15:51:28 · answer #7 · answered by Weird Darryl 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Nope
2007-03-15 20:57:41 · answer #8 · answered by Book of Answers 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I thought you wanted to know whether or not they are a cult. Sorry then, I can not help you.
PROUD
2007-03-08 15:47:46 · answer #9 · answered by Cheyenne 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋