How to differentiate between a Cult and a religious sect? If RadhaSoami Satsang Beas is a cult?

Answer 1

I can only speak from the standpoint of a Christian preacher - But, it may help, if you remember to excercise discernment this way:

A "Cult" - of any kind - sect/denomination/church - is one where a group of people follow the extra-biblical "interpretations" or "revelations" or "teachings" of any one man who claims to have had special revelation, or greater insight, thatn anyone else who came before him.

I do not have any knowledge at all, of the name you mention; but you may wish to test them by the rule of thumb I have provided above viz. Are they following the "greater revelation" of one teacher who proclaims himself to be divine or particularly "blessed" etc. ?

I trust that this may help with the question that you are considering.

Kind Regards,
Philip Livingstone
www.theforgottenbible.org

Answer 2

What do you know about the Radha Soami Satsang Beas?

Answer 3

a cult ;a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents
a sect ; a dissenting or schismatic religious body; especially : one regarded as extreme or heretical b : a religious denomination

Answer 4

A cult is a sect - A sect is a cult!

Answer 5

You can't. Religion is a lie, every sect is a cult.

Answer 6

This is one government's (can't remember if it's the US or not) way of determining whether or not a group is a cult.



The Advanced Bonewits Cult Danger Evaluation Frame
(version 2.0)

Factors: Low 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 High
1. INTERNAL CONTROL:
Amount of internal political power exercised by leader(s) over members._____

2. WISDOM CLAIMED; by leader(s) amount of infallibility declared or implied about decisions or doctrinal/scriptural interpretations._____

3. WISDOM CREDITED to leader(s) by members;
amount of trust in decisions or doctrinal/scriptural interpretations made by leader(s)._____

4. DOGMA:
Rigidity of reality concepts taught; amount of doctrinal inflexibility or "fundamentalism."_____

5. RECRUITING:
Emphasis put on attracting new members; amount of proselytizing._____

6. FRONT GROUPS:
Number of subsidiary groups using different names from that of main group._____

7. WEALTH:
Amount of money and/or property desired or obtained by group; emphasis on members' donations; economic lifestyle of leader(s) compared to ordinary members._____

8. POLITICAL POWER:
Amount of external political influence desired or obtained; emphasis on directing members' secular votes._____

9. SEXUAL MANIPULATION: of members by leader(s); amount of control exercised over sexuality of members; advancement dependent upon sexual favors or specific lifestyle._____

10. CENSORSHIP:
Amount of control over members' access to outside opinions on group, its doctrines or leader(s)._____

11. DROPOUT CONTROL:
Intensity of efforts directed at preventing or returning dropouts._____

12. VIOLENCE:
Amount of approval when used by or for the group, its doctrines or leader(s)._____

13. PARANOIA:
Amount of fear concerning real or imagined enemies; perceived power of opponents; prevalence of conspiracy theories._____

14. GRIMNESS:
Amount of disapproval concerning jokes about the group, its doctrines or its leader(s)._____

15. SURRENDER OF WILL:
Amount of emphasis on members not having to be responsible for personal decisions; degree of individual dis empowerment created by the group, its doctrines or its leader(s)._____

16. HYPOCRISY:
Amount of approval for other actions (not included above) which the group officially considers immoral or unethical, when done by or for the group, its doctrines or leader(s); willingness to violate group's declared principles for political, psychological, economic, or other gain._____
Low 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 High