How would you define a Cult? What are the basic telltale signs that something is a cult, not a normal church?

Question

I've read several books that defined what cults are but I'm actually interested to know what people SAY they are. Particularly Christian organizations that have cultlike aspects of secrecy exclusivity and children that grow up in them unhappy. I am a Christian so this is not an anti-faith question. Thanks!

Answer 1

great question

i was born inside a cult but later came to the christian faith for myself (currently attending a baptist church btw) and perhaps i can give you some pointers

cults tend to be

exclusive - ie only adherance to THEIR rules/beliefs/standards count
-discouraging people from contact with non members or former members


structured - usually (but not always) a heirarchy (almsot always exclusively male) that is designed to keep people in their place where their thinking can be done for them

everyone in the group (it is claimed) believes alike (ie they have abdicated responsibility for their own opinions and beliefs to another

independant thinking is criticised/frowned on as being 'dangerous' or 'sinful' (only dangerous to those who try and keep hold of their members as long as possible)

money orientated - those who potentially can bring in new converts and/or money are often treated with more respect than those who have additional needs and are seen as a 'drain' on the group. some instances of people who are wounded by the group being dumped when they are too wounded to carry on 'the work'

there are many websites on this kinda thing if you type in things like 'cult awareness' and the like into your google engine

Answer 2

For me, one of the biggest factors in deciding if something is a cult is just the number of "followers" or "believers".
For example, if there were only a few thousand christians in the world, it might be perceived as a cult, like it or not.
On the flip side, I would say no matter how many people believed in scientology, I would always think of it as a cult.
There are indeed many definitions out there! The definitions usually have some commonality though, but at the end of the day for many people it's a very subjective thing.

Answer 3

I would look for their own book or bible that have conflictions
with the standard King James bible, that is the most commonly accepted bible I believe. The Jehovahs' Witnesses
have their own bible and other books, and the Mormons have
their Book of Mormon, and I believe the 7th Day Adventists
have their own book as well. Basically a cult is a group that
veers a bit from the accepted scriptures and basic under-
standings. Some groups have re written scriptures to make
the meanings different than what we accept in the standard
Christian scriptures.
Cults are usually controlling organizations. They control
through fear and other practices. One that you will be "ex-
communicated", or "disfellowshipped" and shunned by the
members of your family still in the organization, should you
not adhere to the rules or ways of their church. The latter
is true with Jehovah's Witnesses. Those tend to be the more
common of the door knockers who want to talk to you about
their Christian beliefs. But they aren't Christian, because they
don't believe in the fact that Jesus Christ was the Son of God.
Or that he died to save the sins of all humanity ever after. So
as I said, the basic explanation is a church or organization
that doesn't teach the standard Christian beliefs as mentioned in our accepted Christian bibles. And in many
cases, they destroy families and cast their members aside.

Answer 4

This is information about sects according to the Bible.

In the Bible the unbelievers called those of the true Christian religion a sect at Acts 28:22. That, of course, was not what God thought. A sect according to the Bible are those that use man-made traditions and philosophies in their worship of God. Read Matthew 15:3-9 and Colossians 2:8
John 4:23,24 says that "God is a spirit and those worshiping him must worship in spirit and truth."
The true religion will be hated because of being no part of the world. John 17:18-21

But the Bible shows that the false religions were called by God sects. Acts 15:5 and Revelation 2:15

Answer 5

From observation, they wont research through other websites...the watchtower society (Jehovahs Witnesses) only look at their approved sites and learn through their own magazines, not reading any other mainstream magazines because they consider all the Christian denominations as evil. They use a particularl bible that the majority of scholars consider incorrect. They wlll spend a lot of time in study but only through their own approved reading material that is in unity of their ideas that are off and they consider everyone else in an apostate denomination. They are arrogant thinking they are the one true denomination. Mormons are in this catagory as well.

As for some other cults there are those that hardly read the bible or do what it says, they accept other ideas besides the bible, other writings as scripture. They are deeply rooted in tradition more than the Word of God doing things that are not in the bible but have become their traditions nevertheless. For example, the Catholics who repeat and count their prayers which makes them vain and pray to Mary and also have idols that they pray to thinking those idols and trinkets have any power to cure, to have security or luck.

Then there is the cult of mixing ideas, such as how some think that all gods are the same god and that all ways lead to heaven. Ive been seeing people who think they can mix Christianity and Wicca. The bible clearly is against all sorcery, astrology, witchcraft and anything regarding the occult. Also I have seen homosexuals think God is ok with their lifestyle and they have gay ministers in their church.

Answer 6

I'm a Christian, and I grew up in my faith happily. Mostly because my parents had the sense not to take their five year old to church... I mean, there wouldn't have been a point, considering I had no idea what was going on half the time.

Scientology is a cult, IMHO.

Answer 7

 The religion creates blind followers of the rules and fosters strict obedience to avoid punishment. Shame and fear are used to control people.
 Scrupulously rigid, obsessive adherence to rules, codes of ethics, or rituals is expected. (LEGALISM)
 The religion does not allow people to think doubt, or Question information or authority.
 The religion fosters black-and-white. simplistic thinking. All life is seen in terms of right or wrong, good or bad, never seeing the gray areas.
 Uncompromising, judgmental attitudes. The religion gives a false sense of self-worth based on putting down, humiliating, or even persecuting others who do not share the beliefs or rigidly follow the rules and are considered a threat to the religion. A person becomes a heresy hunter, always on the lookout for errors to expose. He or she may also develop a "Messiah complex."
 Manipulating Scripture or texts, feeling chosen and superior, claiming to receive special messages from God.

Answer 8

Theologically, the bottom line is that the true Christians believe in the Trinity.....that is, God in three Persons. The Lord Jesus is co-equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. Cults vehememtly deny this. They ALWAYS dilute Jesus' being true God and true Man. Cults say that He was divine, but He was created. True Christians do not follow this. The devil himself is behind this heresy....he knows that Jesus is God and that His death on the cross spelled his doom. So, cults are following the enemy lies. I know this is not exactly what you asked, but to me this is the most important thing, and it needs to be said loud and clear. Blessings to you !

Answer 9

I would define a cult as anything ,that variates from the teachings of the bible ,that teaches the opposite from what the Word of God tells us or that adds things that don't belong or take away things, that are uncomfortable to deal with.
Look at this new age religion,that drags a lot of people to destruction : "cg.com"

Answer 10

I have done a lot of reading on cults that are masking as Christianity. I like to call them "Jesus And" religions. They believe that you need NOT JUST Jesus, but Jesus AND something else to be right with God and get into heaven. Like do good works, obey the rules, partake in certain ceremonies.

The truth is all you need is Jesus. Admit your need for Him. Accept Him. Follow Him.