What are characteristics of a cult?

Answer 1

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 2

As my mechanical friend from the future above said, all religions are cults personified. Look at the characteristics of a religion, and you have the characteristics of a cult.

Answer 3

A small group led by a charasmatic leader which exerts powerful control over its members, has unconventional beliefs, and often (but not always) holds that there is an impending Apocalypse.

The Branch Davidans were a cult. The Hashishim were a cult. Heaven's Gate were a cult. Scientology and Mormonism were cults, but are now moving in the direction of religion. Islam and Christianity could conceivably have started as cults.

Answer 4

Cult - noun
1. a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies.

2. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult.

3. the object of such devotion.

4. a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.

5. Sociology. a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.

6. a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader.

7. the members of such a religion or sect.

8. any system for treating human sickness that originated by a person usually claiming to have sole insight into the nature of disease, and that employs methods regarded as unorthodox or unscientific.

Note: The term cult often suggests extreme beliefs and bizarre behavior.

Answer 5

Generally:
1. A leader who claims "godlike" characteristics. Cannot be questioned, absolute authority, can do what ever he or she wishes.
2. Members cut off from family and friends.
3. Teachings that do not line up with Scripture. The twisting of Scripture to support the teaching of the leader.
4. Sensory deprivation. Lack of sleep, lack of food, makes members physically weaker, easier to control.
5. Forced to give up all money and possessions for the "group"

Answer 6

I think there are really three key aspects that make a group a 'cult':
1) When self destructive and/or abusive activities are involved.
2) When the group seeks to isolate itself and it's members from socitey.
3) When the group manipulates or forces others to act against their will.

Answer 7

compelled club, concepts administration and shortage of inner most liberties. easy and straightforward. something else is basically yet another faith contained in the pot. All of this organization about deviating from the Bible or taking issues out of context is loopy. each faith does that, they basically trust they don't and that really everyone else does. The evidence of it truly is that we've a gazillion diverse religions, even interior of Christianity. All religions were considered cults faster or later in historic past. They were *new* because they deviated from the classic doctrine of their day and made their personal spin on it. i'm confident the Catholic church considered Martin Luther a heretic and the reformed Christian churches that observed as cults.

Answer 8

It depends if you are referring to the original meaning of a cult, or the common meaning that the media has assigned to it.

From a religious perspective, a cult is essentially veneration (not worship) of something, especially a canonized saint of the Roman Catholic Church.

Answer 9

Let me tell you now before anyone tells you that it a cult: Mormons are not a cult. There are very fwew cults and it think many peole told you what qualifies as a cult.

Answer 10

One of the main ones is that they won't let the cult members associate or exchange ideas with non-cult members: they cut them off from outside influence.