Church or cult?
Church or cult?
Thinking of Steve's comment...
How do you define cult?
When does a church become a cult?
Can a church be "just church" to one member yet become a cult to another?
Are there obvious signs/red flags to watch for?
What are your thoughts?
How do you define cult?
When does a church become a cult?
Can a church be "just church" to one member yet become a cult to another?
Are there obvious signs/red flags to watch for?
What are your thoughts?
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- Josh
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Re: Church or cult?
My definition is “The cult leader finds some reason why he should be engaging in carnal relations with everyone else’s wives, or worse, daughters.”
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Re: Church or cult?
What was Steve's comment?
Paul (the guy who made some comments that were included in the New Testament) used the Greek word that is translated (in the KJV at least) as 'sect' to refer to "The Way" - the church. The word 'cult' must come from Latin, because we have the word "culto" in Portuguese, which means "a Christian meeting, or service".
Reminds me of when I transferred into the Bible college where I later graduated, and met a guy in the men's dorm. We were just "getting acquainted", and apparently I was a little too thorough in explaining my background, because after a bit he asked me (about Mennonites) "Is that some kind of cult?
Basically (in English) it's just a reference to a group that the speaker thinks goes over-board in some area or another, or a group of people who believe something you do not agree with. (Some people who have left a group like the Amish or Plain Mennonites will refer to them as a cult. I think it's done to make their listeners think the same negative thoughts as they do themselves.)
Paul (the guy who made some comments that were included in the New Testament) used the Greek word that is translated (in the KJV at least) as 'sect' to refer to "The Way" - the church. The word 'cult' must come from Latin, because we have the word "culto" in Portuguese, which means "a Christian meeting, or service".
Reminds me of when I transferred into the Bible college where I later graduated, and met a guy in the men's dorm. We were just "getting acquainted", and apparently I was a little too thorough in explaining my background, because after a bit he asked me (about Mennonites) "Is that some kind of cult?
Basically (in English) it's just a reference to a group that the speaker thinks goes over-board in some area or another, or a group of people who believe something you do not agree with. (Some people who have left a group like the Amish or Plain Mennonites will refer to them as a cult. I think it's done to make their listeners think the same negative thoughts as they do themselves.)
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Congregation: Gospel Haven Mennonite Fellowship, Benton, Ohio (Holmes Co.) a split from Beachy-Amish Mennonite.
Personal heritage & general theological viewpoint: conservative Mennonite Brethren.
Personal heritage & general theological viewpoint: conservative Mennonite Brethren.
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Re: Church or cult?
Researchers have identified four basic characteristics that tend to be common to all cults
There are also various types of cults. For example: Doomsday cults, political cults, religious cults, and sex cults.Authoritarian control: Cultism hinges on encouraging maximum dependency. People in the cult must feel incapable of living an individual life outside the norms of the group. These beliefs often go hand in hand with a worshipful attitude toward the group’s authoritarian leader.
Extremist beliefs: Cult members hold to very dogmatic and extreme beliefs. They also are unable to question these belief systems without fear of reprisal or punishment from the leader or other group members.
Isolation from society: As soon as new members join a cult, other adherents work hard to isolate them from family members and friends. This helps fulfill the mind control aspirations of the leader. It also creates a hive mind of sorts between the new person and the other members.
Veneration of a single individual: Charismatic leaders are often at the center of most cults. Consider the Manson family of the late 1960s. As their name suggests, they adopted the beliefs of their leader, Charles Manson, and fulfilled his requests. The same pattern repeats in almost all other cults, albeit to less violent ends in many cases.
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A fool can throw out more questions than a wise man can answer. -RZehr
Re: Church or cult?
Watch out for groups that isolate members from their friends and families, including spouses.
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Re: Church or cult?
Leadership that is accountable to no one.
Finances that are hidden from the congregation
Promotion of family members to leadership, in spite of qualification.
Claim that leadership has some sort of special "anointing" and are the only one God speaks to.
Misuse of information derived from counseling or confession.
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Re: Church or cult?
i agree with what’s said above, especially how the word, “cult,” has many definitions, and can be used too lightly.
Some cults have been catastrophic, Jim Jones was horrific. https://www.britannica.com/event/Jonestown
Scriptures help.
Matthew 7:20
https://biblehub.com/matthew/7-20.htm
A related topic:
Anabaptist woman flees colony
viewtopic.php?t=5362
Some cults have been catastrophic, Jim Jones was horrific. https://www.britannica.com/event/Jonestown
Scriptures help.
Matthew 7:20
https://biblehub.com/matthew/7-20.htm
A Tree and its Fruit
…19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20So then, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.…
A related topic:
Anabaptist woman flees colony
viewtopic.php?t=5362
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Most or all of this drama, humiliation, wasted taxpayer money could be spared -
with even modest attempt at presenting balanced facts from the start.
”We’re all just walking each other home.”
UNKNOWN
with even modest attempt at presenting balanced facts from the start.
”We’re all just walking each other home.”
UNKNOWN
- steve-in-kville
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Re: Church or cult?
I'd imagine this.
steve-in-kville wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2024 8:56 amAt what point do we go from being a religion to a cult? Some of the stuff I'm reading in this thread is horrifying
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I self-identify as a conspiracy theorist. My pronouns are told/you/so.
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- steve-in-kville
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Re: Church or cult?
I don't want to say that our conservative groups are cults.... but cult-ishJudas Maccabeus wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2024 8:53 pmLeadership that is accountable to no one.
Finances that are hidden from the congregation
Promotion of family members to leadership, in spite of qualification.
Claim that leadership has some sort of special "anointing" and are the only one God speaks to.
Misuse of information derived from counseling or confession.
I forgot about this post I made a while back:
https://milepost81.com/2021/03/12/maybe ... -cult-ish/
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I self-identify as a conspiracy theorist. My pronouns are told/you/so.
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For parents, railfans, and much more!
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Re: Church or cult?
While there are other "indicators" of a group's leaning toward cult-like behavior - being "cult-ish" - I would consider the presence of some heretical belief to be a requirement for designation as a cult. Is severe "mind-control" through power structures also required? It does seem that this feature is also nearly always is included.steve-in-kville wrote: ↑Tue Feb 20, 2024 6:36 amI don't want to say that our conservative groups are cults.... but cult-ishJudas Maccabeus wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2024 8:53 pmLeadership that is accountable to no one.
Finances that are hidden from the congregation
Promotion of family members to leadership, in spite of qualification.
Claim that leadership has some sort of special "anointing" and are the only one God speaks to.
Misuse of information derived from counseling or confession.
I forgot about this post I made a while back:
https://milepost81.com/2021/03/12/maybe ... -cult-ish/
1 x
Congregation: Gospel Haven Mennonite Fellowship, Benton, Ohio (Holmes Co.) a split from Beachy-Amish Mennonite.
Personal heritage & general theological viewpoint: conservative Mennonite Brethren.
Personal heritage & general theological viewpoint: conservative Mennonite Brethren.