Church or cult?

[Verity]

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?

[Josh]

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?

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.”

[Neto]

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.)

[Ken]

Researchers have identified four basic characteristics that tend to be common to all 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.

There are also various types of cults. For example: Doomsday cults, political cults, religious cults, and sex cults.

[barnhart]

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?

Watch out for groups that isolate members from their friends and families, including spouses.

[Judas Maccabeus]

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?

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.

[temporal1]

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 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

[steve-in-kville]

What was Steve's comment?

I'd imagine this.

Our friends were told they would lose their children if they left Eastern. They left and so far have faithful children getting married in the faith. Mind you, they were seekers and never joined.

At what point do we go from being a religion to a cult? Some of the stuff I'm reading in this thread is horrifying

[steve-in-kville]

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?

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.

I don't want to say that our conservative groups are cults.... but cult-ish


I forgot about this post I made a while back:

https://milepost81.com/2021/03/12/maybe ... -cult-ish/

[Neto]

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?

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.

I don't want to say that our conservative groups are cults.... but cult-ish


I forgot about this post I made a while back:

https://milepost81.com/2021/03/12/maybe ... -cult-ish/

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.