Cults

While I can see many of your points, I don't think they are valid to this particular board. (and I'm not just saying that because I"m on the RT )

Yes, specific denominations have doctrines, traditions, or history that bind them together. And here, the congregational forums are designated as "safe havens" where like-minded people can fellowship together and discuss issues that they in particular are struggling with. Yet there is also a huge Theology section of this board where folks from all sorts of denominations go to ask questions and discuss things with other Christians from all over the theological spectrum. So it's not like doctrinal discussion is forbidden.

A more complete definition of cult could be:

1. 1. A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.
   2. The followers of such a religion or sect.
2. A system or community of religious worship and ritual.
3. The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual.
4. A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease.
5. 1. Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing.
   2. The object of such devotion.
6. An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest.

In Christian terms, "cult" usually means a group that has some authoritarian figure and/or non-Biblical text, and that teaches one or more doctrines that go against basic orthodox Christian beliefs.

A denomination, on the other hand, can have as much to do with administration as it does with beliefs. It's not just a group of churches that believe the same things, but also those churches have an administrative connection to one another. It can be as loose as the Southern Baptist Convention, or as hierarchical as the Anglican Communion.

Most Lutherans, for example, will probably have similar doctrinal understandings of Baptism and Communion. But I would prefer to go to an Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) church when traveling rather than an Evangelical Lutheran Church of American (ELCA) church.... because while both groups purport to follow the same beliefs by and large, the LCMS is, in my opinion, more Scriptural in its doctrine and practice.

Now, if I worshiped Martin Luther, or even if I took everything he wrote as inspired and authoritative to our lives, and our sermons focused on what he wrote and said... then I could see a valid base for an accusation of Lutherans being cultic. But while we certainly think he had a good grasp of Scripture, and made some necessary challenges to church practice at the time, we do not believe he was a prophet, and we know he was totally off on some of the things he wrote. Our beliefs are firmly rooted in Scripture.

Not to point at those outside of these boards, try posting on some boards at this website and you'll find that once the moderator wakes up, sees that you do not wear the cult icon, your post on that sub-cult board will be prohibited.

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I thought they had changed that policy last year.

What had been proposed, to my understanding, was that outsiders of these groups could visit and post, but not oppose the standards and viewpoints of that particular group. As long as you are asking questions and not debating, the mods are not supposed to kick you out.

Maybe I have missed another policy change though.

There are a few groups, like self-injury, that intentionally screen people who might not be sensitive to discreet conversations and highly personal situations.

In a subforum like Word of Faith/non, this was an issue that got so heated that the subforum seemed the only solution to keeping down the arguments. So if you posted in the general Charismatic section with an anti-Word of Faith argument, they might have sent you here. It is not you as an identity that needed to move, but that particular conversation.

Hello

I have a straighforward definition of cults.

A church is a group who help you get into a real relationship with God.

A cult is a group that tries to get in the way of your relationship with God.

lismore said:

Hello

I have a straighforward definition of cults.

A church is a group who help you get into a real relationship with God.

A cult is a group that tries to get in the way of your relationship with God.

Click to expand...

perfectly said brother.

lismore said:

Hello

I have a straighforward definition of cults.

A church is a group who help you get into a real relationship with God.

A cult is a group that tries to get in the way of your relationship with God.

Click to expand...

Very well stated.

semachiah said:

Shalom,

By definition a "Cult" is:
1) A system of religious worship or ritual.
2) devoted attachment to a person, principle, etc....
Okay, in the basic definition CHRISTianity qualifies as a "cult". Have you ever considered that your "denomination" is actually a sub-cult? Some more cultish than others.

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I am sorry for you, semachiah. If you truly believe that Christianity is a cult, why are you even on this board? These boards are for friendship, mutual support, and honest inquiry. Using your overly generalized definition of "cult" would render every belief system a cult. And that includes evolutionists; the Jewish faith; Islam; Buddism - all are based on beliefs that have not been and cannot be empirically proven. (and no, evolution has NOT been proven in any way). By definition, this is what faith is - believing in something you can't prove.

A "Christian Cult" is a group of people who acknowledge the authority of the Bible, but also have faith in another's writings or sayings; when there is a discrepancy, the Bible always loses the argument. (My definition)

Yes, you can have a discussion with others who basically believe the same as you.

lismore said:

Hello

I have a straighforward definition of cults.

A church is a group who help you get into a real relationship with God.

A cult is a group that tries to get in the way of your relationship with God.

Click to expand...

As someone that was involved in a christian cult, I have to say, I think this definition fits it perfectly

Which moderator is sleeping, in your opinion?

A cult awareness organization describes a cult this way:


CULT - Any group which has a pyramid type authoritarian leadership structure with all teaching and guidance coming from the person/persons at the top. The group will claim to be the only way to God; Nirvana; Paradise; Ultimate Reality; Full Potential, Way to Happiness etc, and will use thought reform or mind control techniques to gain control and keep their members.

The "Orthodox Bible-Based Cult"
A group is called a cult because of their behaviour — not their doctrines. Doctrine is an issue in the area of Apologetics and Heresy. Most religious cults do teach what the Christian church would declare to be heresy but some do not. Some cults teach the basics of the Christian faith but have behavioural patterns that are abusive, controlling and cultic.


These groups teach the central doctrines of the Christian faith and then add the extra authority of leadership or someone's particular writings. They centre around the interpretations of the leadership and submissive and unquestioning acceptance of these is essential to be a member of good standing. This acceptance includes what we consider non-essential doctrines i.e. not salvation issues (such as the Person and Work of Christ.) The key is that they will be using mind control or undue influence on their members.


Other Identification Marks
(a) The group will have an elitist view of itself in relation to others, and a unique cause. i.e. they are the only ones right — everyone else is wrong. They are the only ones doing God's will — everyone else is in apostasy.


(b) They will promote their cause actively, and in doing so, abuse God-given personal rights and freedoms. This abuse can be theological, spiritual, social & psychological.




1985 Jan Groenveld
http://www.culthelp.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=5

The article goes on to define specific tendencies.

semachiah said:

Shalom,

By definition a "Cult" is:
1) A system of religious worship or ritual.
2) devoted attachment to a person, principle, etc....
Okay, in the basic definition CHRISTianity qualifies as a "cult". Have you ever considered that your "denomination" is actually a sub-cult? Some more cultish than others.

Not to point at those outside of these boards, try posting on some boards at this website and you'll find that once the moderator wakes up, sees that you do not wear the cult icon, your post on that sub-cult board will be prohibited. These cults keep outsiders from interacting with their members in order to keep them from ever entertaining ideas that are outside the cults doctrines. It is like being kept inside an Amish community or behind the Iron Curtain with no outside contact. The only "truth" the members are ever exposed to is that which the so-called leadership allows them to be exposed to. They can never have true discussions or interaction with anyone that may expose them to any other view unless they take their buggy and ride for the hills (go to a different board).

I'm sure that if confronted like this they will claim something about meeting the needs and privacy or whatever of their "cult" but that is simply hogwash, cultic controlling!

Let me ask, "Can one REALLY have a "discussion" when both parties actually agree going into it?"
Is that a discussion or a verbal "pat on the back" session?
Isn't that actually a bit like most dictators who control the media input to their countries?
Should any place that calls itself CHRISTian allow such activity within its ranks?
Are CHRISTians supposed to show The CHRIST to others or are they simply to hold parties for "me and my three"?
Is CHRISTianity supposed to be a "CLOSED CULT"?

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This is a post of great inside very good, I tip my hat to you. I have come to look at it this was.
1. Jesus is not the center of belief.
2. Rules to make one righteous before God is a joke! It's call works
3. NO idols (be it a thing of money or a being or self)

enoch son said:

This is a post of great inside very good, I tip my hat to you. I have come to look at it this was.
1. Jesus is not the center of belief.
2. Rules to make one righteous before God is a joke! It's call works
3. NO idols (be it a thing of money or a being or self)

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Jesus IS the center of belief in Christian churches (or should be). His love, His life, His deity, sacrifice, substituting atonement, and resurrection are the center of Christian beliefs. If it's a cult, you worship the leader. If it's Christianity, you worship God. Jesus is, was, and always will be, the corporeal manifestation of God. If that's cultish, so be it. I don't believe these things, I KNOW them, beyond the shadow of a doubt. I've seen to much, felt too much, and experienced too much to doubt. All my experiences correspond perfectly with the Bible. Any experience that doesn't is not of God.

stormdancer0 said:

Jesus IS the center of belief in Christian churches (or should be). His love, His life, His deity, sacrifice, substituting atonement, and resurrection are the center of Christian beliefs. If it's a cult, you worship the leader. If it's Christianity, you worship God. Jesus is, was, and always will be, the corporeal manifestation of God. If that's cultish, so be it. I don't believe these things, I KNOW them, beyond the shadow of a doubt. I've seen to much, felt too much, and experienced too much to doubt. All my experiences correspond perfectly with the Bible. Any experience that doesn't is not of God.

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You mean like God talking to Cain after he had killed his brother? I wonder if Cain felt like he had done things right? Because God was talking to him?

i advised the upsated link too.