How to recognise a cult?

[Tellyontellyon]

How do you recognise a cult?
Not necessarily the Jim Jones suicide type groups...
...but the more mundane groups that aren't trying to murder anybody, but nevertheless do harm and cause suffering in people's lives.

 

[HTacianas]

How do you recognise a cult?
Not necessarily the Jim Jones suicide type groups...
...but the more mundane groups that aren't trying to murder anybody, but nevertheless do harm and cause suffering in people's lives.

Cult is something of a loaded term. You could say that Christianity itself is a cult. But then all religions have some of the characteristics of cults. But for the most part, as you point out, a cult is harmful. Sometimes people who join cults cut themselves off from their families and friends and center themselves on the teachings of an individual. That individual then controls their entire lives.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Cult is something of a loaded term. You could say that Christianity itself is a cult. But then all religions have some of the characteristics of cults. But for the most part, as you point out, a cult is harmful. Sometimes people who join cults cut themselves off from their families and friends and center themselves on the teachings of an individual. That individual then controls their entire lives.

Christianity is not a cult. Nor is Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, or any other accepted religion. Our culture defines a cult as something that is an aberration from what is accepted in our society. Jonesville was a cult, a socialist cult. Jim Jones had renounced Christianity long before he had his socialist cult members drank the cool-aid. Today's Wokeism is a cult. Again, a politically radical ideological cult that promotes abnormal beliefs and and the medical mutilation of children. Scientology is a cult. There are martial arts cults, environmental cults, and entertainment cults.

 

[Daniel9v9]

It can be diffi-cult (pun intended) to define "cult", as well as "religion", for that matter. However, I think what comes to most people's minds is a new sect that claims to promote love, purity, or good order, but is harmful. Cults are often syncretistic or they claim new revelation or insight, and they are marked by false doctrine commonly accompanied by greed, sexual immorality, and murder and abuse (physical and emotional). Cults are born and fueled by sinful hearts and demonic forces.

Two things I think are worth considering is:

(1) There is a point where a cult may grow large enough to be commonly perceived as a religion. I would argue that Scientology and Jehovah's Witnesses fall into this category. JW, as I understand it, is less aggressive than most cults, but I still consider it a cult. I realise it's not a popular opinion. You could even argue that all false religions are cults. But sometimes it may be helpful to distinguish between a historical religion and a new sectarian group.

(2) Historically, a cult tended to be centred around one person or a small group of people. I think in our time, we're seeing something new in this respect, in that cults can grow organically online and through social media — their doctrines are being developed sporadically by different individuals. I'm of the view that the transgender movement is a kind of cult.

Many cults have come out of the church. There have been many anti-trinitarian sects throughout church history. Some of those have in recent years found a way back into the visible church under the guise of non-denominationalism, so that's something to watch out for as well. That is, just because a congregation has the appearance of a charismatic church, doesn't automatically mean that it is a charismatic church.

Where I live, in Japan, and in Asia in general, there are many cults. Most of them are syncretistic with a strong emphasis on self-help or self-actualisation, so cults are very common in our day. But I think to many the word "cult" is so strong that we'd prefer to soften our language in order not to offend. However, I think if the fruits of the sect are cultish, we shouldn't shy away from using the term. It's possible to criticise a sect and its beliefs and practices, and at the same time have compassion on its adherents who are caught up in it.

 

[Douggg]

I would argue that Scientology and Jehovah's Witnesses fall into this category. J

Daniel, my understanding is that Scientology goes after critics and former members by trying to destroy their reputation, using a variety of unscrupulous tactics. There are multiple You Tube videos about former members and their problems of the organization being vindictive having left.

Scientology as I understand is not a Christain religion, nor bible based, but on some far out stories begun by L. Ron Hubbard, its creator. It violates former members constitutional rights imo. So what to do? The one thing that Scientology cannot stop is the prayer of Christians asking the Lord to close it down. The key is for individual Christians is not to be vocal about their prayers, pray in secret - so Scientology then does not know what individuals to go after. Scientology has no power against God. We serve a mighty God.

 

[PsaltiChrysostom]

Daniel, my understanding is that Scientology goes after critics and former members by trying to destroy their reputation, using a variety of unscrupulous tactics. There are multiple You Tube videos about former members and their problems of the organization being vindictive having left.

Scientology as I understand is not a Christain religion, nor bible based, but on some far out stories begun by L. Ron Hubbard, its creator. It violates former members constitutional rights imo. So what to do? The one thing that Scientology cannot stop is the prayer of Christians asking the Lord to close it down. The key is for individual Christians is not to be vocal about their prayers, pray in secret - so Sceintology then does not know what individuals to go after. Scientology has no power against God. We serve a mighty God.

I once worked at a mental health group that sponsored online tests for alcoholism, PTSD, depression etc. for schools and the DoD to take so they could determine if they might need professional assistance. The local Scientologists picketed our building. That was entertaining!

 

[Douggg]

I once worked at a mental health group that sponsored online tests for alcoholism, PTSD, depression etc. for schools and the DoD to take so they could determine if they might need professional assistance. The local Scientologists picketed our building. That was entertaining!

I could imagine. Pray in secret for the goal. The power of Christians is in our prayers. We serve a mighty God.

 

[Daniel9v9]

Daniel, my understanding is that Scientology goes after critics and former members by trying to destroy their reputation, using a variety of unscrupulous tactics. There are multiple You Tube videos about former members and their problems of the organization being vindictive having left.

Scientology as I understand is not a Christain religion, nor bible based, but on some far out stories begun by L. Ron Hubbard, its creator. It violates former members constitutional rights imo. So what to do? The one thing that Scientology cannot stop is the prayer of Christians asking the Lord to close it down. The key is for individual Christians is not to be vocal about their prayers, pray in secret - so Scientology then does not know what individuals to go after. Scientology has no power against God. We serve a mighty God.

Yes, that's right. Scientology has no roots in Christianity but in science fiction. However, they do borrow some Christian ideas or language. It's sometimes called "church" as in "Church of Scientology" and they have been using a symbol similar to a cross, but they are most certainly not Christian — it's a cult.

Jehovah's Witnesses, on the other hand, do have a historical connection to Christianity, and they do use the Bible (their own translation), but they have departed so far from God's Word that they're not Christian either. I view this as a cult as well, but I understand that it's not a fashionable thing to say. Positively, though, I think many JW members are very friendly — at least that's my experience. So how they operate is very far from that of Scientology.

 

[The Righterzpen]

How do you recognise a cult?
Not necessarily the Jim Jones suicide type groups...
...but the more mundane groups that aren't trying to murder anybody, but nevertheless do harm and cause suffering in people's lives.

I utilize this rule; any group (church or ideology) that you're not allowed to question is reason to be leery. (The outcome of which is they try to micromanage peoples' lives.) Truth encourages investigation. Lies hate to be questioned!

 

[Tellyontellyon]

I utilize this rule; any group (church or ideology) that you're not allowed to question is reason to be leery. (The outcome of which is they try to micromanage peoples' lives.) Truth encourages investigation. Lies hate to be questioned!

How does your own church/group measure up to dissenting questions and opinions?

 

[The Righterzpen]

How does your own church/group measure up to dissenting questions and opinions?

Most of my friends investigate everything they are told and make up their minds themselves as to whether or not they think it's true. If they haven't investigated something; they simply say: "I don't know if that's correct or not."

Which this is the rule I live by too. I've come to the point where I don't believe anything just because that's what I was told. I research everything that I believe would have a direct impact on my life in this current time.

If it's what I consider important truth; I'll look it up because I want to know.

Other things I research and look up just for curiosity sake.

 

[ViaCrucis]

How do you recognise a cult?
Not necessarily the Jim Jones suicide type groups...
...but the more mundane groups that aren't trying to murder anybody, but nevertheless do harm and cause suffering in people's lives.

There's something known as the BITE model, which I've seen used as a helpful guide when talking about authoritarian control, such as in cults.

https://freedomofmind.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/BITE-Model-Handout-9-23-16.pdf

-CryptoLutheran

 

[SavedByGrace3]

There's something known as the BITE model, which I've seen used as a helpful guide when talking about authoritarian control, such as in cults.

https://freedomofmind.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/BITE-Model-Handout-9-23-16.pdf

-CryptoLutheran

Sounds exactly like the extreme left of the Democrat party. Almost to a tee. The problem is they have infiltrated the Gov, Academia, Media, and many other institutions with their wokeism religion. They most certainly are a secular religious cult like Jonesville. Don't drink the cool-aid peoples.