CRI Statement: CP0200
What is a Cult?
www.equip.org/free/CP0200.pdf

With such an overwhelming number of religious groups around these days, it is necessary to understand the difference between a legitimate religious group and a cult. What exactly is a cult?

There are two ways to define a cult. The first way to describe a cult is popular in the secular media. From this perspective, a cult is a religious or semi-religious sect whose members are controlled almost entirely by a single individual or by an organization.

This kind of cult is usually manipulative, demanding total commitment and loyalty from its followers. Converts are usually cut off from all former associations, including their own families.
The Hare Krishnas, the Family of Love led by Moses David Berg, and Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church are some examples of this kind of a cult.

The second way to define a cult is popular in evangelical Christian circles. From this perspective, a cult is any group that deviates from the orthodox teachings of the historic Christian faith being
derived from the Bible and confirmed through the ancient ecumenical creeds.

These groups deny or distort fundamental Christian doctrines such as the Trinity, the deity of Christ, and salvation by grace through faith alone. Some cults that would fall into this category
are the Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christian Science, The Way International, and the Unity School of Christianity.

Most of these cults claim to be Christian, and even consider the Bible to be authoritative. But they manipulate the Scriptures to fit their own beliefs. Although they may claim to serve Jesus Christ, and may even use the same terminology orthodox Christians use, their definitions are vastly different.

These groups do not lead to the Christ of the Bible, but to another Jesus and another gospel (2 Cor. 11:1–4; Gal. 1:8, 9). We must therefore reject these false teachings, and “earnestly contend for the faith which was once and for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). And, of course, remember the Bible also goes on to admonish us that we must do this with gentleness, and with
respect. Remember, you must present the message, but you need to recognize that it is only the Holy Spirit that changes the heart.

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Moderated By: Undisclosed

Minn, come on. This is a theist only area, and now after several slaps on the wrist for this stuff you know better. ***If you wish to take issue with this notice DO NOT do so in this thread.*** Contact the forum moderator or an administrator in Private Message or email instead. If you feel you must publically complain or whine, please take it to the Psychotherapy Room unless told otherwise.

There are two ways to define a cult. The first way to describe a cult is popular in the secular media. From this perspective, a cult is a religious or semi-religious sect whose members are controlled almost entirely by a single individual or by an organization.

Hmmm....you mean like Section 501 c 3 of Internal Revenue Code?

I haven't seen one of these organizations yet that isn't controlled almost entirely by the IRS.

And their members blindly follow it too - they are cut off of from family, and most live in fear, if they dare question the ex cathedra commands of the IRS.

Interesting thought anyway.

CRI, just part of Babylon.

Not that I don't think they said some nice things!

Good information Socrates!!!!!

[i]
These groups deny or distort fundamental Christian doctrines such as the Trinity, the deity of Christ, and salvation by grace through faith alone. Some cults that would fall into this category
are the Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christian Science, The Way International, and the Unity School of Christianity.

Hi Soc,
Do I understand by this definition that Freewill Baptist and Church of Christ members are cults? Also the Catholic Church too? These ones believe the teaching of "faith without works is dead" implies that we MUST have works to have faith. Or maybe I misunderstand what you mean by "salvation by grace through faith alone." Just want to make sure who the "cults" are.

It seems to me that labeling some group as a cult is just an indirect way of describing them as heretical, but it is such a loosely defined pejorative term, that its hard to nail down. Good examples are the Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses, which have millions of members with their own intepretation of scripture. However, since it doesn't fall in line with some non-existant pseudo "historic Christian faith" then they are impuned by the article as cultists. Actually, I don't understand how any sola-scripturist can deny anyone's personal interpretation of scripture since it is precisely the personal interpretation of scripture upon which they base their decision. Why not allow everyone to have their interpretation of scripture without calling them cultists?

And I'm a little wary of using the word 'cult' because there are some that push this to the extreme in the evangelical world, including the Bob Jones crowd which claim the Catholic and Orthodox Churches are cults. In fact, they claim just about everyone in Christianity, except for themselves, are cultists.

Also, cults are usually only recognized as cults after they do something horrible, like David Koresh, Jim Jones, or the Heaven's Gate Hale-Bopp people. We can, with the benefit of hindsight, call them the Branch Davidian Cult, but before the Waco debacle they were probably largely seen as a hard-core group of pentacostal or fundamentalist Bible-believing Christians.

Lastly, if we apply the standards of the article to the the earliest Christians in the New Testament, we would have to conclude the earliest Christians, who practiced the faith as taught directly by Christ, his disciples, and Paul, were cultists. Some of them sold all of their belongings and lived communally. If someone were to espouse adherence to Christ's words in Mark 10:21 "Go, sell what you have, and give to (the) poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." They would be a cultist according to the article because they are "demanding total commitment and loyalty."

Oh well, thats my $0.02.
Jerry

I've always liked Dave Armstrong's definition of cult which is any group, claiming to be Christian, which rejects the Nicene Creed.

I always thought being a "cultist" is a good thing by definition of the word. Don't we really mean the occult?

I always thought being a "cultist" is a good thing by definition of the word. Don't we really mean the occult?

The word is sometimes used like "extremists" is used against Islam. If you have any reason to be opposed to the political ideology of the left they will whip out "cult" to label you with. It's a poke in the eye with a sharp stick -

So, it wouldn't be wise to embrace the term - but one respondent was correct, early Christians were "cults" in comparison to the organized paganism of the day. The Roman social order declared Christians atheists! After all they openly denounced Caesar as god, they wouldn't bow down and do the "babbaloo's" so they killed them.

Cordially,

Thomas

Yesterday @ 10:48 PM post located here
Thomas2003:

Hmmm....you mean like Section 501 c 3 of Internal Revenue Code?

I haven't seen one of these organizations yet that isn't controlled almost entirely by the IRS.

And their members blindly follow it too - they are cut off of from family, and most live in fear, if they dare question the ex cathedra commands of the IRS.

Interesting thought anyway.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, and black helicopters are flying all around and all of our phones are bugged. The Illuminati controlled government is distributing the AIDS virus through our drinking water, and a partridge in a pear tree.

Yesterday @ 11:00 PM post located here
o2bwise:

CRI, just part of Babylon.

Not that I don't think they said some nice things!

Babylon, indeed! And you have the nerve to criticize the way I talk. Boys and girls can we say H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-C-Y? And OBTW I don't see any substantiation for this פרא ¹ accusation.

¹ Strong's number 06501.

Old Shepherd,

Yours is among the foulest, most unChristlike spirits I have ever seen in any forum, be it secular or Christian.

I am through casting pearls.

God Bless,

Tony (o2)

Today @ 05:42 AM post located here
Belteshazzar:

It seems to me that labeling some group as a cult is just an indirect way of describing them as heretical, but it is such a loosely defined pejorative term, that its hard to nail down.

That's why I posted that article, so there would be something to go on. E.g. some ignorant and vexatious anti-creationist, one a rabid atheist and another a professing Christian, have labled YECs as cultists. But they were using it in the irresponsible way that Bel describes.

Good examples are the Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses, which have millions of members with their own intepretation of scripture.

An interpretation which is totally contrary to the text, and based on what their all-powerful organization teaches.

However, since it doesn't fall in line with some non-existant pseudo "historic Christian faith" then they are impuned by the article as cultists.

What nonsense. The historic Christian Faith is Trinitarian.

Actually, I don't understand how any sola-scripturist can deny anyone's personal interpretation of scripture since it is precisely the personal interpretation of scripture upon which they base their decision. Why not allow everyone to have their interpretation of scripture without calling them cultists?

One of these days an anti-Protestant might stop caricaturing Sola Scriptura as Sola Scriptura Extremis. Real Sola Scriptura teaches that Scripture has an objective meaning determined by the grammatical and historical context.

Also, cults are usually only recognized as cults after they do something horrible, like David Koresh, Jim Jones, or the Heaven's Gate Hale-Bopp people. We can, with the benefit of hindsight, call them the Branch Davidian Cult, but before the Waco debacle they were probably largely seen as a hard-core group of pentacostal or fundamentalist Bible-believing Christians.

What piffle. One Christian soldier who arrived in Jonestown was struck by the lack of Bibles there. And the Heaven's Gate Cult was totally evolutionary.

Lastly, if we apply the standards of the article to the the earliest Christians in the New Testament, we would have to conclude the earliest Christians, who practiced the faith as taught directly by Christ, his disciples, and Paul, were cultists.

Rubbish -- they believed in the authority of the Bible and the Trinity.

Oh well, thats my $0.02.

In my country, $0.02 is legally worthless -- hey, now that's a point

Today @ 05:54 AM post located here
spl_cadet:

I've always liked Dave Armstrong's definition of cult which is any group, claiming to be Christian, which rejects the Nicene Creed.

Indeed, any professing Christian group that rejects the Nicene Creed is cultic.

Socrates:

An interpretation which is totally contrary to the text, and based on what their all-powerful organization teaches.

Who says its totally contrary to the text? You? They certainly don't think it is. What authority do you have to declare them heretics?

What nonsense. The historic Christian Faith is Trinitarian.

Actually, there's a LOT more to it than just Trinitarianism, but if you want to define a set of dogma which specify trinitarian beliefs are necessary for salvation, then by all means go ahead. But please enlighten us to where you received this authority.

What piffle. One Christian soldier who arrived in Jonestown was struck by the lack of Bibles there. And the Heaven's Gate Cult was totally evolutionary.

Piffle Here's a challenge for you then, please use the guidelines in the article to identify a current cult, professing to be Christian, which was not named in the article.

Rubbish -- they believed in the authority of the Bible and the Trinity.

They didn't have the Bible. The Bible came a few hundred years later.

Jerry