What is a cult?

[JohnD]

The Bible warns mankind about deception.

Deviation from the truth in whatever degree.

[Neighbor]

May I add to the mix of this discussion yet another question: Might one come to Christianity  through having been  involved in a cult?

I suggest that yes of course one may. One may  love our Lord Jesus to tears, trembling, prayer, and personal sacrifice, and yet have been following a long list of errant doctrines that God will at His good timing turn on it's head and bring His own servant out from under,- out from under the deviant doctrines and practices of a cult.

[Tigger56]

11 minutes ago, JohnD said:

cult

noun: cult; plural noun: cults

1. a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object.

"the cult of St. Olaf"

2. a relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or sinister.

"a network of Satan-worshiping cults"

synonyms:sect, religious group, denomination, religious order, church, faith, faith community, belief, persuasion, affiliation, movement; More

group, body, faction, clique

"a religious cult"

3. a misplaced or excessive admiration for a particular person or thing.

*******************************************************

The word in and of itself is not a dirty word. Cult followings include Rock fans, Kardashian fans, etc. IMHO "culture" is a briefer version or variant of "culture."

When used of religious sects (especially in Christian forums etc.) it refers to aberrant forms of Christianity (untruth about Christ / Christianity).

It is untruth that is dirty (especially when the objective of the Christian faith is truth).

Contrary to popular opinion / definition, the term "cult" is not reserved to small outcroppings of aberrant theology like Jehovah's Witnesses, or the Latter Day Saints.

(Oneness / Unity)  Apostolic or Pentecostal or even the Boston Church of Christ movement hold to aberrant theology and would qualify as cults.

Heresies like the various degrees of Preterism qualify as cults which is more evident the deeper one digs into their beliefs which taint core theology. I know, I have swam in the cesspool of Preterism for over 20 years trying to win those who subscribe to it over to the truth about Preterism. 

Former Roman Catholics for the most part believe Catholicism is a cult. I lean toward that definition but haven't given it serious enough prayer and study to firmly plant my flag in that soil yet.

But then again, all the denominations that are heavily swayed / influenced by Roman Catholicism would have to be in the same consideration.

I guess I'm not quite to the point of declaring all theologically aberrant denominations cults.

Observe the divisions and decisiveness between the denominations (which ought to alert us that something is wrong). 

God is not divided. A house divided against itself cannot stand  - Jesus of Nazareth.

History is replete with former strongholds of ancient forms of Christianity where now  (secular) humanism, cults, false religions, atheism, and satanism now stand.

It is my humble opinion that this is also a significant sign of the end time.

Jesus said it would come in a day that people are marrying and being given in marriage (in other words a time when people are oblivious to what's coming and they feel at peace when there is no peace, prosperous when in fact they are miserable, wretched, poor, blind, and naked).

The absolute sign will be when (not if but when) the Jewish Temple is rebuilt on Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Israel.

Thanks for taking the time for the research. However, despite the actual definition....some will go with their own mindset.

[OneLight]

If you are interested in the most known cults, may I suggest the book titled "The Kingdom of the Cults" by Walter Martin.  The general editor is Ravi Zacharias.  This is an in depth study and not a quick, easy read.

[missmuffet]

A religious group that denies one or more of the fundamentals of biblical truth. The ones we are most aware of is the JW and the Mormons.

Edited May 8, 2019 by missmuffet

[AnOrangeCat]

2 hours ago, Neighbor said:

May I add to the mix of this discussion yet another question: Might one come to Christianity  through having been  involved in a cult?

I suggest that yes of course one may. One may  love our Lord Jesus to tears, trembling, prayer, and personal sacrifice, and yet have been following a long list of errant doctrines that God will at His good timing turn on it's head and bring His own servant out from under,- out from under the deviant doctrines and practices of a cult.

I feel like it's certainly possible. A lot of people in cults do so in the pursuit of truth or salvation. It's just unfortunate that they get swept away in a false teaching.

[Firm Foundation]

4 hours ago, BeauJangles said:

It's somewhat disheartening to me, to think that the majority of Baptists, excluding Free Will Baptists, are now being lumped into a 'cult' status merely due to their belief in eternal security. Just saying IMHO. God bless. 

Shalom,

David/BeauJangles

P.S. I'm non-denominational, but have attended churches on both sides of the fence on this topic, by the way.  

That label is used to demonize both sides.

[JohnD]

1 hour ago, OneLight said:

If you are interested in the most known cults, may I suggest the book titled "The Kingdom of the Cults" by Walter Martin.  The general editor is Ravi Zacharias.  This is an in depth study and not a quick, easy read.

Excellent work!

Also Dr. Ron Rhodes, Paul Carden, John Ankerberg, John Weldon, several other authors I fail to recall.

Most are fairly easy reads.

Some of the below you might want top be careful of (H. Hanegraaff is not one I'd recommend, and Hugh Ross is an Old Age of the Universe type) 

 

Edited May 8, 2019 by JohnD

[missmuffet]

Question: "What is the difference between a sect and a cult?"

Answer: The word sect comes from the Latin word secta, which means “school of thought.” It is a subjective term that may apply to a religious faith or denomination, or it may refer to a heretical splinter group. Sometimes, the connotation is one of disapproval, similar to the “destructive heresies” spoken of in 2 Peter 2:1, though there are no consistent or accepted exemplars to use to identify a sect.

Sects are found in all religions. Islam has Sunnis and Shias, Judaism has Orthodox and Karaites, Hinduism has Shiyaism and Shaktism, and Christianity has Baptists and Lutherans. These are all examples of religious sects, and they can be thought of as “branches” of different religions. There are also non-religious sects, such as capitalists and socialists among economists, or Freudians and Jungians among psychiatrists.

In contradistinction, the word cult always carries a negative connotation. There are specific criteria used to identify a cult. In Combatting Cult Mind Control, deprogrammer Steven Hassan singles out what he refers to as “destructive cults,” which he defines as “a pyramid-shaped authoritarian regime with a person or group of people that have dictatorial control. It uses deception in recruiting new members (e.g. people are NOT told up front what the group is, what the group actually believes and what will be expected of them if they become members).” Hassan also correctly points out that cults are not only religious; they may also be commercial or secular in nature.

Hassan developed the BITE acronym, which describes the components employed by destructive cults using mind control. BITE covers the following areas of control:

Behavior Control: An individual’s associations, living arrangements, food, clothing, sleeping habits, finances, etc., are strictly controlled.

Information Control: Cult leaders deliberately withhold or distort information, lie, propagandize, and limit access to other sources of information. 

Thought Control: Cult leaders use loaded words and language, discourage critical thinking, bar any speech critical of cult leaders or policies, and teach an “us vs. them” doctrine.

Emotional Control: Leaders manipulate their followers via fear (including the fear of losing salvation, fear of shunning, etc.), guilt, and indoctrination. 

From a Christian perspective, a cult is any group that follows teachings that contradict orthodox Christian doctrine and promote heresy. Under this definition, the Watchtower Society and the Latter-day Saints (Mormons) are both cults.

Because not all cults are immediately recognized as such, and some people may easily confuse cults with sects or denominations, it is critical to follow the example of the Bereans in Acts 17:11: "Now the Bereans . . . received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." Always research the beliefs of a group before committing to it, examine its behaviors and doctrines in light of the Bible, and beware of the methods listed in the BITE model. Talk to members, but refuse to be coerced by them. Importantly, if something doesn’t seem right, don’t do it.

https://www.gotquestions.org/sect-cult.html

Edited May 8, 2019 by missmuffet

[Neighbor]

7 hours ago, Tigger56 said:

If someone declares their belief in the Son of God, and follow him as they believe, with a difference of doctrines, why are they then non Christian, and why a cult?

Because: Mormons, The Church of Latter Day Saints declare they believe in Jesus. They belong to a cult and they do not believe in Jesus of the Bible. It is a different jesus that they proclaim.