Cults

[DaughterofKing]

What are cults? Why are they bad and does the bible say anything about them?

I think I was unknowingly going to two different cults, has anyone heard of ABSK or Christians on Campus? I think what made them cults is the fact that they always did everything together, were happy to have people join them or exclude them totally and everyone seemed to end up dressing, walking, talking and breathing exactly alike.

I don't see something like the Catholic religion being a cult because on the contrary, Catholics generally gather for mass, do some traditional rituals and then go on with the rest of their lives. Mormons do seem to be a cult because they too seem to exclude so many people based on so many things.

[Pax]

What are cults? Why are they bad and does the bible say anything about them?

I think I was unknowingly going to two different cults, has anyone heard of ABSK or Christians on Campus? I think what made them cults is the fact that they always did everything together, were happy to have people join them or exclude them totally and everyone seemed to end up dressing, walking, talking and breathing exactly alike.

I don't see something like the Catholic religion being a cult because on the contrary, Catholics generally gather for mass, do some traditional rituals and then go on with the rest of their lives. Mormons do seem to be a cult because they too seem to exclude so many people based on so many things.

Look up the definition of cult in the dictionary. A cult is a system of relgious worship. So basically this term could be used to refer to all religions and denominations. You need to be more specific in your question.

[seraph]

What are cults? Why are they bad and does the bible say anything about them?

I think I was unknowingly going to two different cults, has anyone heard of ABSK or Christians on Campus? I think what made them cults is the fact that they always did everything together, were happy to have people join them or exclude them totally and everyone seemed to end up dressing, walking, talking and breathing exactly alike.

I don't see something like the Catholic religion being a cult because on the contrary, Catholics generally gather for mass, do some traditional rituals and then go on with the rest of their lives. Mormons do seem to be a cult because they too seem to exclude so many people based on so many things.

If you're talking about the definition according to the dictionary- from a secular (non-believer) point of view, then the definition is:

1. 1. 
      
   2. 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.
      
   3. The followers of such a religion or sect.
      

   [*] A system or community of religious worship and ritual.

   [*] The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual.

   [*] A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease.

   [*]

   1. Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing.
      
   2. The object of such devotion.
      

   [*] An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest.

   Are you meaning cult by that definition? Or "cliques" which usually have to do more with style, common interests or financial standing, etc. rather than religious beliefs?

   Groups like "Heaven's Gate" are usually referred to as cults (remember they committed suicide thinking they were going to heaven on the comet?), so groups with freaky, false beliefs and/or who manipulate their followers in some way are usually referred to as a cult. I would refer to any group that distorts the Word of God- like Jehohovah Witnesses who change the Bible, Mormons who change who Jesus is, or any group that says salvation is acheived differently from what God says or says Jesus is someone or something else other than who He or God said He was and is as a cult. I would consider something like Buddhism or Islam a false religion rather than a cult- they are separate religions, not distortions of Christianity.

   The Bible says to not have any other gods... whether it be some new age god, the Mormon or JW god, etc.

[Guest Gladiator4God]

What are cults? Why are they bad and does the bible say anything about them?

I think I was unknowingly going to two different cults, has anyone heard of ABSK or Christians on Campus? I think what made them cults is the fact that they always did everything together, were happy to have people join them or exclude them totally and everyone seemed to end up dressing, walking, talking and breathing exactly alike.

I don't see something like the Catholic religion being a cult because on the contrary, Catholics generally gather for mass, do some traditional rituals and then go on with the rest of their lives. Mormons do seem to be a cult because they too seem to exclude so many people based on so many things.

If you're talking about the definition according to the dictionary- from a secular (non-believer) point of view, then the definition is:

1. 1. 
      
   2. 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.
      
   3. The followers of such a religion or sect.
      

   [*] A system or community of religious worship and ritual.

   [*] The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual.

   [*] A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease.

   [*]

   1. Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing.
      
   2. The object of such devotion.
      

   [*] An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest.

   Are you meaning cult by that definition? Or "cliques" which usually have to do more with style, common interests or financial standing, etc. rather than religious beliefs?

   Groups like "Heaven's Gate" are usually referred to as cults (remember they committed suicide thinking they were going to heaven on the comet?), so groups with freaky, false beliefs and/or who manipulate their followers in some way are usually referred to as a cult. I would refer to any group that distorts the Word of God- like Jehohovah Witnesses who change the Bible, Mormons who change who Jesus is, or any group that says salvation is acheived differently from what God says or says Jesus is someone or something else other than who He or God said He was and is as a cult. I would consider something like Buddhism or Islam a false religion rather than a cult- they are separate religions, not distortions of Christianity.

   The Bible says to not have any other gods... whether it be some new age god, the Mormon or JW god, etc.

   well put Seraph, if you have to question it or if it dont stand up to Gods word get away from it

[elkieDannsa' Air An Drochaid]

Having a firm foundation on what is Biblical truth and WHO Jesus is will protect you from religious cults. This takes personal effort to learn the Bible and teachings.

Evangelizing the cults is a good book to help others who are in cults.

A cult is an abusive authoritarian group or person who will play god in your life, making you conform to their system as the only representitive for god.

Mormon is cult and so is Jehovahs witnesses. They are each like one big dysfunctional family where no one can really communicate, yet all know there is problems abounding. The teachings are contrary to the Christian teachings and twist scriptures, yet claim to be Christian, to the uneducated and uninformed they present a case . To one WHo knows JEsus and the Bible well , they cannot present anthing but folly. They are founded not on Christ, but on a mans teachings instead.

There are also non-christian cults.

Cults like to brag of their unity, but it is really authoritarian (leagalistic) confusions often Christian principle of unity with the human insistance of unanimity. Unity is a profound quality. It takes great effort to achieve it, it is a source of great security, yet it demands great risk.

Unanimity, on the other hand is very tidy. It can be measured, monitored, and enforced. It is largely external, whereas unity is essentialy internal. It's primarily goal is correct behaviour, while unity is a right spirit. Unanimity insists on many orthodoxies of belief and behaviour, including orthodoxy of experience and vocabulary. That is, believers are to come to God in similar ways, to have same experiences with God and to use accepted phrases describing those experiences.

They will even use same phrases or words you do, but it will have an entire different meaning to htem in their word association and thinking.

Ultimately, unanimity is impossilbe. It is brittel where unity is flexible and therefore strong.

A single dissenter destroys it (so the dessenter may have to be dealt with harshly for the good of the group)

For this reason, real questions are generally discouraged. Phony questions, however,where the answer is known by all, are part of a pleasureable ritual. They are asked and answered in a wonderful nonthreatening confirmation of ' group think'.

There is as you can see a huge difference between True Christian unity(in the Holy SPirit of GOd in Christ) and the cultic practice of group think behaviour.

Also, as my experience with the Jehovahs Witnesses, is like one big dysfunctional 'family'. We were demanded (with threat of exile and non access to all family and friends) if we ever resisted or did not hold true any thing they told us to think and do, even when it totally conflicted with their prior teachings, even to hold opposite thoughts as both truth in what is called double-think. Never could any pasts mistakes be spoken about of the organization or any questions and never could one read the Bible for themself or think for themself. It was total alliance. What did the cult get out of this? Alot of money. Land in Brooklyn Heights. Forced child labor in door to door magazine sales.

In this dysfunctional family, mother organization never made any mistake , never did anything wrong and , even though everyone knew it was not true, it was forced never to communicate about any questions at all.

In a healthy Christian enviroment, one they have a real Bible Translation and profess Christ as LORD. They depend on the HOly SPirit to convict and confirm. not repeated phrases or leagaliatic conformity with threats of expulsion. A healthy Christian church and family, are communicative, caring ,trusting, open and confessional to mistakes also. Growing and ruled by the Holy SPirit of God and not man made laws and ordances.

Look at what they say about JESUS. WHO do they say He is? How do they treat HIm?

Either HE is LORD OF ALL or He is not lord at all!

I sincerely hope that your searches don't stop here . But, that you become very familar with your Bible and Christian teachings to fall on in your life and to keep from falling into cult affirming realtionships in religion or otherwise.

blessings,

elkie

[felix]

What are cults? Why are they bad and does the bible say anything about them?

I think I was unknowingly going to two different cults, has anyone heard of ABSK or Christians on Campus? I think what made them cults is the fact that they always did everything together, were happy to have people join them or exclude them totally and everyone seemed to end up dressing, walking, talking and breathing exactly alike.

I don't see something like the Catholic religion being a cult because on the contrary, Catholics generally gather for mass, do some traditional rituals and then go on with the rest of their lives. Mormons do seem to be a cult because they too seem to exclude so many people based on so many things.

How does the following make these a cult...

"I think what made them cults is the fact that they always did everything together, were happy to have people join them or exclude them totally and everyone seemed to end up dressing, walking, talking and breathing exactly alike."

Philippians 2:2

then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

Christians should have the same mind being one in spirit and purpose. Christians SHOULD have the same "talk and walk". I believe that when you said they "end up dressing, walking, talking and breathing exactly alike" you were using a literary device. If you can be more specific on what they were doing that was "exactly alike".

Did someone tell you they were cults or did you see something that made you think that?

Edited January 30, 2006 by felix