20 Signs of a Church Cult
Free guide by Andrew Pledger
*Not all characteristics need to be present. Refer to cult resources at the bottom of the page.
Are you worried that your church might be a cult? Do you feel pressured, manipulated, or controlled by your religious leaders? Do you notice any signs of abuse, deception, or exploitation in your church? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need to read this information. This guide will show you twenty signs that your church is a cult.
1. The church has a charismatic or authoritarian leader.
A charismatic leader is someone who can inspire and motivate others to follow their vision and goals. They have a strong personality, a clear sense of purpose, and a high level of confidence and enthusiasm. They can communicate effectively, persuade others, and create a positive emotional connection with their followers. Charismatic leaders often have a transformational impact on their organizations, teams, or movements, as they can generate loyalty, commitment, and innovation. Abusive leaders use this influence to manipulate and exploit.
An authoritarian leader is someone who has absolute power over a group of people and does not tolerate any dissent or criticism. They often use fear, propaganda, and violence to maintain their control and suppress any opposition. Authoritarian leaders may have different ideologies, goals, or motivations, but they all share a common disregard for the rights and freedoms of their followers
2. The pastor and those in leadership are not allowed to be questioned.
3. Fear, guilt, and shame are used to control members.
4. The rules and teachings are absolute truth and cannot be questioned.
5. The church has all the answers. There’s no reason to consider other answers outside of its context.
6. You’re told you’ll never find happiness outside the group or that terrible things will happen if you leave. (This is called phobia indoctrination)
7. A system is put in place that enforces rules outside of church. (surveillance, accountability partner, fathers given absolute authority, visits from members, etc.)
8. You are blamed if you’re not seeing the results promised by the teachings or the leader. The church is never at fault, you are the problem.
9. There are strict rules around books, TV, movies, dancing, card games, sexuality, clothing, and relationships.
10. The church portrays people on the outside as evil and untrustworthy.
11. Members are expected or required to isolate/separate from anyone who believes differently.
12. There is manipulation and control around finances.
13. Members who don’t conform are publicly humiliated and/or shunned/excommunicated.
14. The church exploits labor.
15. The members are kept busy with activities that reinforce the teachings. The church is the center of members’ lives.
16. Members are not allowed to have dreams, ambitions, or goals. Your purpose is to serve the group and spread its message.
17. Members are forbidden to have any doubts.
18. Members are told to not trust themselves.
19. Members are required to disclose personal information to become a member. (contact info, home address, secrets, struggles, etc.)
20. Teachings and ways of thinking are black and white.
*This is not an extensive list. Please refer to the cult resources listed at the bottom of the page.
Learn more about cults, fundamentalism, and religious trauma
Other Resources on cults
Defining a Cult - People Leave Cults
Lifton’s Criteria for Thought Reform
Dr. Margaret Singer’s 6 Conditions for Thought Reform
Bounded Choice Model by Dr. Janja Lalich
BITE Model (Recognizing Authoritarian Control)
Resources on Dr. Lalich’s site
Lalich Center resources
People Leave Cults resources
Rachel Bernstein LMFT, Cult Specialist
This is an excellent list. I would like to suggest that opposition to many federal and state laws and regulations is another hallmark of the Church Cult. Some church cults will go so far as to provide medical services using their specific methods which are unscientific and decidedly do not work resisting both science and regulation. just as insidious, and just as destructive, is the practice in psychological counselling by church counsellors untrained in psychology. Many cuts claim there is no such thing as the psychological. The Christian fundamentalist organization in which I was raised refuses to acknowledge attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a diagnosis I received as a relatively young child. The organization refused to permit appropriate treatment or give accommodation. Instead, I was just "bad" and needed (definitely received) more beatings. This is dangerous. I believe there is or was a case at Bob Jones University where its head counsellor is untrained and made up a counselling curriculum for churches, but that curriculum has been found unsound psychologically and harmful by a religious organization doing an investigation of the University.
The LDS / Mormon church also fits this model all too well.