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.
I started putting this list together as I thought of my own IFB cult experience. I’m sorry you were also in the IFB. This list is far from extensive. I recommend looking into the resources I put in the bottom of the post.
Some of your points spoke on teaching absolutes, and this proved a cult. If the purpose of the church is to know God and learn who he is through His Word, and if His Word teaches some absolutes (both theological—absolute truths about God Himself—and practical—that God had given certain absolute commands to Christians), can you explain how to navigate that the Church must teach the authority of God’s Word and this cannot be optional? And yet you’ve shared that to do so would make the Church a cult by doing so?
Firstly, a single factor does not define a group as a cult. Several aspects need to be considered. This list is designed to help people assess their church on multiple grounds. I also provide cult resources because my list is not exhaustive. There are some parallels between religions and cults. However, a healthy religion does not involve manipulation, deception, or coercive control. Both may lay claim to absolute truth, unfortunately.
One distinguishing characteristic is whether the leader uses this claim of absolute truth to instill fear, abuse, manipulate, or isolate you. It's also important to note the difference between "God's Word is Authoritative" and "My interpretation of God's Word is authoritative." Does that make sense?
I’m so sorry you were in Scientology. They are 100% a cult. My list is far from extensive. I recommend looking into the resources at the bottom of the page for more cult education.
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.
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this is excellent! And I'm sad to say my old IFB church ticked all the boxes.
I started putting this list together as I thought of my own IFB cult experience. I’m sorry you were also in the IFB. This list is far from extensive. I recommend looking into the resources I put in the bottom of the post.
Some of your points spoke on teaching absolutes, and this proved a cult. If the purpose of the church is to know God and learn who he is through His Word, and if His Word teaches some absolutes (both theological—absolute truths about God Himself—and practical—that God had given certain absolute commands to Christians), can you explain how to navigate that the Church must teach the authority of God’s Word and this cannot be optional? And yet you’ve shared that to do so would make the Church a cult by doing so?
Firstly, a single factor does not define a group as a cult. Several aspects need to be considered. This list is designed to help people assess their church on multiple grounds. I also provide cult resources because my list is not exhaustive. There are some parallels between religions and cults. However, a healthy religion does not involve manipulation, deception, or coercive control. Both may lay claim to absolute truth, unfortunately.
One distinguishing characteristic is whether the leader uses this claim of absolute truth to instill fear, abuse, manipulate, or isolate you. It's also important to note the difference between "God's Word is Authoritative" and "My interpretation of God's Word is authoritative." Does that make sense?
As an ex-communicated Scientologist, I would say they have all the traits of a cult!
I’m so sorry you were in Scientology. They are 100% a cult. My list is far from extensive. I recommend looking into the resources at the bottom of the page for more cult education.
Thank you. I appreciate it.