Christian cult

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This article does not discuss Christian cults in the original and typically ancient sense of "religious practice". See Cult (religious practice).

Christian cult can be a general designation used to distinguish between types of cults having an apparent Christian basis from those with no such basis. More specifically, conservative Christian authors, especially fundamentalist and evangelical Protestants, narrowly define a Christian cult as a group who claims their beliefs conform to Christianity, yet factually deviate from Christian fundamental beliefs.[1]

A Christian cult could have either or both of two non-sociological[2] characteristics:

  1. A body of doctrine that does not fully accept the Christian fundamental beliefs about the Bible, or deviates from them in unacceptable ways.[1]
  2. A societal organization that includes the totalitarian thought-reform and life-control techniques scientifically reported as characteristics of a cult (without consideration of beneficial or harmful member outcomes).[3]

A group whose first characteristic was nominally Christian, but not fully based on Christian fundamental beliefs, would be a cult as defined by the Christian counter-cult movement. But if a group is genuinely based on the Christian fundamental beliefs, it would be a sect (in North American English) or a mainstream denomination rather than a cult — unless it was also organized to practice thought-reform techniques.

A group whose second characteristic was organization for thought-reform ("mind control"), would be a cult as defined by the psychological anti-cult movement. By this definition it would be a cult no matter what its religious beliefs (fundamental Christian, nominal Christian, or non-Christian). While thought-reform techniques can be used for the benefit of members (see Cult), the anti-cult movement further believes that some to most mind control cults have psychologically harmful effects on long-term member outcomes.

Contents

[edit] Religious definitions of cult

Look up cult in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Main article: Cult

The literal and traditional meaning of the word cult is derived from the Latin cultus meaning "care" or "adoration", which from ancient times meant a traditional practice of religion or the tribal beliefs which preceded formal religions.

Of about eight meanings found in all dictionaries and glossaries, Merriam-Webster defines the following three for religion: [4]

1. Formal religious veneration
2. A system of religious beliefs and ritual; also: its body of adherents.
3. A religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also: its body of adherents.

Following a new and scientifically neutral sociology of religion definition after 1920,[5] the term took on two negative or pejorative religious meanings in North American and British English[6], as defined formally by the 1950's Christian counter-cult movement, and a negative populist definition unavoidably inferred by association between the 1970's psychological anti-cult movement and mass media news reporting.

Author Robert M. Bowman Jr. defines a cult as "A religious group originating as a heretical sect and maintaining fervent commitment to heresy," while noting that the adjective "cultic" can be applied to groups approaching this standard to varying degrees.[7]

Some Christian authorities define Christian cult to include any organization based on nominally Christian doctrine that is aberrant from some benchmark definition of Christianity. This definition is not accepted outside fundamentalist, evangelical, and some conservative Christian circles, as being unnecessarily inflammatory and divisively slanted against Christian unity. Walter Martin, the pioneer of the Christian countercult movement, gave in his 1955 book the following definition:[1]

"By cultism we mean the adherence to doctrines which are pointedly contradictory to orthodox Christianity and which yet claim the distinction of either tracing their origin to orthodox sources or of being in essential harmony with those sources. Cultism, in short, is any major deviation from orthodox Christianity relative to the cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith."

Unlike counter-cult, the anti-cult movement does not object to new religious movements (NRMs) as such. Rather it is opposed to all groups, religious or not, using Lifton's psychological thought-reform techniques ("mind control" or "brainwashing")[3] and other excessive means of member control. In practice, most such thought-reform groups are religious. During the 20th century, mass media reported the rise and fall of less than 20 religious Destructive cults known for mass suicide and murder. These frightening news stories about mass deaths of ordinary citizens, as ordered by destructive cult leaders, effectively ended the 1970's public cult debate. As a result, the anti-cult movement unintentionally promoted a negative populist definition of both Christian and other groups referred to as cults — even for groups who were legally entangled, but not mass destructive.

[edit] Christian fundamental beliefs

The majority of Christian churches and denominations throughout the world have a diverse understanding of the teaching of Christ, his life and biography and what is perceived as biblical truth. However, regardless of the differences between these Christian groups there are fundamental agreements which form the basis of unity and what is considered to be orthodox Christianity.

The omission of one or more of the following fundamental beliefs would be considered to be in theological error and possibly lead to the consideration by orthodox churches, groups and organizations that the views are not Christian in nature, regardless of terminology used.

Although the expression of the mainstream Christian Evangelical organisations through out the world may be slightly different the sentiment remains the same.[8][9][10]

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ a b c Martin, Walter. The Rise of the Cults (1955), 11–12.
  2. ^ See Cult#Sociological definitions of religion. As set out by sociologists Stark and Bainbridge, the term "cult", is used distinctly among the general definitions, and is closely related to the historically changed definitions of "sect." In this contemporary view, a "sect" (North American English) is specifically "a deviant religious organization with traditional beliefs and practices," as compared to a "cult" which indicates a "a deviant religious organization with novel beliefs and practices." Stark, Rodney and Bainbridge, Willia S. A Theory of Religion," Rutgers University Press, ISBN 0-8135-2330-3
  3. ^ a b Robert J. Lifton, 1961, Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism (cited by Freedomofmind.com)
  4. ^ Merriam-Webster (M-W.com) Online Dictionary entry for cult
  5. ^ "During the 1920s and 1930s, sociologists who were studying religion started to use it to refer to those faith groups that were not full denominations or sects." —Ontario Consultants On Religious Tolerance: Cults, Sects and Denominations. OCRT references Superior Court of California, 1985: "It began as a sociological term in the twenties and thirties."; testimony of Dr. J. Gordon Melton, UCSB (author of the Encyclopedic Handbook of Cults in America; see Cult#Bibliography#Books).
  6. ^ In British English "sect" formerly included a contextually implied meaning, of what "cult" now means in both USA and the UK, but British "sect" could also mean a small non-cult religious denomination with possibly unusual or controversial beliefs. Sometime prior to 2002, British English c-u-l-t took on the North American meanings. Examples of contemporary British "cult" usage: (1) Daily Telegraph, 2006-05-18; (2) archive copy of The Scotsman, Sep. 3, 2002 (inaccessible original at http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=978262002). Example of contemporary British "sect" usage: "Before beginning counselling the counsellor needs to be sure that it was indeed a cult and not a sect in which the person was enmeshed. A sect may be described as a spin-off from an established religion or quite eclectic, but it does not use techniques of mind control on its membership." - Web site, UK-based, Cult Information Centre. Some other nations still use the foreign equivalents of old British "sect" ("secte," "sekte," or "secta." etc.) to imply "cult." [1]. Both words, as well as "cult" in its original sense of cultus (e.g., Middle Ages cult of Mary), must be understood to correctly interpret 20th century popular cult references in world English.
  7. ^ Bowman, Robert M., A Biblical Guide To Orthodoxy And Heresy, 1994, [2]
  8. ^ WEA - World Evangelical Alliance Est 1846
  9. ^ The European Evangelical Alliance > Basis of Faith
  10. ^ BGEA: About Us: Statement of Faith
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