Is Christianity a Cult?
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Not too long ago, we received a letter from a Christian accusing us of belonging to some unspecified cult. She insisted that anyone who denied the doctrines of Christianity was obviously under the influence of a cult.
Now, the word, "cult", seems to be used in Christian circles these days pretty liberally, so we decided to try to find a working definition for it. In doing so, it became fairly obvious that many of the traits which Christians say are sure hallmarks of cults are in fact found in Christianity too. And thus, this little discussion was born.
What is a Cult?
Before we can begin, it is necessary to have a working definition of a cult. The American Heritage Dictionary lists as the primary definition of a cult as,
cult -- kűlt, n.
A system or community of religious worship and ritual.
It is derived from the Latin, cultus, meaning "worship". The word "cult" essentially just means "religion". In this sense, Christianity is a cult, and so is Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, etc.
But, the "cult" label is also sometimes applied to organisations of any kind which are run by charismatic leaders, or which operate using a pyramid structure of authority or monetary flow. In that sense, many, if not all, of the sects of Christianity could be called a cult.
However, in common speech, the word is often used in a religious sense to refer to a religion which someone considers doctrinally objectionable or perhaps extremist. Not surprisingly, Christians (particularly the evangelicals) have given "cult" their own specialised meaning. They use it primarily to refer to religions of which they do not approve. In the realm of social acceptability, perhaps it sounds better for them to rail against a religion if they call it a cult -- after all, the object of their derision is a "scary cult", not "just another religion".
In practise, we can see that the relative size of the target religion affects the likelihood of them being labelled as a cult. For instance, evangelicals tend to label only the minority religions as cults. Even though they are opposed to large religions such as Islam or Judaism, those are not typically called a "cult". One exception to this would be the Catholic Christian church which some evangelicals like to call a cult or cult-like. Baptist Christians have for decades called the Mormon Christians a cult, although today I suspect there may be as many Mormons as Baptists (anyone know?). We don't want to sound as though we are picking on the evangelical Christians in particular. But, in our experience, they are the Christians who most often can be heard decrying others as cults. If there are other examples, we'd love to hear about them.
The evangelical definition of cult is often further refined by adding extra qualifiers to the term, referring to a religion which places devotion to the faith above such things as family bonds, interpersonal relationships, worldly concerns, and even the essentials of modern living.
There's nothing wrong with that definition. But, in all of this, though they probably never see it, Christians have crafted a definition of "cult" which in many ways describes themselves.
Below, we will examine a few of the traits which evangelicals commonly say belong to cults. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but rather just those items which easily come to mind.
The One and Only Way
It is said that one identifying aspect of a cult is that it teaches that it is the one, true way, and that only the cult members can properly understand the word of God. The opinions and interpretations of others are wrong, and proceed merely from the minds of unbelievers. This feeds into another trait of cults, the siege mentality and institutionalised paranoia. More on those later.
It is ironic to hear evangelicals call a group a cult because that group believes it is the one and only true way. For, this is exactly what Christians think of their own religion, as Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me!" evangelicals, in particular, believe that those who do not join their religion -- their flavour of "Born-Again" Christianity, which entails believing in the doctrines which they possess and preach -- are going to hell.
Some of the methods which evangelicals claim cults use are:
Cults insist they are the only true, or correct, religion, and only the cult member can properly interpret God's word. We've already seen that Christianity does this. I get tons of e-mail, particularly from evangelical Christians, telling me that I am misinterpreting the scriptures when I find plainly stated passages in the so-called "Old" Testament which do not favour or support Christian doctrines, and that this is because I am not a Born-Again Christian, and therefore cannot possibly read the scriptures with the proper twist.
Christians often say that cults take a critical stance regarding other religions, particularly against Christianity, but, at the same time, praise themselves. We already know that Christianity is guilty of doing the same thing. It condemns others who don't believe as it teaches, and Christians will brand many groups whose methods are similar to their own as cults.
They tell us that cult leadership, living or dead, is often believed to have inspiration, revelation, or authority from God. But, this is what Christianity has always done. St. Paul, St. Mark, St. Luke, and all of these people, were elevated to the level of divine mouthpiece. Their opinions on matters is thought to be shared by God. Even in modern times, we have such figures as the Pope and a whole assortment of Charismatic leaders who are believed to either have a direct line to the Almighty, or to posses a level of spiritual insight higher than average. Yet, for Christians, seeing this kind of reverence in other religious groups is usually branded as cultish.
Authoritarian Cults
If you ask your typical anti-cult evangelical Christian, he will tell you that one of the primary elements of a cult is the belief in an authoritarian leader, group of leaders, or founder, whose opinions are revered above others'. Cult members often believe that these leaders possess divine inspiration, or a special link to their god. Not surprisingly, the cult has faith that it is the one and only "Way", the hope for all mankind, and the only true religion. All others are imperfect, corrupt, or even satanic. Cults, they say, use this authority structure to control the minds/opinions of their members.
Of course, evangelical Christians doing a fine job of describing themselves. Let's see,
Authoritarian leader with divine inspiration, etc.: That would be Jesus and his Apostles.
Cult fancies itself as the one and only "Way": Hmmm... let's see. That would be Jesus, again. "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life! No one comes to the Father except through Me!" (John 14:6)
Cult fancies that all other religions are false or Satanic:
Hmmm... That would be the Christians, again.
"Who is a liar except he who denies that Jesus is the Messiah? This is antichrist: he who denies the Father and the Son." (1 John 2:22)
Authority used for Mind Control:
Well, we'd have to say this is the Christians, again. The authority of the Apostles' writings becomes the Gospel Truth, the rule to which all Christians must conform their religions opinions. There is little room for interpretation if St. Paul says that his words are, in his opinion, the opinion of God! The Believer must accept this, else he is a heretic.
So, basically, to evangelicals, a cult is any religion which disagrees with ther doctrine, and which is small enough to be criticised, but which uses Christianity's own methodologies.
The Mission of the Cult Supplants Family Bonds and Worldly Concerns
We often hear Christians say that one big sign of a cult religion is the supercession or outright replacement of family bonds and loyalties with the obligations to the cult. Members are often encouraged to try to bring their family members into the cult, or to disavow the family if the family refuses to join, and opposes the individual's own membership. Loyalty to the cult is stressed, and the cult's cause is to be the central focus of each member's life. The needs of the world and the family must wait. Group activity and involvement is pushed, and serves to keep the cult member focused on the group and the cause above all.
Many say that cults often teach doctrines which instill paranoia in members directed against their own non-cult family members. The cult becomes the member's new family. The real family is not to be trusted. The member's mind is bent in such a way that the real family becomes somewhat of an enemy, an enemy to be pitied, hated, but of course loved. Hated and loved? Anyone who has had to deal with a family member who has gotten into a cult knows what this means.
But, doesn't Christianity do exactly the same thing?
Just in the immediate present, there are some of Christians who are at odds with their real family members over their choice to join a particular evangelical sect. I've had them tell me this. The family comes second to the religion. And, the needs of the world are usually disdained. But, this behaviour goes back to Christianity's founding. Jesus himself instructed his audience that they could not be his disciples unless they hated their families (Luke 14:26,33). He promised a reward to any who would abandon the real family and serve his religion (Luke 18:29-30). Jesus stated that part of his mission was to mission to break up families for the sake of his religion (Matt 10:34-37). Jesus insisted that no one call anyone their father, that this title was to be given only to his religion's god (Matt 23:9). Jesus said that the real family was to be replaced with the cult family (Luke 8:19-21).
As for the role of cultish group activity in Christianity, every gathering on Sunday (and several other days too, depending on the denomination) serves as a means of focusing the individual on the religious goals of the group. Every praise rally serves as a machine which manipulates emotion to instill devotion. One would be blind not to notice this when one sees a sea of people, all hands raised in the air, sacharrine smiles pasted on nearly ever face, swaying the the words of preacher or song. Christians embrace this when seen in themselves, but see it as cultish in non-believers.
So, it seems that Christianity has shown the same cult behaviour which it criticises in others for nearly 2,000 years.
Intimidation
The next charge that evangelicals lob at their competition is that cults use forms of intimidation and psychological manipulation to keep members. Included in this list are the instillation of feelings of guilt or obligation; constant reminders that a god or a leader will be displeased or disappointed; threats that a god will cause bad things to befall a person who questions or leaves the religion; threats of burning in hell, playing the game of rejection-vs-acceptance by fellow cult members, friends, and family; and the weakening of the mind through persistent argument, through emotional manipulation, or through sleep- or food-deprivation. They say that in these ways a cult bends the mind and will of the member.
These are surely insidious things. But all of them have been practised by Christianity from the beginning. I don't think we even need to mention how the looming threat of hellfire for disbelievers is ever-present in the Christian religion.
Christians are constantly reminded to think whether their actions and beliefs please their lord, and coincide with his will. "Not my will, but yours be done, lord." Of course, that will is often determined by the leaders of a particular church. If the believer deviates in will or opinion too much, and cannot be reigned in through any of the above methods, he is expelled from the church.
As for social rejection/acceptance pressures, this is obvious. This comes in two forms, and in various degrees throughout the spectrum of Christian sects. Some congregations out-and-out disown those who reject the gospel, and let them know they are not welcome. Sometimes this flows over into family ties. From the beginning, the leader St. Paul said,
2 Cor 6:14
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion has light with darkness?
Christians are not to establish ties with those who are unfaithful to the religion. When this is a family member, the family yoke is loosened or tossed off completely. When the unbeliever is a friend, the cult recommends that if the friend cannot be brought around, that the member demote or absolve the friendship.
Some take the opposite approach of letting the sinner know just how welcome they are, being sure, of course, to remind the sinner that he is in an undesirable state. The cult seems welcoming at the same time that it is intolerant of the inacceptance of its doctrines.
Of course, in modern times, the degree to which any individual Christian follows their own doctrine varies from person to person and from church to church. But, even in cases where intimidation does not seem apparent, social pressure is often there in a subtle but effective form. Anyone who has left a church or even Christianity itself knows what kind of reaction this can evoke from the friends and family members who remain. It is often for fear of this that many Exchristians still attend church.
Financial Intimidation and Manipulation
Another trait which is typically attributed to cults is that of financial burden through intimidation or manipulation. Basically, the cult member is convinced that it is his duty to the religion to donate some level of property or funds to the cult. Religious communism is a term often applied to the more extreme cases of this kind of behaviour. Personal assests are assimilated into the organisation. Failure or reluctance to do so is met with doctrines, attitudes, and social pressure which induces feelings of guilt or obligation.
Of course, even in its early days, our Christian church operated as a communistic cult. As a kind reader recently pointed out, Acts 4:32 through 5:11 tell us how Peter's church preached a doctrine of giving up all personal possessions to the cult. When two members, husband Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, chose to retain and sell a little of their property for themselves, St. Peter spurned him with judgemental words -- at which the man died of fright and shame. Peter did the same to Sapphira when she entered the room. She similarly died from the intimidation. Great fear came over all the cult members who witnessed this event, and the state of being in one mind was thus enforced.
St. Paul had a slightly different method of accumulating cult wealth. Several parts of Paul's own Epistles are devoted to the motivating his churches to "give till it hurts". This is psychological manipulation, pure and simple. Apparently, it is excusable when ones own religion does this.
Hardly a Sunday goes by in which the passing of the offering plate is not preceded by a segment of the sermon called the Offeratory, a short passage designed to remind members of the merits and obligations of giving stuff to the church. Even though the sums of money given are usually relatively small, n some more extreme cases, members of a church are prompted to donate larger assets such as automobiles, savings bonds, and other large property. Either way, this is still a form of manipulation. But I've heard many Christians who will scoff at this when done in some other religious institution.
There are also churches where the giving is checked, and the church keeps tabs on who gives and how much. This might have a place in business marketing, but in God's house? Surely he is able to keep track of this himself.
Of course, there are the more obvious examples of cult activity seen in the large Charismatic churches where leaders use their clout to rake in funds over telethons. Why, all those people in the pews with their hands in the air can probably just feel the air waves pulsating with cash.
Dealing with those who Question
According to many Christians, another trait of a cult is that disagreement with and questioning of the organisations's doctrines is discouraged. Too much disagreement is branded as "rebellion". The questioning individual is reminded that there are those in authority (the cult's leaders, scholars, or those believed to have divine guidance), who know best, and whose word is not to be questioned if one is to remain within the cult and its favour.
And yet, we see all these traits in Christianity:
Eact sect of Christianity holds its set of doctrines. If a Christian rejects any of these, it is seen as rebellion.
If a believer finds that a doctrine is not sound, he is reminded that his poor mind is not fit to judge the doctrines of God, and is pointed to the opinions of the church founders, leaders, or their writings.
If a Christian questions the doctrines of Christianity, and no efforts to get him to accept them succeed, the believer (now an unbeliever) is shown the right foot of Christian fellowship, and is often expelled from the church either physically or on paper. The nature of this varies from sect to sect.
Control
Another trait which we often hear evangelicals saying is an ominous sign of a cult is the degree of control which exerted over the followers.
Specifically, they say that a cult seeks to have total control over almost all aspects of the private lives of followers. Members are taught to integrate the cult's interests into their lives completely. This may include physical things such as property or finances, but also the intangigles such as opinions, thought processes, and decisions. All opinions must conform to the cult's party line; all thoughts and goals should keep the cult's principles in mind, and most questions should either be answered in accordance with the cult's doctrine or leaders. Followers are encouraged to seek guidance from their leaders (whether mortal or divine) the cult's doctrines. Of course, the member is never left to determine divine guidance on his or her own. The input of the leaders and the doctrine is usually added. Such control is often enforced by social and living arrangements which facilitate the cult's influence, and by constantly bombarding members with teachings ragarding the doctrine. Those who resist are accused be failing to be a true follower, yet are assured that their peers have been in similar states and have overcome the rebellious temptations.
Physical activities are also one tool which Christians tell me cults use to control their members. The cult will organise group events in which the members are contantly bombarded with doctrine and other sociological and psychological reinforcement. Some of this includes drowning the cult member with reassurances of acceptance and love. Christians tell me this is called "love bombing". Being in a constant state of mental and emotional bombardment goes a long way towards controlling the opinions of members, quelling dissenting questions, and influencing the will.
How is this similar to Christianity? This should be obvious. Almost all sects of Christianity teach that the believer should "put Jesus first" in their lives. This is often called "giving your life to Jesus". And, most all branches of Christianity impose some form of institutional control over the member's freedom to read and interpret the Christian scriptures. The opinion of the founding leaders is elevated to the level of GOD's word. Christians are admonished to conform themselves and their opinions on matters to the examples of these leaders (especially of their principle founding leader whom they revere as a god).
As for physical events, this varies from sect to sect. Huge religious rallies are organised to disseminate the doctrine to the masses which, in turn, are urged to turn all aspects of their lives over to the leader, Jesus. Since Jesus is dead, and cannot speak directly, churches and the various kinds of authority structures they impose provide a means of determining what the leader has to say. Lately, we see the fad of wearing the WWJD bracelet which serves to both advertise the religion to others, to identify the members of the Christian social organ, and to cause the follower to constantly ask himself whether what he is doing conforms to the party doctrine. Of course, this is not limited to WWJD bracelets. Christians have been doing this for centuries through all sorts of accessories: crucifixes, necklaces, tatoos, bumper sitckers, little fish symbols, and clothing.
evangelical Christians are particularly fond of "praise rallies". Some of the more notable examples of these include stadiums full of bleary eyed people with smiles plastered on their faces, hands lifted into the air as if to feel their god's aura, or to lift him up to the sky. Such behaviour is also seen in many of the New Age religions, which the Christians claim to hate. At the centre of the rally is the charismatic leader, dispensing the doctrines of his church, praising the worship, and disparraging the world which stands against them. Such social reinforcement, emotional momentum, and physical taxation tires the body and mind, dispenses the doctrine, and dissuades dissent. Of course, as in any cult, all of this is said to be done for the glory of the god.
Cult Paranoia
I once had a Baptist friend tell me that one sign of a cult is that of paranoia. One does not have to be a Christian to agree. After all, when a religion thinks of itself as the "One True Way", this implies that all others are wrong. Often, from this develops the belief that the others are in league together, either knowingly or unknowingly, against the "One True Way".
A kind of siege mentality -- us versus THEM -- develops. Because cult members see themselves as different from and superior to others, they begin to disassociate themselves both physically and mentally from the community in general. Cult leaders or doctrine warn members to be wary of the ways of the unwashed. Those which are outside the cult or who disagree with its teachings or leaders are seen as part of the Conspiracy against the organisation. Often, this is phrase as being "of the devil" or as coming from a state of depravity or lack of proper spiritual enlightenment. And, any criticism of the cult from such people is immediately dismissed as coming from the mind of the unenlightened. Disagreement with and criticism of the cult is considered persecution of it. Members are reminded that they are persecuted because they are the "True" followers of God.
One of the inevitable results of the "us-vs-them" mentality is that cult members cease to socialise with outsiders. Alienation from friends and family result. This means that, ultimately, former friends become part of the conspiracy, tools of the devil and his deception.
Not surprisingly, this league of Conspiracy inevitably comes to include anyone who is not in the ranks of the organisation, and who is not under its influence. According to my Baptist friend, the cult will often claim that the Conspiracy includes the government, the news media, unsupportive friends and family, and most notably, Christianity. I guess this makes the assumption that a cult can't be Christian.
I thought this last item was odd. But, then I realised that Christians, particularly those in evangelical sects, will often accuse those who reject Christianity as being in a cult. But, you will easily find the face of paranoia throughout Christianity. Think about it:
Just like a cult is said to do, Christianity holds itself as the "One True Way".
How often have we heard Christians talking about how the "world" is against them? And, many Christians will tell you that the "world" is "run by" Satan, the "ruler of this world". It's part of Christian doctrine. It's the world against the Christians -- us versus them.
Christians who have joined a new church or campus youth group often find themselves at odds with former friends who will not follow in their footsteps. St. Paul urges Christians not to become unevenly connected to unbelievers, so this drives some to expell friends from their social circles. As obligations to the religion begin to take over the Christian's life, former friends have less and less a place unless they join the ranks. Families sometimes get divided as well. My Baptist friend said that this is what Jesus meant when he said that he had come to set family members against one another. Cult alienation has existed from the beginning in Christianity.
How many times do we hear evangelicals complaining about how the government is in league against Christians? Need we say more?
How many times do we hear them brush aside criticism with the claim that those who are outside Christianity, who are "unsaved", cannot properly understand matters in order to criticise. The "unsaved" cannot properly read the New Testament, which explains why they find fault in it. Apparent errors, contradictions, or questions for which no satisfactory answer can be found, are often called "mysteries" which often only the believer can understand. Us versus them, indeed. And, in cases where even the Christian cannot understand or answer, these things are said to be things which are "just not supposed to be understood". (This lets the Christian dismiss the question and helps prevent it from challenging his own faith.) Aren't the presence of hidden meanings and mysteries one more sign of a cult? No, actually, that's a sign of the occult.
Conclusion
From the above, it is apparent that there are many elements of Christianity which fit any of the definitions of the word "cult" fairly closely, especially the definitions commonly described listed by Christians themselves. Naturally, the degree to which these do varies from denomination to denomination, sect to sect. And naturally, some will append to their specialized definition of "cult" an attribute which has the effect of discluding their own group. But then, doesn't every religious organisation which has ever been called a cult likewise disclude itself?
It's something to think about, anyway.
http://www.mindspring.com/~bab5/BIB/cult.htm
