CHARACTERISTICS OF
DESTRUCTIVE RELIGIOUS CULTS
Luke 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not
deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time
draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
How can marginal, destructive
religious movements be distinguished from traditional or nurturing religious
groups? What characteristics can identified in destructive religious groups?
The following are common characteristics and should be viewed as "red
flags" when they appear:
1) A living
leader. This person often lives in luxury and usually claims to
be a prophet or special messenger of God with a unique revelation. Members are
devoted to this leader and are led to believe he or she is truly divine. (Sometimes the cult continues after the leader dies.)
2) Deceptive
recruiting techniques. Recruiters are carefully trained to
appeal to prospects' needs, interests or idealism. Fraudulent tactics are used
-- often even deliberately veiling the name or practices of the group at first.
They often masquerade as a self-improvement course or
"nondenominational" Bible study.
3) Deceptive
fund raising techniques. Members and the public assume
contributions go to social causes. In fact, most of the money goes to the
leader and cult expansion.
4) Militaristic,
political, or economic goals. Religion is sometimes used as a
shield to protect cult members and the public from realizing these hidden
agendas of the leader.
5) Functions
as a closed system. Members are not permitted to move freely
within the system or to interact with society in meaningful ways. Guilt and
fear are used to keep members in line with the group. They are led to believe something
terrible will happen to them if they leave the group, that God is with their
group (and often only with their group) and the rest of the world is hostile
and/or satanic.
6) Unique
system of values and language. Destructive cults often distort
the meaning of words or create their own vocabulary and value system. This
alienates members from the outside world and increases dependence on the group.
7) No Gray
areas. The group has all the answers to the questions of life
(actually the leader has all the answers and gives them through the group.
Everything is either right or wrong black or white.
8) Distinct
hierarchy within the group. Everyone has his or her place within
the group. A small elite group (the inner circle) controls the welfare often
including all facets of life - and the funds of the majority of the group.
9) A system of
merits. Groups have their own
"ladder theology" to climb in order to come closer to God. It is a
"works- righteousness" orientation, a-dependency upon the law - and
when they use or cite the Bible, very few passages come from the Gospels.
Instead, there is heavy use and much distortion of passages from the Old
Testament, the epistles, and Revelation. Little of the words of Jesus.
10) Alienation
of individuals from family, friends and society. Members are encouraged (strongly) to break ties with
family and friends who question the motives and practices of the group. The
group becomes a replacement family and society.
11). Misuse of
Scripture and Christian symbols.
The Bible and Christian symbols are manipulated to support the teachings of the
leader.
12).Increasing
loss of freedom for a member. The cult member becomes more and
more entangled, "guided" and controlled in all phases of life by the
leader and group. It becomes almost like a chemical dependency, with the
demands of the group/leader destroying any other relationships or personal
growth, and destroying freedom in every significant sense. Author Unknown
