Five Cult Warning Signs

As a former Mormon I am used to people confusing a group outside of mainstream Christianity with a cult. While the Mormons as ga group do show many of the warning signs of being a dangerous group, they have been moving away from their past and trying to become a more mainstream organization. Often people will use a theological definition of a cult that agrees with their particular view point. The question then becomes how to distinguish a cult from a legitimate religion. Fortunately there are cult warning signs that can help people faced when encountering and deciding to join or leave a potentially dangerous group.

While I hate to disagree with people who say groups like Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses are a cult, I do so not on theological grounds, but whether or not these groups meet all the criteria of being a dangerous group. Forget about theological definitions about the view of Christ for a moment. Many of these definitions but other and sometimes harmless world class religions in the cult category. And take the religious definition away from cult for a moment. Amway and some would say MMORPG guilds fit all the definition of a cult and it should be noted that cults or dangerous groups do not have to be religious in nature. The more of the warning signs the group demonstrates, the more likely it is to be a cult.

There are five cult warning signs to watch out for. The first and most important warning sign of a dangerous group is that the group places itself and its leadership above the law. The next cult warning sign is that the leader will tell members how to run their detail lives including details such as who to marry, what to study in college and in some cases what career path to take up. The third cult warning sign is that the group is preparing to fight a final, literal battle such as Armageddon described in the book of Revelations against other human beings and the fifth cult warning sign is that the group leader has a history of deceiving outsiders.

There are other cult warning signs, but the top of of the most prominent features. Most such groups give ten signs, but the other five are often likely to be shared by many religions such as claims of divine authority or that the belief that members of the group are the only people who will be saved in the afterlife. Those checking for signs of a dangerous group or cult warning signs should take these into consideration but many mainstream religions, especially fundamentalist ones will share that outlook. The traditional ten point list of cult warning signs is a useful guide, and the more criteria a group meets, the more likely it is to be a group, but should be taken with a grain of salt. Even if a good portion of the five points above are met, with the exception of the first one it does not necessarily mean the group is a cult and personal judgment must be used to make a decision.

Sources:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/safe_sec.htm