10 CHARACTERISTICS OF A CULT This is quoted from the book (Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics) by Ed Hindson and Ergun Caner 10 BASIC TRAITS 1. EXTRABIBLICAL REVELATION (We have a special message from God) 2. PRESUMPTIOUS LEADERSHIP (I know what is best for you) 3. EXCLUSIVE SALVATION (We alone are the people of God, all others are lost) 4. LIMITED ESCHATOLOGY (Jesus is coming only for us, we alone will be spared) 5. PRESUMPTIOUS COMPLEX (The world is against us, because we have the truth) 6. A CORNER ON THE TRUTH (We have found the truth no one else has discovered) 7. OPPOSITIONAL STANCE (All other religions are wrong but ours…) 8. DENIAL OF THE TRINITY ( A 3-headed god comes right from ancient paganism) 9. DEFECTIVE CHRISTOLOGY (Jesus died for our sins, but..) 10. SALVATION BY WORKS (It is one thing to believe, but you’ve got to work at it, too) THE CULTIC PARADIGM If we alone know the truth, then all others are in error. If we alone are the people of God, then all others are heretics. If people reject our message, they are rejecting God’s message. If people persecute us, they are persecuting the cause of God. Because we are right and all others are wrong, our church is the only true church. This cultic paradigm often leads one to a psychological break called SCHISMOGENESIS, a psychological split in one’s relation with the world. Because the truth must be taken on faith, evidence and proof are unnecessary. Indoctrination then replaces research as the method of seeking the truth. The need for evaluation and confirmation of one’s belief is eliminated. Questioning authority is viewed as gross disloyal and spiritual rebellion. Thus conformity to the cult’s belief system is the only way to gain acceptance and approval by the other cult members. (Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics page 158-161)
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 18:41:06 +0000
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