How to tell if it's a cult

[ladypuglover]

Quote

Are you told not to question what is being taught because the leaders are honest and want the best for you so you must trust them. Has someone replaced your own choices in life.

 

Are you told not to ask questions why anyone left, your to accept the answers the leaders give you such as: they fell into sin, they didn’t receive correction, they weren’t open or they had a bad heart and didn’t want to be disciples

 

Are you told that you must be with their certain church or group to be saved and not by Jesus Christ.

 

If you want to leave are you being told their is no other church that practices truth, you will go to hell.

 

Are you made to feel your failures, that your performance is not up to par for the bibles standard

 

Are you being rebuked for things such as the way you say hello or how you respond to being asked to do something for a leader or disciple. Do they tell you its a matter of the heart how one complies.

 

Are they putting down other church’s and building themselves up. Do they sometimes use people as examples of what you are to be doing and others on what you are not to be doing.

 

Do they bring attention to what they do, and ignoring others that may be doing the same things outside their church.

 

Do they put down others to make themselves look better, calling themselves righteous and others unrighteous

 

Do they call those who leave fall away’s and enemies, dogs returning to their own vomit, using the examples of Korah or Judas.

 

Do they stop you from reading anything negative about themselves calling it spiritual pornography or recommend you not to read it for your own spiritual protection.

 

Do they recommend for you to be around their people expecting you to be at all the group activities. If not you're spirituality and dedication are questioned.

 

Do they defend all that they do even though it can be harmful or wrong.

 

Do they operate by humility or are they arrogant and demand you to obey if you are considering otherwise. Or is it done subtly by manipulating you into obeying by statements such as, real Christians obey their leaders or if you were following Jesus you would see what I’m saying is right. true disciples did not question Jesus.

 

http://www.letusreason.org/cults.htm

 

Here is a link that tells how cults work. I bet most of us have met cults without even realizing it as not all cults are about religion.

http://www.howcultswork.com/

 

Cult test

http://www.orange-papers.org/orange-cult.html

[finleeport]

Thanks a lot :clap:

Now I will be able to notice and open my eyes and ears more when it comes to this.

[AnnieC 305]

We should find examples of how the people we follow do this, with links, and share.

[narcoleption reflux]

Excepting the church and bible parts, this sounds exactly like Zendik Farm. They've brainwashed and ruined more people than I can count. They are not a Christian cult, but a cult, just the same. A cult is a cult. Sorry if I veered OT. Hipforums had a huge thread about them, years ago, and I spent a couple of months there.

[Sydney Fox]

I started reading the cult test link and realized that the Maxwell family meets the criteria. I especially thought of Steve when I got to #26 - no humor. ;)

[Snickerdoodle]

Excepting the church and bible parts, this sounds exactly like Zendik Farm. .

I'm glad you said this. I don't know anything about Zendik Farm, but I just finished reading a fictional story about a Waldorf school and some of the families within, and it got me thinking about whether the term "fundamentalism" or "cult" can be applied to non-religious groups that actually lean to the far left.

[Jezebel]

It pretty much boils down to one thing: CONTROL. Physical, mental, emotional, spiritual--the more rules there are, and the harsher the penalties for failing to live up to them, the more cultic it is.

And yes, the Maxwells are a perfect example of a family cult, with Steve as the leader.

[pixydust]

I'm glad you said this. I don't know anything about Zendik Farm, but I just finished reading a fictional story about a Waldorf school and some of the families within, and it got me thinking about whether the term "fundamentalism" or "cult" can be applied to non-religious groups that actually lean to the far left.

A cult doesn't have to be religious.....damn, I'm going to have to do some Googling, I know that I read an article about political and ideological cults, but I don't remember if it was online or in a magazine or what.

[clibbyjo]

Excepting the church and bible parts, this sounds exactly like Zendik Farm. They've brainwashed and ruined more people than I can count. They are not a Christian cult, but a cult, just the same. A cult is a cult. Sorry if I veered OT. Hipforums had a huge thread about them, years ago, and I spent a couple of months there.

Now googling Zendik farm..never heard of it.

[ThisOlGirl]

My mom had this book about cults that was written by a Christian minister. Basically the book said that any religion that didn't believe in the Trinity was a cult. So if we go along with the good reverend's belief:

Buddhism: cult

Hinduism: cult

Judaism: cult

Branch Davidians: Not a cult

Jim Jones' People's Temple: Not a cult

Yeah, ok. :roll:

[Witsec7]

Excepting the church and bible parts, this sounds exactly like Zendik Farm. They've brainwashed and ruined more people than I can count. They are not a Christian cult, but a cult, just the same. A cult is a cult. Sorry if I veered OT. Hipforums had a huge thread about them, years ago, and I spent a couple of months there.

:shock: Omigoddess we must talk, I knew the Zendeks before they left CA and the leader (Fritz? some German name died). We'd go to the original farm for parties and music.

[mirele]

My mom had this book about cults that was written by a Christian minister. Basically the book said that any religion that didn't believe in the Trinity was a cult. So if we go along with the good reverend's belief:

Buddhism: cult

Hinduism: cult

Judaism: cult

Branch Davidians: Not a cult

Jim Jones' People's Temple: Not a cult

Yeah, ok. :roll:

Yep, that's why I dislike so-called Christian anti-cult people. Their criteria for "cult" is based strictly on professing the right doctrine, not that they might be abusing the crap out of people.

[narcoleption reflux]

:shock: Omigoddess we must talk, I knew the Zendeks before they left CA and the leader (Fritz? some German name died). We'd go to the original farm for parties and music.

His name was Wulf. He was the leader, along with Arol, his wife. Now, Arol is the leader, and Fawn (the daughter) is about to be the leader. Since Arol is ailing. I have contact with other people who have visited that community, and we have similar stories. They are the worst of the worst, especially since Fawn has three children, now. Sorry for the threadjack, everybody.

[Witsec7]

His name was Wulf. He was the leader, along with Arol, his wife. Now, Arol is the leader, and Fawn (the daughter) is about to be the leader. Since Arol is ailing. I have contact with other people who have visited that community, and we have similar stories. They are the worst of the worst, especially since Fawn has three children, now. Sorry for the threadjack, everybody.

I'm bumping it back up after the jacking :D

I sent you a pm narcoleption.

[clibbyjo]

I'm bumping it back up after the jacking :D

I sent you a pm narcoleption.

I read about them just now, the way they spin it sounds very attractive . I can see how people can be taken in.I would love to know how they REALLY are.

[stonefruit]

I would also love to hear more about the Zendik farm people!

[2xx1xy1JD]

The book Moonwebs is great - it discusses the Moonies in detail, but also has a discussion about cults and cult-like practices at the end.

I think it's more of a continuum than a bright-line test. I have seen people who are part of what I would consider to be mainstream religions, who seem to veer off into brainwashing territory.

The initial list was ok, but a bit too Christian-centric for me. Cultic behavior can arise out of mainstream religions, or even no religion. It can be done for personal gain, or come from a political ideology.

Some other factors:

- leaders with inordinate power and/or wealth

- inability to challenge or question leader

- lack of ability to question in general

- having certain questions deemed a dangerous threat

- lack of privacy and space for introspection and private thoughts

- lack of food and/or sleep

- seeing the rest of the world in an overly pessimistic way

- seeing the group as the world's only hope

- being encouraged to distance oneself from one's old life, including family and friends

- being taught to distrust one's own notions of morality

- constant chanting/slogans, especially as a replacement for serious discussion

- discouraging individuality and excessive focus on "selfishness"

- group conformity and using the group dynamics to keep people in line

- manipulation of language

- training people to self-indoctrinate (policing their own thoughts, striving to show how much they can overcome their own selfish thoughts/personality/morality)

- total rejection of those who leave

- seeing outsiders as a threat and not hesitating to take measures against them

- preparation for seeing death as a price to be paid for opposing the outside world while fighting for the group and striving toward the ideal goal

- valuing the group above even close family relationships

[kpmom]

So much of that list could apply to the Maxwells, including, No Exit, No Graduating (as the oldest sons still work for Steve and look for his approval, even though they have families of their own), The Guru is Extra Special, Unquestionable dogma, You become a clone of the cult leader (write exactly alike, dress exactly alike, live exactly alike), and even Confession Sessions.

They mentioned in a Mom or Dad's Corners that they do this during family bible time.

[fakepigtails73]

Great site re: cults is rickross.com

Tons of info on every cults imaginable.

[Rhetorica]

Yep, that's why I dislike so-called Christian anti-cult people. Their criteria for "cult" is based strictly on professing the right doctrine, not that they might be abusing the crap out of people.

Yes, yes, and yes. This is what I realized after leaving a very controlling fundamentalist church in my early twenties. I'd been so focused on doctrine that I didn't realize _actions_ were what I should have been examining. Of course it didn't help that after being brought up in a very insular religious community, the cult-like characteristics felt normal to me.

As for the fundies discussed at FJ, basically they are implementing cult-like characteristics at the family level as numerous posters have already pointed out. That's what makes it so insidious. Call them on it and they'd say--What? You're questioning a close-knit family? Only a man-hating, fire-breathing, heathen femi-nazi would do that!

[tropaka]

So many religious groups could be called cults...big indicators for me are the separation of members from family members or loved ones not in the faith or group, and the demand for members' financial resources (again, a lot of Christian denominations can fall under this, and I'm sure many non Christian/non religious ones). Heck, you could categorize a lot of self improvement movements (the Forum/EST), diet pushers, sales (Amway comes to mind)....

ETA - keeping people in the dark about the details of the belief system until they are members - Mormonism and Scientology spring to mind immediately, but I'm sure there are many more.

[sassyNoz47]

my husband was raised in a cult...he didn't see it or believe it until AFTER we married and he saw it from the outside looking in. However after they didn't convert me.... like they did all his SIL they said they would no longer pray for him ect. They also did not pray TO GOD they prayed to the preacher the preacher would then pray for them.....she then answered the prayer in tongue and would interpet what she just said.

It would go like this...dh--- I need to pray and ask god before we do such and such..me ok then pray?? dh umm I can't pray only certain people have the gift to pray I have to call gma (she was the preacher smh) only she has the gift to pray and be answered... that is a cult no doubt.

[Katiedarling]

The LaRouchers on college campuses are the best example of a non-religious cult that I can think of. They recruit impressionable college kids and get them to quit school and go from college campus to downtown corners trying to spread LaRouche's crazy "political" message about the U.S. government, the Fed, Jews, the illuminati, the British Family's "drug cartel," etc. Sigh.

Anyway, they isolate their followers from family and friends. The usual cult tactics. Rick Ross has personally worked for many families trying to deprogram their children. It's quite sad. They just look like typical political activists at first glance until you read their crazy handmade signs about Queen Elizabeth and her drug cartel that she runs with the Fed :lol:

[floridaotaku]

Excepting the church and bible parts, this sounds exactly like Zendik Farm. They've brainwashed and ruined more people than I can count. They are not a Christian cult, but a cult, just the same. A cult is a cult. Sorry if I veered OT. Hipforums had a huge thread about them, years ago, and I spent a couple of months there.

I didn't even think about it, but you're right. This sounds just like Zendik. I remembered seeing Zendik folk around Hollywood passing out newsletters for years, so I googled them a while back and found a really interesting blog by someone who left Zendik (emeraldimajia[dot]livejournal[dot]com - you have to go pretty far back to find the bulk of the Zendik posts) as well as some fascinating discussion forums on the subject.

I had a boyfriend back in ages long past who was very interested in the Zendik way of life. Glad he never decided to make that visit.

[QAF_Rocks]

The list itself seems rather biased towards Protestant Christianity, particularly these two requirements:

Are you told that you must be with their certain church or group to be saved and not by Jesus Christ.

If you want to leave are you being told their is no other church that practices truth, you will go to hell.

It's only a cult if they say that salvation is restricted to people based on denomination? But almost all Christian churches will say that salvation is restricted based on religion. What's the difference between requiring a particular denomination for salvation, and requiring a particular religion or belief?