SDA's, JW's, Mormons, etc.

[JM]

When does a cult because not a cult? I think many forget because the number of members in each cult grows, that they are still a cult. SDA’s, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, etc. They’re still cults.

j

 

[Charlotte]

Jason,

What is your definition of a cult?

In Webster's it says: 1. a system of religious worship or ritual. 2. devoted attachment to, or admiration for, a person, principal, etc. 3. a group of followers; sect.

Now, to me that applies to 99 percent of religions and Christian people.

Now, if you say the JW's and SDA's are different than some of the others, I would have to agree with you.

Charlotte

 

[JM]

Jason,

What is your definition of a cult?

In Webster's it says: 1. a system of religious worship or ritual. 2. devoted attachment to, or admiration for, a person, principal, etc. 3. a group of followers; sect.

Now, to me that applies to 99 percent of religions and Christian people.

Now, if you say the JW's and SDA's are different than some of the others, I would have to agree with you.

Charlotte

Play word games all you want, you know what I meant. A sub group or a sect that sprung up around a leader such as Joseph Smith or Ellen White and who reject the teaching of Scirpture as the rule of faith.

j

 

[Featherbop]

By one definition, every religious orginization/group is a cult.

In that way, absolutely.

SDA's, at least from where I am from are in no way cultish, and teach more Biblicly than any other churches I hear about.

Mormon's I don't think are cults, I've heard some about the mormon beliefs, and they are weird, but they do not seem to act cultish in the majority. I think there is a mormon state in the US that is a cultish mormon state though. but overall, no I don't think.

JW's I guess are more annoying, than anything to most people, but if they teach salvation by works, which I've read and heard they do, would classify them as a christian cult.

So, the SDA's are not, the mormons I don't think so, and the JW I don't know.

 

[Vic C.]

Shall I post my definitions of a cult again? I'll be glad to for those who have not read them yet.

 

[JM]

So, the SDA's are not, the mormons I don't think so, and the JW I don't know.

So, the SDA's are, the Mormons are and the JW's are. That's the true. I belong to a baptist church, can you name a founder? : Nope.

 

[blueberry pie]

Any religious organization that adds or takes away from the Word of God, and teaches a blatantly false gospel (usually works based), is a cult. So, Jehovah's Witness and Mormonism are definitely cults.

I don't know anything about SDA.

 

[JM]

Any religious organization that adds or takes away from the Word of God, and teaches a blatantly false gospel (usually works based), is a cult. So, Jehovah's Witness and Mormonism are definitely cults.

I don't know anything about SDA.

The SDA views the works of Ellen White as 'Scirpture.'

 

[Featherbop]

I don't Jason. It is not required to believe in egw to be an SDA.

There may be denonomantions of SDA cult. But around here, Baptists are the cult. The crowd mindlessly follows them. Then its methodist,(I think) next.

I'm not going to believe egw is false just because her enemies say so, either.


The SDA's teach Biblicaly, easily debunking false, easy to see, false teachings.

The little guys are always picked on. if you don't like em, kill em.
Thats the philosiphy.

 

[Charlotte]

I don't like to put labels on people and I don't like to be labeled. Jason, I don't play word games and Vic, I would like to read you definition of what a cult is.

I belong to the Ekklesia of Christ. Not SDA, not JW, not Baptist, not PC, not COJC, not RC, or any of the others, not even Universalist, because there are many different beliefs even in this one.

Charlotte

 

[JM]

There may be denonomantions of SDA cult. But around here, Baptists are the cult. The crowd mindlessly follows them. Then its methodist,(I think) next.

Where is 'around here?' I'd like to look into it.

I belong to the Ekklesia of Christ. Not SDA, not JW, not Baptist, not PC, not COJC, not RC, or any of the others, not even Universalist, because there are many different beliefs even in this one.

Nope. Your wrong Char, there is but one body and they all believe the same thing. Where do you get the idea that it's ok to believe what you want as long as you add Christ?

Your peach,

Scofield oOOOops, I mean Jason. :

 

[Vic C.]

I don't like to put labels on people and I don't like to be labeled. Jason, I don't play word games and Vic, I would like to read you definition of what a cult is.

Hey Charlotte. Actually, it's not mine but it does give a good description of what constitutes a cult, from a mostly objective position. I will dig it up and post it here.

 

[Veritas]

I don't like to put labels on people and I don't like to be labeled. Jason, I don't play word games and Vic, I would like to read you definition of what a cult is.

Don't be ashamed of Christ! :

Its alright to be labeled Christian!

Most Cults......

1.) Deny some part of scriptural doctrine regarding Jesus. (The cult may retain part of Jesus' background or aspects of who He is, but will deny what He has done to save us.)

2.) Have a leader with new revelation. (Cults tend to center around a leader who claims to have new revelations that change, add to, or replace the authority of the Bible.)

3.) Have unique rituals and/or visible actions. (These rituals or actions set the cult apart from the world: members often isolate themselves from society and in turn are viewed by society as isolated.)

4.) Redefine standard Christian terms. (These groups may have new definitions for traditional terms that support their new ideas and give appearance of orthodoxy to potential members.)

5.) Reject the early church. (Cults frequently suggest that the church in its early years was corrupt and not the true church.)

6.) Are not consistent with either biblical doctrine or their own theology. (Self-made religion is by nature flawed, prone to contradictions both within itself and with God's Holy Word.)

 

[Vic C.]

Thanks veritas.

Charlotte, here is the list...and his statement of faith.
http://www.dtl.org/info/confession.htm

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A CULT
http://www.dtl.org/cults/misc/characteristics.htm

Theological Characteristics:

1. Devaluation of the Bible.

2. Devaluation of the nature of God.

3. Denial of the Trinity.

4. Devaluation of the Person of Christ.

5. Devaluation of the life and work of Christ.

6. Non-biblical teachings about the Holy Spirit.

7. Exalted view of human nature.

8. False basis of salvation.

9. Non-biblical teachings about the after-life.

10. Demonic activity denied or overemphasized.

Sociological Characteristics:

1. Deceptive recruiting practices.

2. Dynamic and authoritarian leadership.

3. Elitism.

4. Cultic vocabulary.

5. Alienation from family and friends.

6. Legalism.

7. Induced fatigue.

8. Sanction oriented.

9. Anti-intellectual.

10. Thought stopping.

11. No professional clergy.

12. Doctrine in flux/ false prophesies.

13. Financial exploitation.

14. Mind control.

 

[Charlotte]

Vic,

Shoot, that applies to every denomination I know.


Jason,

I know there is one body, which is Christ. There may be groups that believe the same things but that don't mean they are the only ones who are of the body of Christ. Look at the Ekklesias in Revelation, they all have different beliefs. They were all of the body of Christ. Even the disciples had different beliefs and this is the way it will be right up till Christ comes, because the Ekklesias in Revelation will be in existance when Christ returns.

Peter preached circumcision and Paul preached, no circumcision. Would you say one of these men were not of the body of Christ?

The Bible says, "all Israel will be saved", do they all have the same beliefs? NO.

I consider everyone my brothers and sisters, no matter what they believe and just because some person labels someone a cult or heritic or whatever, doesn't make it so. I have learned each time I point a finger, there are three pointing back at me. The way I see it, If one of us is a heritic or cult or whatever, then we all are. No offense to anyone. I use to do exactly what a lot of others do, I use to think the Church I was in had all of the truth and everyone else was lost, but God woke me up one day and made me realize I was no better than anybody else. I AM NOTHING BUT A PIECE OF CLAY IN THE HANDS OF GOD. I have nothing to boast about, I gave myself to God and said "here I am, I am nothing, you can have me, use me for whatever you see fit to use me for".

Charlotte

 

[JM]

Peter preached circumcision and Paul preached, no circumcision. Would you say one of these men were not of the body of Christ?

Which is why I'm a dispensationalist! You see my point as well, the Body of Christ can not have two teaches on the same topic. That would divided the Body.

Paul was for the Church in it's fullness of revelation: "But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel"

It has to deal with progressive revelation and not judaizing.

Jason

 

[Monkey Del]

I don't like to put labels on people and I don't like to be labeled. Jason, I don't play word games and Vic, I would like to read you definition of what a cult is.

Don't be ashamed of Christ! :

Its alright to be labeled Christian!

Most Cults......

1.) Deny some part of scriptural doctrine regarding Jesus. (The cult may retain part of Jesus' background or aspects of who He is, but will deny what He has done to save us.)

2.) Have a leader with new revelation. (Cults tend to center around a leader who claims to have new revelations that change, add to, or replace the authority of the Bible.)

3.) Have unique rituals and/or visible actions. (These rituals or actions set the cult apart from the world: members often isolate themselves from society and in turn are viewed by society as isolated.)

4.) Redefine standard Christian terms. (These groups may have new definitions for traditional terms that support their new ideas and give appearance of orthodoxy to potential members.)

5.) Reject the early church. (Cults frequently suggest that the church in its early years was corrupt and not the true church.)

6.) Are not consistent with either biblical doctrine or their own theology. (Self-made religion is by nature flawed, prone to contradictions both within itself and with God's Holy Word.)

Charlette I am with you on this one, i don't like the term CULT.

FACT: There are over 13000 so called "CULTS" in America.

FACT: 99% are harmless ( oppose to violence) and would never hurt anyone.

The founding Fathers of the US were mostly PURITANS which by modern standards would be considered a CULT.

THE MAINSTREAM IS A PRETTY BROADWAY. IF you reject the Mainstream they label you a cult.

 

[Monkey Del]

Yet they "mainstreamers" can reject you at anytime....Label you a cult and that is fine. What Hypocrites. :o

 

[Monkey Del]

Peter preached circumcision and Paul preached, no circumcision. Would you say one of these men were not of the body of Christ?

Which is why I'm a dispensationalist! You see my point as well, the Body of Christ can not have two teaches on the same topic. That would divided the Body.

Paul was for the Church in it's fullness of revelation: "But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel"

It has to deal with progressive revelation and not judaizing.

Jason

Your response should have been Peter saw the error of his ways and was recovered from that Heresy. Thanks to Apostle Paul withstanding him to his face.

Peter then, no longer taught the Gentiles to live as Jews.

 

[Vic C.]

Vic,

Shoot, that applies to every denomination I know.

LOL, yeah, it could I guess. I think the point of that list was to identify the *deniminations* that fit an overwhelming majority of the characteristics.