Is belonging to a controversial religious group (aka a cult) different to belonging to a mainstream religion?

Cults use manipulative and authoritarian tactics to get and keep members. They do not have to be religious groups to be cults. Cults do not need to be small; the larger ones get members to manipulate other members from the top all the way to the bottom.

Robert J. Lifton defined eight criteria for mind control a few decades ago, and these are almost always used in cults:

1. Milieu Control - control of members' communication with each other as well as the teaching of self-censoring thoughts.

2. Mystical Manipulation - manipulating members' experiences in various ways which get members to attribute their experiences to spiritual forces when in reality they are caused by psychological tactics or trickery.

3. Loading the Language - the use of special words that mean something important to those in the group but which mean either nothing or something very different to those outside the group. These words are "loaded" in the sense that if a member uses them, that person and everyone else in the group automatically assumes a whole string of other things along with it. This helps to make members feel that the world is black-and-white and there is no room for ambiguity.

4. Doctrine over Person - The group holds their doctrine to always be correct. If an individual's experiences do not match the group doctrine, it is assumed that the problem is with the individual, not the doctrine.

5. Sacred Science - The group's ideology is held to be sacred, or unquestionable. Alternate views, interpretations, or doctrinal problems are brushed aside as insubstantial or irrelevant without an honest investigation. People who ask critical questions are treated with anger or "re-educated."

6. The Cult of Confession - The use of group confession destroys privacy and enforces compliance to the group standard.

7. Demand for Purity - The use of guilt and shame keeps members in line. The group puts social (or sometimes overt) pressure on those who do not comply and people are taught to internalize the message and shame themselves for noncompliance.

8. Dispensing of Existence - Outsiders are regarded as evil, crazy, duped, stubborn, willful, ignorant, and/or just about anything else as bad as these. Former members who leave the group are regarded the same way and if they cannot be manipulated back into the group, they are shunned. The group considers outside opinions not worth listening to and will not give a fair hearing to any alternate views. In extreme cases, people outside the group (or former members) are regarded as not worthy of the same treatment as those inside the group and may be cheated, lied to, or perhaps even killed.

Non-cultic religions do not use these tactics.

There is a "Cult Danger Evaluation Frame" available online which has other criteria by which to evaluate groups for cultic behavior. The link is below (see ABCDEF).

Be aware that some individual religious groups considered "mainstream" MIGHT use these same tactics. The degree to which they use these tactics is the degree to which they are cultic. There are, for example, SOME Christian churches that are abusive and which use these manipulative techniques, so just because you think something is "mainstream" does not mean it isn't cultic in some way. Look at the practices of the group to find out.

Some people will say that anything not Christian or conforming to Biblical principles is a cult. This is incorrect and what they are referring to is a "heresy."

Cultism is determined by the psychological and social tactics of the group. Heresy is determined by doctrine.

I do not know enough about al-qaeda to comment on that group. Some researchers say that it does use these same manipulative techniques.

Sure, its a little different. Cult's are more a social movement than a religious movement. It's like a communistic movement with a religious motive, or vice versa.

Organized mainstream religions are too big to really regulate their members the way a cult does, and they lack a strong central leader. Cult's usually have some central prophet or human-god, and quite often believe in a coming doomsday. The latter attribute is attributed mostly to Doomsday Cults (no surprise there).

Al-Qaeda is certainly cultish. It revolves around strong central figures that dictate a radical new interpretation of ancient religious literature, and mobilize dedicated followers to kill themselves for the cult. In some ways its similar to some of the more dangerous cults in the past.

Hope that helped.

Yes, it's different. A cult is a religion that hasn't been able to secure enough political power to be integrated into society. This makes them a target for abuse, slander, or even physical attack. Even if a cult is not violent they will be portrayed as such, to prepare for their elimination by the majors. Just ask David Koresh. The "mainstream" religions don't want the competition.

Al Qaeda? While it does have some political power, it's negligible compared to standard Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. So yeah, I think it qualifies as a cult.

Belonging to a cult can be dangerous to the member... one of the working definitions of 'cult' vs 'denomination' [e.g., mainstream religious group or church] is that the cult will separate the member from both his money and his family and/or friendship ties. To thrive, a cult needs to 'own' the member...to control what they do, where they go, who they know, and what they own. A true religious denomination or church, i.e., mainstream, wants their members to thrive, have fellowship, love others and reach out. A cult perpetuates itself by an iron control on thoughts, words and deeds.

Using the above as a kind of measuring-stick, Al-quaeda is a cult...and so are Mormonism and Scientology.

Yes, it is different. One of the key ways they differ is if the group tries to take you away from your family, or those who don't share your beliefs, then they are likely to be a cult. Still, one man's cult is another man's religion. Just be aware of things that wouldn't usually make sense to you. And I regard all fundamentalist groups as at least borderline cults, no matter if they are Christian, Muslim, Jewish, whatever. So, from what I've heard, Al-Qaeda would qualify, but I don't put myself forth as an expert on it.

ALL groups of religions are cults. A cult (the word means segment or a part of) is a breakaway group from an original group that defines it's own order. Right or wrong it is a sect, a fellowship, cult, or whatever you want to call it. The original mainstream group was Judaeism. We are all breakaways from that Jewish teaching from the Torah. Any group that calls themselves Christian is just a group that follows the teachings of Jesus who teaches the laws of God..

A mainstream religion can often lose the perspective of the three most important characters of faith. GOD , Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. All work in unison to make the person whole . It is up to the person to recognize, and accept our role in the fellowship with God. And true fellowship is inspired by the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus made promise of on the day of pentecost. Don't put religious blinders on and think there in only one true religion. People can be religios but not Godly. It iis only through the baptism of the Holy Spirit we can find that closeness to God that we need.

And following a cult--that is so controversial can be detrimental to ones soul and salvation. Be aware that a full bible church is a good one , one that believes in the one true God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost.

There is a definate difference in mainstream and controversial groups. Some good and Some bad.

Research can give you enlightenment.. The bible tells it all.

According to Dictionary.com - ALL religions are cults.

cult /kʌlt/

–noun

1. a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies.

2. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult.

3. the object of such devotion.

4. a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.

5. Sociology. a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.

6. a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader.

7. the members of such a religion or sect.

8. any system for treating human sickness that originated by a person usually claiming to have sole insight into the nature of disease, and that employs methods regarded as unorthodox or unscientific.

–adjective

9. of or pertaining to a cult.

10. of, for, or attracting a small group of devotees: a cult movie.

Check out definition #4. I'd say that covers all religious groups - easily.

Our society has decided to apply a negativity to the word "cult" - when in actuality - it's not always a bad thing.

Yes - I would consider al-Qaeda a cult. But I would also consider ANY religious group - extremists or not - a cult.

Namaste!!

Religion per se is the personal and harmonious relationship with God. If one has it, the affiliation does not matter. I don't think the Al-Qaeda is a cult. It's more like a political group to me.

There are many differernces I think, Christians worship 1 God, in cults there is always a "leader", and to me as a they are trying to stand in where God should be. I am not downing anyone, this is a free country and religius freedom is one of our rights protected under law...But, if someone is telling you to do things, whether a service to them like some cult leaders do, or if there is the muder of innocent people like al qaeda, it is wrong...Yes I would call al qaeda a cult, God does not reward for evil!

a 'mainstream religion' has to be registered with over 15000 followers. a cult is a usually unregistered small group of followers. I personally would not class Al-Quaeda as a cult, as they follow Islam, a 'mainstream religion'