What characteristics make a group a cult?

There are three things that every cult has in common.

1) They claim that salvation is found "only" in their organization.

2) They teach a works based salvation.

3) They deny the Deity of Christ.

Always look for a church that teaches Biblically sound doctrine, not the doctrines of man.

Generally speaking....

Cults are primarily focussed on 1 Charismatic leader, when that leader dies, the cult generally falls apart.

Cults are usually outside of the cultural norms and tend to isolate themselves from the general public.

Cults tend to keep their members from talking to the press and try very desperately to keep them from leaving. Significant pressure is placed to keep people in the cult.

Cults are usually not involved in society because the withdraw, therefore they do not participate in politics, commerce, etc. to a large degree.

Cults believe they have secret knowledge that no one else has, this knowledge is usually contrary or taboo by the general public.

Cults generally require large portions of their followers income to be given to the Charismatic leader.

I know this is a lot of info, but I think it answers your question.

This is an exert from the book, "World Religions and Cults 101" by Stan Jantz and Bruce Bickel, which I highly recommend reading.

(pp. 84-87) "The common usage of the word cult usually has a negative connotation. Perhaps it brings to your mind an image of a dynamic leader who exercises control over a band of mindless followers and indoctrinates them with extremist views...The word cult comes from the Latin word cultus. Its original definition referred to members of an organization who cared about the same things. (The English word culture is derived from the same Latin word.)

When used in a religious context, the word cult defines a group that holds certain ideas and practices in common, but the specifics of its beliefs are either so new or so different that they take it way beyond the religion from which it started.

{Christian} Theologians Dr. R.C. Sproul and Tim Couch have identified ten characteristics that typically distinguish groups that fit into the category of a cult. Here is their list (with our user-friendly explanations):

1. An abrupt break with historic Christianity and its confessions.

Cults usually view historical Christianity as being off base for all of those centuries since Christ until their founder came along. {Examples: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons), and Russelism (Jehovah's Witnesses)}

2. Autosoteriscism.This is theologian lingo for "self-salvation." {Such as salvation by works; however, see Ephesians. 2:8-9} Cults usually specify that salvation is obtained by following certain rules and regulations--those that are specified by the cult.

3. A deficient Christology. Christianity is premised of the belief that Jesus is God; if He is something less than God, then salvation by His death on the cross wouldn't work. Cults, however, take a lesser view of Christ. They might admire Him and view Him as greater than human, but they don't consider Him as the one true God. {nor do they believe in the Holy Trinity.}

4. Syncretism. This is more theologian jargon that simply means the blending of different elements from several religions into one synthesized belief system.

5. An emphasis on their own distinctives. Rather than stressing the major doctrinal points of Christianity, a cult will put disproportionate emphasis on its distinguishing doctrines. Those things that mainline Christianity considers to be essential take a backseat to the cult's unique characteristics.

6. Perfectionism. Most cults teach that it is possible for a human to be perfect (a doctrine that flies in the face of Christianity's view that humans are sinful and can never achieve God's standard of perfection). Moral perfection is usually attainable by following the cult's prescribed conduct (doing some things and abstaining from others) and by adhering to the teachings of the cult's founder and leaders.

7. An extrabiblical source of authority. While many cults recognize the Bible as a sacred piece of literature, they have additional holy books. These other writings usually take precedence over the Bible (or they at least give the authoritative interpretation of the Bible). {Example: The Book of Mormon} If there is a conflict between the two, the Bible comes in second place.

8. A belief in exclusive community salvation. A cult teaches that it is the only true church. Unless you believe all of its teachings, you won't be saved. In contrast, a sect of traditional Christianity won't claim exclusive rights to salvation; most denominational differences don't pertain to the qualifications for salvation. According to the prevailing Christian viewpoint, joining a particular denomination is not a prerequisite to get to heaven. For most cults, however, you won't make it {to heaven} unless you are one of their members.

9. A preoccupation with eschatology. Eschatology is the study of the end of the world (or "the end times," as Christians like to call it). In the perspective of the time line of Christianity, most cults are brand-new (having been founded after Christianity had been rolling along 1800 years or so). Cults often explain that their founder brought the last word from God to prepare mankind for the end of the world. With this perspective, cults often emphasize urgency about the end of the world.

10. Esotericism. Something is esoteric if it is beyond the knowledge of most people and understood by only a select group of individuals. This is what separates cults from traditional Christianity. Each cult claims that its founder and/or leaders have access to special truth that was previously hidden.

A cult:

1. Believes in a single head of their church other than God.

2. Controls what their followers watch, listen to, say, etc.

3. Believes the Bible has less authority than their church's traditions.

4. Thinks they have to right to change God's laws.

Well, the only characteristic that comes to mind is any particular group that takes away from, or adds to, The Word of God, Jesus Christ. God Bless!

You know what? I don't care if people think Christianity is a cult. Even if that is true, I am not going to change my mind about following God.

This link will provide a good framework for you to decide if a group is a cult or merely a religious group:

http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usny&c=bas...

You should look out for people who claim they can change your life because they are going to brainwash you. People who want to instill their religious views on you randomly without you having inquired on your own about their religion they are part of a cult.

A few things:

*Cults tend to be smaller than religions.

*They are often one coherent, small group, isolated from mainstream society. Cults may require limited contact with the outside world.

*They have beliefs or practices radically different from mainstream society.

Well firstly they need to be popular but not too popular. Then they need one hit single, so long as they then don't become mainstream and too pop orientated they will remain a cult group.

Cults tend to have hidden, secret knowledge not available to outsiders and a charismatic leader whose decisions are final.

Those who dispute the trinity may be heretics, but that does not make them cult members.