WHAT IS A CULT?
In these days of the breakdown of the traditional religions,
there are many new movements and groups experimenting with spiritual paths in
many countries. This is all well and good. On rare occasions among these there will be a
cult. You are not likely to encounter one and if you do then you will almost
certainly recognise it. However, if you do begin to wonder whether you are
being drawn towards a cult, then you will need to be questioning, and these
might be some of the questions you could ask:
- Do I have to pay to join?
- Are they very concerned with recruitment?
- Are they very concerned with money?
- Are they secretive?
- Is joining meant to make me feel like a chosen or special
person?
- When I want to leave, do the leaders/members try to persuade
me not to leave?
- Are they closed to any contact with other spiritual paths?
- Do the leaders/members often speak badly of other similar
groups?
- Do the leaders/members try to persuade me not to attend the
meetings of other groups?
- Are discussion and disagreement not welcomed?
- Is rather a lot of obscure or mysterious vocabulary used?
- Is there some special dress, ornament or ritual involved in
being a member?
- Is the leader claiming some special spiritual status or
powers e.g. as a guru?
- Is the earlier life of the leader/leaders obscure?
- Are their events not organized in a democratic and participatory
way?
- Are there special positions in the group which are only open
to chosen individuals?
- Do they try to intrude into all aspects of my life?
- Do they judge me very negatively if I deviate?
- Does their teaching have no foundation at all in a long and
respected tradition?
Yes?
If your answer to a couple of these questions is Yes, that
does not mean you are necessarily dealing with a cult. It just means that you may have
legitimate issues to raise for discussion at their meetings.
However, if the answer is Yes to a large number of these
questions then you may need to dig deeper and re-consider your position.
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