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page 1
Cults are a bother for many who have friends or relatives that have been affected by them. In this short series we want to investigate various cults and supernatural beliefs and show how we can help those that are caught up. We also want to show that it is worth bothering with these ones that we meet in the high street or on our doorstep.
Definitions
Cults can be placed into four main categories, Counterfeit Christian Cults, Christian Cults, Personality Cults and Secular Cults. We will expand on these definitions and show examples in the second article.
The Biblical definition of a cult is found in Galatians 1:8,9 and 2 Corinthians 11:4,13-15. We could sum this up in two parts as follows:
Groups whose message includes either the need of a spiritual change now, or gives a hope of eternal salvation, or encourages a relationship with God, without the reality of repentance from sin and acceptance of Jesus Christ as God the Son and Saviour.
Groups who employ methods of strict authoritarianism, mind control or insist that their group is the only true one, or who hold the threat of expulsion for any who do not accept leadership decisions without question.
Why bother anyway ?
Anyone who witnessed the horrific scenes as the fires burned in Waco could not but be moved. However, this was not why they joined the Branch Davidians cult, most wanted to know God better. Completely misled they thought that by dying they were going to meet God sooner and that they would take part in a glorious resurrection. For such tragically misguided people we need to bother so that they will have a chance of true salvation before it is too late. Most join cults for genuine reasons and our job is to understand what they have gone through and seek to help them. There are many ways that people are manipulated.
Techniques
Cults will use a variety of techniques to alter the thinking of a person, control their mind and get them to accept their way. These techniques will differ from cult to cult and will differ in effect from person to person. Some of the most common are, love bombing, isolating from family and friends, lack of sleep or a healthy diet, encourage confession of innermost secrets and fears and making a heavy financial commitment.
MIND CONTROL
Many if not most cults practise some form of 'mind control'. They feed the new member with limited or specially prepared information about the group and show that every other group is wrong. Along with isolation from close family and other friends, the new member becomes an island in the midst of the sea of cult propaganda.
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