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A '''cult''' is a term for a [[religion]] or community of belief that is regarded as illegitimate, heretical, or far outside mainstream beliefs.  Although some consider it to be a statement of opinion, "cult" has well-defined meanings.

Some religions labeled "cults" are dangerous, and in rare but well-publicized cases have proven to be fatal, such as Jim Jones' group in the late 1970s in Guyana (see [[Jonestown Massacre]]).  

== Sect vs. Cult ==

Strictly speaking, the terms "cult" and "sect" are not synonymous, although some people use the two terms interchangeably.
Although many groups consider themselves sects, naturally no group considers itself to be a cult.

== Definitions of "cult" ==

In a general sense, a cult is a group which exercises mind control over its followers.<ref name="def">[http://www.cultwatch.com/about.html About Cultwatch]<br />[http://www.wfial.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=artGeneral.article_1 What is a Cult?] (Watchman Fellowship)<br />[http://www.cults.co.nz/cultfaq/index.php#whatisacult Cult FAQ] (Cults.co.nz)</ref>

In a [[Christianity|Christian]] sense, a cult is a group which claims to be Christian but which has major doctrinal differences to normal Christianity.<ref name="def" />
{{QuoteBox|The word "cult" is not in the Bible but its direct corollary is heresy or heretic. Other Biblical terms are false teachers, false prophets and false brethren.<ref>[http://www.wfial.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=artGeneral.article_1 What is a Cult?] (Watchman Fellowship)</ref>}}

[[Josh McDowell]] and Don Stewart list typical characteristics of cults, although not all cults have all these characteristics.<ref>McDowell, Josh, and Stewart, Don, "Handbook of Today's Religions", Here's Life, 1983, ISBN 978-0840735010</ref>
* They claim to have a new revelation from God.
* They claim to have an exclusive interpretation of Scripture.
* They have a source of authority that supersedes the Bible.
* They have a view of Jesus contrary to biblical teaching.
* They reject orthodox Christianity as having departed from what it should be.
* They say one thing publicly but something different internally.
* They reject or have a distorted view of the [[trinity]].
* They keep changing their teaching.
* They have a strong leader who considers himself the messenger of God.
* They require "works", and never teach that salvation is simply by placing one's faith in Christ.
* They make false prophecies.

=== Catholic usage ===
In the [[Catholic]] Church, 'cult' can also be used to describe a follower's particular devotion to a [[saint]] or another aspect of the faith, e.g. the cult of [[St Mary]] or of the [[Holy Cross]].<ref>For example at [http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/virg/hd_virg.htm The Cult of the Virgin Mary in the Middle Ages]</ref> This usage does not have the negative connotations of the more common meaning described on this page. It is much less commonly used in the present day to avoid confusion with dangerous cults. By no means is a cult of devotion or deeply reverent respect for those persons and things precious to God intended as a form of worship of them as gods and substitutes for the One True God. (See [[Fallacy of analogy]].)

== Atheist cults ==

''See also:'' [[Atheist cults]]

Within the [[Atheism is a religion|atheist religion]], there are and have been a number of [[atheist cult]]s and [[Atheism|atheist]] groups which have had a cultish following. Some of these cults/groups still exist today. In 2015, FtBCon which is an online conference organized by the [[Freethought Blogs]] network, recognized that nonreligious/secular cults exist (for example, the atheist cult of [[objectivism]]).<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/daylightatheism/2015/01/reminder-secular-cults-at-ftbcon-tonight/ Reminder: Secular Cults Panel at FtBCon Tonight!], January 24, 2015 by Adam Lee</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm4SNcH1ak8 FtBCon3: Secular Cults]</ref>

=== Communist Party as a cult ===

[[Communist party|Communist Party]] members were constantly working in the interests of the [[Soviet Union]], and at the dictates of the Soviet Union, while lying to and manipulating their friends and co-workers about their motives.  They misrepresented their political positions as independent radical opinions when in reality those positions were dictated from elsewhere.

== Examples ==

There have been cults which have claimed to be [[Christian]], as well as cults which claim some other religious affiliation, or no affiliation at all.  One notable example of a cult is the "People's Temple" operated by [[Jim Jones]].  Jones' insistence that all his true followers drink poisoned fruit punch led to the deaths of 913 of his converts at their enclave of [[Jonestown]] in [[Guyana]]. Another example is the cult of Maratreanism.

== "Deprogramming" ==

The process of attempting to "rescue" people from cults, and reverse perceived or actual mind control, is known as [[deprogramming]], and is controversial from both a legal and social perspective.

== See also ==

[[Specious reasoning]]

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.wfial.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.welcome Watchman Fellowship] (According to [http://www.apologeticsindex.org/ ApologeticsIndex], "Considered by many to be the foremost Christian countercult and apologetics ministry")
* [http://www.cults.co.nz/ Cults.co.nz]
* [http://www.cultwatch.com/ Cultwatch.com]
* [http://www.raullopez.org/moxon.htm Did Scientology Strike Back?] Article from June 1997 issue of ''American Lawyer'' about [[Scientology|Scientology's]] takeover of the Cult Awareness Network.
* [http://www.cesnur.org/ CESNUR] Center for Studies on New Religions
[[Category:Psychology]]
[[Category:Cults]]