Bible Question: Please define the word "cult". What are the characteristics (social or religious) of a cult? Note: I asked about the word "cult", NOT "occult". They are two very different things. |
Bible Answer: The definition as given by Walter Martin in his book Kingdom of the Cults - Bethany House Publishers is "any religious group which differs significantly in some one or more respects as to belief or practice from those religious groups which are regarded as the normative expressions of religion in our total culture." I believe this definition was taken from Bergen. Walter Martin added, "A cult might also be defined as a group of people gathered about a specific person or person's mis-interpretations of Scriptures." As Paul put it "As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!" Gal 1:9. A definition of a cult should also include any teaching or group of people that try to base salvation on works apart from grace. The biggest hinderance in dealing with cults is definitions, they use Christian terms but they mean entirely different things. Jesus to the Mormon is a spiritual brother of Lucifer. Jesus to the Jehovah Witness is a incarnation of the Angel Michael. Jesus to the Islam is a great prophet. Jesus to Bahai is another incarnation of God along with Buddha or Muhammed. Before we can fully understand a cult we must understand the definitions of the terms they are using. |