What is a Cult?

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Socialite

There again, I must qualify a statement. I'm not referring to mind control in the strictest sense (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_control). But the way some reinforce what they believe, the methods they go about doing that and the way they treat people that aren't quite conforming tell the story.

Right, but even those methods or reinforcement can be part of what people call "mind control"

But I refer back to an earlier point, just following a charismatic leader is not inherently bad. Handing your brain over to someone like that is

[Socialite]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Right, but even those methods or reinforcement can be part of what people call "mind control"

But I refer back to an earlier point, just following a charismatic leader is not inherently bad. Handing your brain over to someone like that is

Well, the way some lead, handing your brain over is the only choice you have.

I've found great beauty in how Jesus discipled and taught and find a vast difference with us today. We write it all out into articles of faith. Jesus teaches it in a free-flowing way, using imagery and pictures. It's caught more than it is taught. He allows questions, and responds with more questions. Not often does he offer direct answers, but he is patient and allows people to learn at their pace. For 3 years his disciples didn't even fully know who he was! They went everywhere with him and didn't fully realize his relationship with the Father. He never had to control people's mind. He challenged, articulated, demonstrated and allowed the Father to be glorified through him. Oh what we could learn. We sign-up our "new converts" into a 3-week class, sit behind a lecturn and proceed to cram all our doctrinal statements down people's throats. It's not exactly discipleship.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Socialite

Well, the way some lead, handing your brain over is the only choice you have.

I've found great beauty in how Jesus discipled and taught and find a vast difference with us today. We write it all out into articles of faith. Jesus teaches it in a free-flowing way, using imagery and pictures. It's caught more than it is taught. He allows questions, and responds with more questions. Not often does he offer direct answers, but he is patient and allows people to learn at their pace. For 3 years his disciples didn't even fully know who he was! They went everywhere with him and didn't fully realize his relationship with the Father. He never had to control people's mind. He challenged, articulated, demonstrated and allowed the Father to be glorified through him. Oh what we could learn. We sign-up our "new converts" into a 3-week class, sit behind a lecturn and proceed to cram all our doctrinal statements down people's throats. It's not exactly discipleship.

but that is on "how some lead" not on "Following a charismatic leader". As I said there is nothing inherently bad about following someone, charismatic or otherwise.

Here are some examples

"They receive unconditional love, acceptance, and attention from a charismatic leader"- why is that a bad thing? I'd think that it was the opposite, that they do NOT receive unconditional love and acceptance or attention, so that the charismatic leaders acceptance is used as a method of mind control to force people into compliance.

This is what I mean, who comes up with this stuff? Is this really a bad thing? How do we know? Is it proven that unconditional love is a bad thing or is a form of mind control? That's weird to me. See some of these things I would agree to. Others I can't say I agree, especially since Im not an expert and no explanation is given as to why unconditional love is a bad thing (mind control). If this is one sign of mind control then what of God's love for us or a parents love for their kids?

There has to be some valid and proven traits, but Im leery of just any old list that someone comes up with because Im not sure if they are from an experts point of view or just a personal point of view