A cult is any teaching that creates a need for itself.

What say you?

There is a Monty Python skit breaking out “over there.” I think I am about to be banned for excessive disagreement.

Rod

I am highly reluctant to use the term, as it is vague and often inappropriate. In this instance, however, the repeated call for discussion of issues to cease and only approved discussions to take place is similar to the kind of control tactics used in cults. Guilt for reading the wrong books. Shame for being in discussions with “outsiders.” Assumed authoritarian superiority. On and on it goes. It’s cultish in its approach and the word needs to be used.

That creeped me out. You just described what I came out of almost a decade ago…to a T (every single one of those). Those symptoms are totally true. If you see those in your church RUN…FAST. But make sure you run toward the cross. It’s the only place to safely stop running. I’m still out of breath but at least I’m not running anymore

You and me too stkateryne. I left 3 years ago. iMonk’s points on cult-like Christian groups is right on the mark.

The blessing is that, having experienced the controlling manipulating cult, I so appreciate the church I attend now.

That tends toward pharisaism and self-righteousness and it’s sorely lacking in mercy, among other things. Not to mention that it downplays the importance of actually obeying everything Jesus commanded, which is one of the standards he set for disciplemaking.

Label something a “cult” and it’s automatically beyond the pale, and when this is combined with childish ideas about “separation” from what is sinful and wrong, it basically writes people off for good.

The problem with the volume of comments over at that TR “attack” site is that it reinforces their perception that they are right. It inflates their arrogance.

By the way, has anyone ever met a humble TR? I see a lot of humility and self-depreciation at Christian blogs, but I haven’t noticed it at a TR site.

Much of the popular theological conversations are largely defined by lower level, but equally important, positions that if disagreed upon almost make meaningful discussion impossible. But that kind of issue has to be tackled as it comes, especially when holding “public” talks.

In other contexts there needs to be an authority so we can agree on specifics in order to function in whatever ways are appropriate. So a community like OBI might have a grade scale, a student rulebook or a Confession of faith.

This grows out of the constant berating my other web site endures from some in the Reformed Baptist Camp saying that the discussion of _______________ shouldn’t occur except in strict confessional boundaries, and those who do so are probably not Christians, are false teachers, etc. This is a cult tactic. It’s an attempt at control that ought to be labelled inappropriate.