Books and eBooks by the Director
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A CULT
Theological Characteristics:
1. Devaluation of the Bible.
2. Devaluation of the nature of God.
3. Denial of the Trinity.
4. Devaluation of the Person of Christ.
5. Devaluation of the life and work of Christ.
6. Non-biblical teachings about the Holy Spirit.
7. Exalted view of human nature.
8. False basis of salvation.
9. Non-biblical teachings about the after-life.
10. Demonic activity denied or overemphasized.
Sociological Characteristics:
1. Deceptive recruiting practices.
2. Dynamic and authoritarian leadership.
3. Elitism.
4. Cultic vocabulary.
5. Alienation from family and friends.
6. Legalism.
7. Induced fatigue.
8. Sanction oriented.
9. Anti-intellectual.
10. Thought stopping.
11. No professional clergy.
12. Doctrine in flux/ false prophesies.
13. Financial exploitation.
14. Mind control.
Note: The ten theological characteristics parallels the ten articles on our Confession of Faith. The Confession presents the historic Christian position; the characteristics list, the cultic digression.
Sources Consulted in Developing List of Cultic Characteristics
Arteburn, Stephen and Jack Felton. Toxic Faith - Understanding and Overcoming Religious Addiction. Nashville:
Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991.
Ashe, Steven. Cult Induced Psychopathology. n.a.
Breese, Dave. Know the Marks of a Cult. Wheaton, IL
victor Books, 1980.
Brooks, Keith. "The Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of
Error." revised by Irvine Robertson. Chicago: Moody Press,
1985.
Cult Awareness Network, leaflet. Princeton, WV: Conner Printing,
1987.
Enroth, Ronald. "What is a Cult?" Downers Grove, IL:
InterVarsity, 1982.
Hassan, Steven. Combatting Cult Mind Control. Rochester,
VT: Park Street Press, 1988.
Knapp, Pat. Aberrational
Christianity. The Shield, April, 1988, 1-3.
Lewis, Gordon. Confronting the Cults. Grand Rapids, MI:
Baker Book House, 1988.
MacCollam, Joel. Carnival of Souls: Religious Cults and Young
People. New York, Seabury Press, 1979.
Martin, Walter. Essential Christianity. Ventura, CA:
Regal Books, 1980.
Kingdom of the Cults. Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1985.
The
New Cults. Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 1980.
McDowell, Josh and Don Stewart. Handbook of Today's Religions.
San Bernardino, CA: Here's Life Publishers, 1983.
Tucker, Ruth. Another Gospel. Grand Rapids, MI: Academie
Books, 1989.
The above characteristics list was originally
developed for a Bible study class in 1991.
It was posted on this website in July 1996.
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