10. The sign board reads "The Authentic Fellowship of the One and Only Real Truth. MEMBERS ONLY!".

9. There are no "Exit" signs.

8. Members are not allowed to phone home.

7. The Authentic Fellowship of the One and Only Real Truth van has a gun rack.

6. Instead of taking your offering, the group takes your offspring.

5. Refreshments feature red Kool-Aid.

4. The leader demands that members refer to him as "Grand Exalted Lord and Ruler."

3. The choir robes have hoods.

2. The Grand Exalted Lord and Ruler's lecture notes have been canonized as Scripture.

1. The cross is on fire.

There's nothing funny about the increase in cult membership and the number of deaths resulting from these groups' bizarre beliefs.

Over nine hundred followers of Jim Jones died by drinking poisoned Kool-Aid. Approximately 470 members of the Movement for the Restoration of Ten Commandments of God in Uganda set fire to their church and themselves. Eighty-six Branch Davidians--twenty-five which were children--died in the flames of David Koresh's Waco compound. Thirty-nine members of Marshall Applewhite's "Heaven's Gate" committed suicide hoping to leave their "containers" to rendezvous with aliens traveling behind the Hale-Bopp comet.

Some of the fastest growing cults are the "hate groups" who, rather than merely killing themselves, go on killing sprees against their ideological enemies. Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber, and the numerous abortion clinic bombers are classic examples.

While Koresh's apocalyptic prophecy teachings, Applewhite's aliens messages, and hate group's propaganda seem world's apart, most cults share common characteristics:

1. The group believes it—and only it—knows the truth.

If a group claims only they know the true truth or that they will be the sole survivors of some kind of cosmic calamity, they may be a cult. The Heaven's Gate group believed that only they would escape earth's destruction. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that only they will be saved following the biblical apocalypse.

Some groups have their own "scripture" apart from or in addition to what orthodox Christians consider to authentic. Christian Scientists have Mary Baker Eddy's Science and Health which claims that "Jesus was the offspring of Mary's self-conscious communion with God." The Jehovah's Witnesses New World Translation rewrites traditional scripture to fit its theology that only they will be saved at the end of the world. Mormons, for instance, have several additional books including The Book of Mormon, which is believed to be translated from gold plates, and Doctrines and Covenants based on founder Joseph Smith's visions.

Some more traditional religious groups also have extra-biblical documents. The Seventh Day Adventists elevate the writing of their founder, Ellen White, to "an authoritative source of truth" and "are not subject to criticism." The Roman Catholic Church teaches that the pope's "ex cathedra" pronouncements are "infallibly true" and "must be obediently accepted."

With so many groups claiming to have a corner on truth and interpretation of scripture, it's important to take the Bible in context.

(And simply having extra-biblical documents doesn't make it a "cult." Watch out for these additional characteristics of a cult.)

2. The members are isolated from family and former friends.

Cult leaders use peer pressure and paranoia to isolate members from the "outside" world. According to Mark Muesse, professor of religious studies at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennesee, "Such groups tend to attract individuals who share their sense of isolation from the rest of society, who are struggling with a sense of identity or purpose in life."

The cult creates a sense of "us" against "them" that strengthens the bond between members--and the paranoia. The Branch Davidians seem to have embraced Koresh's delusions by stock-piling food and weapons at their Waco "compound." (Unfortunately, their paranoia was not completely unfounded.)

David Reed, professor of pastoral theology at Wycliff College at the University of Toronto, believes fear, insecurity, and loneliness of people are exploited by cult recruiters. " Members are attracted to the cult by friendship and communal embrace. The one event in our lives that is more fearful is death. It can be seen as an attractive option to die communally and ritually . . . as seems to have happened in California." But for mass suicides to occur, Reed explains "individuals in the group must first have had their previous world--with relatives and friends--dismantled so that no attachment to the real world remains."

3. The leader believes he or she knows what is best for individual members.

Because the founder of the cult is seen as the conduit through which "God"--or aliens--has revealed the truth, there can be no questioning of his or her leadership and directives. The threat of being excommunicated from the only source of salvation, keeps members under the often oppressive power of the leader.

This absolute power and knowledge--with no accountability--often leads to tragic consequences!

4. Cults tend to be emotionally and, sometimes, physically and sexually abusive.

Cults often put recruits through a grueling indoctrination period. Kevin Crawley of the University of Iowa lists these common "indoctrination techniques to recruit and maintain members into a totalist ideology."

1. Subjection to stress and fatigue

2. Social disruption, isolation and pressure

3. Self-criticism and humiliation

4. Fear, anxiety and paranoia

5. Control of information

6. Escalating commitment

7. Use of auto-hypnotism to induce 'peak' experiences

Once the recruit has been mentally and emotionally dominated by the leader or group, physical and even sexual abuse may follow. Mo David, of the sixties Children of God cult (now called The Family), encouraged his female members to recruit new members by being "flirty fishers" who offered sex in exchange for attendance at his teaching sessions. Both Jim Jones and David Koresh believed that by having sex them their female members would become more like Christ! (Koresh allegedly had sex with young girls as part of initiation rites.) Six of the dead Heaven's Gate members, including Applewhite, had been castrated as a part of the group's dogma against sexual differences.

Often cult members are required to work long hours recruiting and raising money for the cult. The motivation for slavish labor is often a salvation by works mentality. Jehovah's Witnesses believe their salvation is, in part, assured by witnessing door to door.

5. "Christian" cults have a distorted view of Christ.

Just because a cult claims to be "Christian" doesn't mean it's following the genuine Jesus.

"Christian" Science believes Jesus is merely a grand "spiritual idea." Jehovah's Witnesses teach that Jesus "is no more than a perfect man" rather than God incarnate. His resurrection was spiritual, so "The man Jesus is dead, dead forever." Mormon leader Brigham Young declared that God ". . . was once a man in mortal flesh as we are, and is now an exalted being." Thus Christ was simply a human on his way to godhood. Sun Myung Moon, the founder of the Unification Church, believes that the priest Zacharius was the father of Jesus and thus he was "a human being and not a supernatural person." Moon believes he is the Messiah!

So, what makes a cult a "cult"?

Some cult-ish characteristics creep into all social groups from business to education to organized religion. We've all known a power-hungry, emotionally-abusive boss or know-it-all professors. Coaches can become emotionally and physically abusive to their players. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that it is "the one true Church."

The degree and number of ways the group deviates from what is considered socially acceptable and orthodox is a clue. Denominations often differ on the finer points of theology, but most consider Jesus as divine and their leaders not. Big business tries to conform its workers into a "corporate culture" which controls employees dress and thinking. Amway and other multi-level marketing companies often exhibit cult-like characteristics.

Anytime an organization attempts to control information and manipulate behavior, as well as isolating members from former family and friends, one should be concerned! The most telling clue, however, is the leader's refusal to be accountable to anyone except his vision of God, alien messengers, whoever or whatever.

When a leader feels he or she is no longer accountable to anyone else in doctrine and behavior, the movement is moving toward cult status. Jim Jones began his ministry as a member of an evangelical denomination. Marshall Applewhite was the son of a main-line denomination pastor and attended seminary. At some point, they became their own authorities rejecting both human accountability and biblical orthodoxy.

Jesus predicted that false prophets and false religions would increase (Matthew 25:10-11), but he also taught, "Listen! I am sending you out just like sheep to a pack of wolves. You must be as cautious as snakes and as gentle as doves" (Matthew 10:16, TEV).

Copyright © 1998 James N. Watkins.

Adapted from The Why Files (Concordia Publishing House, 200) To order a copy, click here.

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Here are readers' responses to the article above:

I thank you for your descriptions of cult-like behavior, etc., but of course, I must take you for task for speaking of the [Roman] Catholic Church as a cult. I think you will find if you really think it over, that it is not. We are always free to come and go, as God gives us free will. I am a Catholic and love my church.

I hope you understood that I'm not calling the Roman Catholic Church a cult, but like many religious organizations, it does have some troubling characteristics such as the Pope's "ex-cathedra" pronouncements being considered "infallible" and the churches teaching that it is the "one true church." Those are serious "red flags"! I mentioned that almost every church has some cult-like characteristics, but it is the number and degrees of them that makes a group a cult. My denomination even has a few red flags.

It might be helpful to concentrate on what you and your family can agree upon. C.S. Lewis wrote a great book called Mere Christianity that talks about various denominations and faiths (Roman Catholic, Orthodox Christianity, and Protestants) living in a big hotel. Everyone has their own little room, filled with their interpretations of Scripture, but there is a huge lobby where we believe the same things and can enjoy being with each other. Lewis calls this lobby “mere” (or essential) Christianity. So, although I may disagree with some of my Catholic brother's and sister's theology, as well as Orthodox Christianity’s holy statues, Baptist belief of eternal security and much of the Pentecostal prosperity gospel, I can still enjoy fellowship with all who subscribe to the Apostle’s Creed:

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

The phrase "holy catholic Church," incidently, means the universal church, not capital “C” Roman Catholic Church. So there is a lot that you and your family can agree upon. Concentrate on what you have in common, and prayerfully that will give you the privilege to talk to them about things you disagree on in a non-judgmental way.

You state that: "Roman Catholic Church teaches that the pope's 'ex cathedra' pronouncements are 'infallibly true' and 'must be obediently accepted.'" This is very true. But here is something that I bet you didn't know: there has only been one ex cathedra statement in the last one thousand years. Catholics accept what the Church declares about matters of faith and morals, and only about faith and morals, as 100% true. The Catholic Church cannot tell us things like "you must buy Colgate toothpaste" or "you can't use the telephone ever again." The bishops, priests, etc., can say that, of course, and one should probably think about what they say, but statements like those are not necessarily more or less binding than a statement of yours or mine. Sincerely, John Meunier jmeunie91584@hotmail.com March 10, 2001

Thanks for the perspective, John!

Isn't it amazing how people who persecute religious freedom are invariably promoting a cult view? Talking about you here, Jim. On your page about cults you outlined your opposition to individuals who claimed unique knowledge of Christ. Later in your site there is your description of your personal opinion on your view of Christ. Isn't it just one cultist attacking others who have different views? Surely because people believe something different to you, are they aren't bad. I say they are just different. dupisha@dingoblue.net.au January 11, 2001

Thanks for your good questions! I trust that what I've written in the site on Jesus is not my "personal opinion," but based on what The Bible teaches about Him. I firmly believe in the authenticity and authority of The Bible. So, that is the standard by which I assess anyone's--including my own, fallible--beliefs. Granted, there are a ton of ways that humans have interpreted Scripture, we still must have a "Bureau of Weights and Measures" to provide a standard for orthodoxy and heresy. (Imagine trying to buy an ounce of gold if the buyer and seller have very different ideas on what an ounce was and what constituted pure metal?) Jesus does teach that there is only one "way, truth, and life" (John 14:6). You'll need to take up your view of "different" with Him.

I have a friend who's dabbling in Taoism. Am I weird, off base, or should we avoid those teachings? I guess I was surprised to hear him say he reads and throws out what doesn't help. Not sure of his exact wording. I am a little concerned that we even 'dabble' in the eastern religions. Maybe I am more touchy about it because my mother's family has been so involved in the "weirdness" of the world. Palm readings, table levitation, ouija board, etc. I try to stay as far away from anything like that as I can. Please advise. [Name withheld], December 10, 2001

There is some "good teaching" even in eastern religions and New Age philosophy. I've really grown as a Christian reading Catholic "mystics," but I think I'm grounded enough in Scripture that I can sort out the gold from the gravel. However, I've met many people who just take it all in. And it's especially disturbing to hear the surveys that document how little Christians actually read their Bibles! (One "Christian" at a book signing was really into "healing crystals." The one who created crystals is the healer , not the chunk of rock!")

The Apostle Paul, particularly in Acts, does seem to have a good understanding of the pagan religions in that time, so it's helpful to know what other's believe so we can present the truth.

So, I think it's one of those Romans 14 things. Some can have great discernment and not be taken in by unbiblical concepts (and can reach those in false religions and cults), and some need to stay far away from pagan teaching.

However, I believe, the occult is an entirely different situation. "Human philosophy" is a search, I believe, for God's ultimate truth (they just don't know that it's God who is creating that desire to find His truth) Witchcraft and the occult, seem to me, to be a search for Satan's power.

The book of Ecclesiastes is the journal of Solomon's search for meaning through different philosophies. The search led him to God. But here's the sobering "rest of the story." Solomon eventually began dabbling in idolatry and the pagan religions of his day, and, as far as I understand it, lost his relationship with God.

Here's the short answer. You make a good point that it is best to stay away from anything that pulls us away from God as Lord of every area of our lives. Satan is incredibly subtle and far smarter than any of us. His lies can sound so convincing! That's why we need to depend on God's grace and mercy every step of our spiritual journey.