|
Definition
of a cult |
|
The group is led by a one or a few individuals, charismatic,
determined, domineering. |
Y |
The Catholic Pope |
|
The leader(s) are self-appointed and claim to have a special
mission in life. Frequently, that mission is messianic or apocalyptic. |
Y |
The Catholic Pope |
|
Leaders answer to no higher authority, such as an oversight
board. They are sole interpreters of doctrine and policy -- which
may change frequently and whimsically. |
Y |
The Catholic Pope |
|
The group centers its veneration on the leader(s) directly,
rather than on God, a higher political power, science, or whatever. |
Y |
The Catholic Pope |
|
The group structure is hierarchical and authoritarian.
Rarely will you find an open election in a cult. |
Y |
The Catholic Pope, Archbishop, Bishop..etc, etc. |
|
The group tends to be totalitarian, with elaborate
rules and rituals that occupy large parts of every day. To break
a rule or ignore a ritual carries the danger of expulsion from
the group. |
Y |
Many, in fact most of the Catholic rituals are
not Biblically based. |
|
The group usually has two or more sets of ethics: one for
the leadership, another for the membership; one for outsiders,
another for insiders; a relaxed set for recruiting purposes,
a much more demanding set for the committed member. |
Y |
Priests who admit sexual molestation are transferred,
If a lay person admits this to his Priest, he is obligated by
law to report it. |
|
The group usually presents itself as innovative and
exclusive, even elitist. |
Y |
They claim to be the only true religion and
claimed to be ordained by God himself |
|
The group has two main purposes: recruiting new members
and fund-raising. It's unlikely to support or even encourage
legitimate charity work, except as a front for recruitment. |
Y |
The
Catholic Church is the largest business in the world in terms
of profit and geography, and is a private corporation. |