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Andrea,

that, of course, can be said of cults AND religions!

Great distinction! I would add that the purpose of a cult seems to be to serve itself or its leadership, rather than serving the individual member.

Blessings,
Andrea
http://www.EmpoweredSoul.com/blog

Prof Balmer should know that he doesn't need to invent his own definition of cults. There are pretty standard, academically accepted lists of characteristics.

All you need to do is google "cult characteristics" and you will get 3-4 similar and vetted lists.

One can then compare a group such as the Mormons to the list, compared to, say, Unitarians,

and see that Mormons are much more "cult=like"than Unitarians.

Whether one then dares use the word Cult to describe the Mormons in public is a political question.

In the same way that I fit most of the characteristics attributed to the class "homosexuals", but whether you dare call me one in public is a political question. Meet you in the Twin Cities Mens Room and we'll discuss the ramifications.

By your definition, didn't the first century christians tightly regulate their members? Didn't the Apostle Paul advocate not even eating with a "brother" who was a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner?

Seems pretty controlling to me. Your friends couldn't be ones that sleep around, have money, watch football every weekend or drink a lot. That's 90%+ of the people in the US.

I find it fascinating that in a forum deemed as religious, there are precious few comments related to the "Holy Scriptures" of whatever religion is being represented. Pretty telling regarding what people know about their religion.

My simple view is, most people in the West have as their religion what makes them feel good. It has little to do with anything written in the bible, koran, talmud, etc. etc. etc.

A cult is a religion with no political power.

- Tom Wolfe

I would include in that definition of a cult another point. When one is restricted to people they can associate with or even speak to outside of absolute necessity is another sign of being in a cult IMHO.