13 Signs a Church is really a Cult:
1.
The church leader has an overly charismatic and arrogant personality.Watch the leader of the church and examine their behavior. Determine if they are trying to spread their religion or are out for personal gain. Avoid churches that have arrogant, pompous, or angry leaders.
2.
Followers treat the leader as if that person is God themselves.It may almost seem like the church exists to worship this individual rather than God, and the church’s websites and marketing pamphlets feature mostly pictures of the leader.
3.
The church uses intimidation and fear to control its followers.A cult often uses threats and fears to keep their membership in line. Threats could come in the form of a calamity sent by God or the threat of isolation from family and friends.
4.
The church puts you through humiliating and degrading activities.You may be asked to stand in front of other members while being screamed at or otherwise humiliated. However, you’re asked not to react in any way. You can’t flinch, move, or fight back.
5.
The church gives special benefits to a group of “superior” members.Many cults have a group of leaders who receive special benefits or don't have to abide by the same rules as other members.
6.
The church has strict rules and guidelines.Cults thrive on the unquestioning obedience of their membership. Often, a cult's rules will be arbitrary, and many of them will benefit the leader or leadership of the cult. There are often harsh punishments for breaking the rules, including ex-communication or mandatory physical labor.
7.
The church attempts to control what and how you think.Thought control can be done through more subtle manipulation or overt mind control techniques. Things like hypnosis, group peer pressure, and mandatory isolation are common mind-control techniques that religious cults use to control their members.
8.
The church isolates you from friends and family.Cults use isolation so that they can manipulate you and prevent you from figuring out that the organization is a cult. Avoid churches requiring mandatory isolation or cutting ties with family and friends.
9.
The church takes an “us vs. them” approach.Many cults will have an elitist doctrine that sees themselves as superior to those outside of the cult. Cults often convince members that they are an elite group of people born to save the world or change the course of human history.
10.
The church isn’t transparent about how it functions.If you ask questions about the group's rules and the church's leaders become defensive or angry, it may be a sign that you're in a cult. Real churches will have explanations for their rules or can point to some scripture or text that explains them.
11.
The church asks you to perform unwanted favors.If the church members or leadership consistently pressure you to do favors for them that are outside of the scope of the church, it's a sign that the church is a cult.
12.
The church promotes ideas of prophecy or mass suicide.Many cults will obsess over a fabricated prophecy that doesn't align with churches in the same religion or talk about mass suicide.
13.
The church makes you feel afraid to leave.Cults will often have severe punishments in place for those who decide to leave the church. Common consequences could include a punishment directly from God or being prevented from talking to family and friends within the church.
