Difference between revisions 314626 and 314773 on enwiki

<i>For this article to have the [[neutral point of view]], it should say '''who''' considers each listed a group a "cult" and '''why''', balanced by similar info about those who disagree with the "cult" designation. Otherwise, it's just a list of groups that have somehow acquired a bad reputation.</i>

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This is a list of organizations, religious groups, and sects which are purported to be cults.
As described in the [[cult]] article, there exist several different, conflicting, definitions of what a "cult" is, in widespread use. And even once a definition is agreed upon, there is still sometimes widespread disagreement as to what entities fit under that definition. Therefore, this page exists merely to list those which are commonly described as such without expressing any view on whether they do in fact fall under one or more of those definitions.
Please add to the list, but do not remove items merely because you disagree as to their status.


=== Amway ===
Critics, many of them former Amway distributors, claim that [[Amway]] distribution networks (which technically are independent from the company itself) are cults or cultlike.
They claim that the distribution networks
encourage people to dedicate their lives to efforts that usually will make them little money,
encourage people to not think for themselves,
encourage unthinking fanaticism for Amway products,
encourage people to deceive others and hide the truth from outsiders,
and use [[mind control]] and psychological pressure to encourage people to join the organization and to discourage them from leaving.   

On its Web site, the company denies that it is a cult. "No, Amway Corporation is a business and, similar to other large and established companies, has a distinct environment defined by shared business goals. Shared business philosophies should not be misinterpreted as a cult."

References:
* http://www.ex-cult.org/Groups/Amway/ (Ex-Cult Resource Center)
* http://www.amway.com/infocenter/questions/question13.asp (Amway)

=== Bruderhof ===
The Bruderhof is considered a cult primarily by its former members, though not all former members would agree with that designation.

Founded in 1920 by Eberhard Arnold, the Bruderhof is a totally communal organization, in which all property is owned by the church, and members' needs are met out of church resources.  Revenues are generated from a number of businesses which the Bruderhof either runs or has financial interests in.

In structuring the Bruderhof, Arnold was inspired by the example of the [[Hutterites]], a 16th Century [[Anabaptist]] group which pioneered the communal church form.  The Bruderhof's relationships with present-day Hutterites has been stormy.  The Bruderhof was accepted into the Hutterite Church in the 1920s, excommunicated in the 1960s, re-accepted in the 1970s, and re-excommunicated in the 1990s.

Former members sometimes claim that the Bruderhof uses techniques that amount to [[mind control]] to gain and retain members.  The Bruderhof itself dismisses such charges.

References:
* http://www.bruderhof.org (The official web-site of the Bruderhof)
* http://www.perefound.org (The Peregrine Foundation, an association of former Bruderhof members)
* http://www.perefound.org/xcsob_90.html A copy of the letter of excommunication from the Lehrerleut and Dariusleut Hutterites to the Society of Brethren, or Arnold Leut, (Bruderhof) of Woodcrest, New York. (Note: the third Hutterite group, the Schmiedeleut, severed there ties with the Bruderhof several years later.)

=== Christian Science ===
Many [[Evangelicalism|Evangelicals]] consider [[Church of Christ, Scientist]], a cult.
They claim that Christian Science redefines words in the Bible, rejects the Trinity, denies the existence of sin and hell, attempts to explain away the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and purports a lack of need for salvation of the soul.

References:
*http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Cults/science.htm

=== Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ===
The [[Christian countercult movement]] considers the [[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] a cult because the church rejects the traditional doctrine of the [[Trinity]], has scriptures in addition to the [[Bible]], and has various other unorthodox beliefs and practices.

References:
*http://invitation.to/dance/cults-mormon.htm
*http://www.lds.org (official church site)

=== Church of Scientology ===
The Church of [[Scientology]], founded by [[L. Ron Hubbard]], uses a form of psychotherapy called [[Dianetics]] that some people claim is designed to hypnotize members into a more weak-minded and paranoid state. The church is said to persuade some members to become slaves. Critics say the church seems to function as a for-profit organization, as it requires fixed-price donations for many of its services. An extensive discussion of the cult allegations against Scientology are included in the [[Scientology|Wikipedia article]] on the church.

On its Web site, Scientology says it is not a cult but "a religion in the fullest sense of the word." It also says:
: Scientology is unique in that it does not require or tell anyone to "believe" anything. Rather, Scientology believes every individual should think for himself. In Scientology, what is true for the individual is only what he has observed personally and knows is true for him. Scientology is not authoritarian, but offers a technology one can use and then decide whether it works for him.

References:
*http://www.scientology.org/ (official site)
*http://www.xenu.net/roland-intro.html
*http://www.xenu.net/archive/FAQ/answer_for_kids.html
*http://www.google.com/search?q=co+cientology (Google search for "CO$" and "$cientology", terms that appear often in anti-Scientology writings)

=== International Churches of Christ ===

The International Churches of Christ is a Bible-based church claiming about 130,000 members (2001) that emphasizes total commitment to its teachings. It has been called a cult by both the [[Christian countercult movement]] and some secular critics. Although most of its theology is [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical]], the Christian countercult movement has raised objections to its belief that it essentially is the only church following the true gospel. They and secular critics claim that the church is extremely aggressive in proselytizing, seeks to control its members, and exerts undue psychological pressue to keep people in the church. News reports indicate that some colleges have banned the church from proselytizing on their campuses.

The church responds to such allegations on its Web site:
:What, then, do we say to the charge that we are a cult? If the charge is the same that was leveled against the early church, then we are glad to be identified with them. "But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect" (Acts 28:22). If, however, the charge is the same as that leveled against destructive extremist groups in our day, then we say, "No!" We, the members of the International Churches of Christ, are nothing more than disciples of Jesus Christ who are attempting to restore the movement that God began in the first century. That movement turned the world upside down in its day, just as we expect it to do today.

References
*http://www.icoc.org/ (official church site)
*http://www.reveal.org/ (site run by former members) 


=== Jews for Jesus ===

Some Jewish critics have called [[Jews for Jesus]] a cult or claim it uses cultlike tactics to seek converts. They claim that it often deceives people in saying who they are and exploits people's religious insecurities. Many of the critics sharply disagree with the organization's claim that it is possible to become a Christian yet remain Jewish.

The organization says in a letter to a member on its Web site that those concerned about Jews for Jesus being a cult have "been influenced by propaganda promulgated by those who would detract from the credibility of your witness and ours. Some Jewish community leaders spread this kind of misinformation in order to counteract Jewish evangelism, which they erroneously consider a threat to Jewish survival. ... If your friend finds Jesus as her Savior, she will measure our doctrine and our conduct in the light of the Scriptures. Then she will know that Jews for Jesus is not a cult."

References
*http://www.jewsforjudaism.org/j4j-2000/html/FAQ/ (Jews for Judaism FAQ)
*http://www.jfjonline.org/ (Jews for Jesus official site)

=== Unification Church ===

The [[Unification Church]] has been called a cult for religious heresy, alleged corruption in its top leadership, [[mind control]], and (in the past) fears that its members would commit mass suicide.

The church does have a novel view of the trinity (and of Jesus' divine nature), but is accepted as Christian to some extent. Allegations of corruption are based primarily on Rev. Moon's conviction in the early 1980s on charges of criminal tax fraud, although the amount allegedly underpaid was less than $7,500 and the case was initiated nearly ten years after the fact based on the first three returns Rev. Moon filed after coming to the US. The jury is still out on charges of mind control, with critics' accusations balanced by church insistence that its recruitment and indoctrination techniques are no different from any Christian denomination. Fears of mass suicide, played up in the aftermath of the [[People's Temple]] disaster of 1980, have proven false in the succeeding two decades, and the church considers suicide a terrible sin (suicides go to hell).

Another criticism of the Unification Church is that it is centered to an extreme degree around its leader, the Reverend [[Sun Myung Moon]], whom the members of the Church believe to be the Messiah.

=== Others ===
* [[est]] / Landmark Education
* [[Jehovahs Witnesses]]
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===Shared Practices===

The beliefs and practices of the organizations often referred to as cults vary greatly from one group to another.  Nonetheless, there are a number of traits shared by such groups that are noted by critics as the tell-tale "signs" of cultish behavior:

* Authoritarianism - control of the organization stems from an absolute leader or a small circle of elite commanders
* Infallability - the chosen philosophy is the only path to salvation, and all others are worthless
* [[Shunning]] - encouragement of members to sever communications and relationships with friends and family members
* Secret doctrines - certain "secret" teachings that must not ever be revealed to the outside world

===External Links===

* [http://www.neopagan.net/ABCDEF.html The <b>Advanced Bonewits Cult Detection and Evaluation Frame</b>] (ABCDEF), by [[Isaac Bonewits]].  A 15-point "checklist" of the factors that can be used for personal evaluation of groups that may be classified as cults.