Some "Definitions" of the word "Cult"
1. Dr Walter Martin quotes from the preface
of Dr Charles Braden's book, These Also Believe his definition: "By the term cult I mean nothing derogatory to any group so classified. A cult, as I define it, is any religios group which differs significantly in some one or more repects as to belief or practice from
those religious groups which are regarded as the normative expressions of religion in our total culture." "I may add to this
that a cult might also be defined as a group of people gathered about a specific person or person's mis-interpretation of the Bible." (Dr Walter Martin, The Kingdom of the Cults, Bethany House Publishers, 1996:11)
2. "A 'cult' is a religious group that has a 'prophet'-founder called of God to give a special message not found in the Bible itself,
often apocalyptic in nature and often set forth in 'inspired' writings. In deference to this charismatic figure or these 'inspired' writings,
the style of leadership is authoritarian and there is frequently and exclusivistic outlook, supported by a legalistic lifestyle and
persecution mentality." (Dr Ruth A. Tucker, Another Gospel, Academie Books, 1989:16)
3. "A 'cult' is defined as a dissenting party from an established church and espousing manifestly unorthodox doctrines. A better
term, in my opinion, is 'distinctive faith group', since this avoids a value-laden, and often self-serving label." (Dr Robert
H. Countess, The Jehovah's Witnesses' New Testament, Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co, 1982:1)
4. "From our perspective, a group earns the label 'cult' or 'cultic' on the basis of its methods and behaviors, not on the basis of its
beliefs…It is not beliefs that we oppose, but the exploitative manipulation of a person's faith and trust in other human beings. Cults use deception, manipulation, and psychologically coercive methods of persuasion (which we call 'thought-reform techniques')
to attract, recruit, convert, hold on to, and ultimately exploit their devotees." (Madeleine Landau Tobias and Janja Lalich,Captive Hearts, Captive Minds, Hunter House, 1994:5) Hierdie twee persone was beide lede van kultes. Madeleine is ’n psigoterapeut
terwyl Janja redakteur van Cultic Studies Journal is en ook betrokke is by ’n ondersteunigsgroep vir ex-kultelede.
Japie
Grobler, 5 Junie 2000
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