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Christian cults is one designation used to distinguish between two types of so-called "mind controlcults": those having an apparent Christian basis, and those with no such basis. This definition is based on the secular cult opposition definition of "cult". Image File history File links Unbalanced_scales. ... Mind control (or thought control) has the premise that an outside source can control an individuals thinking, behavior or consciousness (either directly or more subtly). ... This article does not discuss cult in its original sense of religious practice; for that usage see Cult (religious practice). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Christianity. ... This article does not discuss cult in its original sense of religious practice; for that usage see Cult (religious practice). ...
According to this schema, a Christian cult would be defined as any religious tradition that has the following characteristics:
A body of doctrine that is at least nominally based on the Christian Bible.
A societal organization that includes the totalitarian thought-reform and life-control tactics normally considered characteristic of a cult.
Some Christian authorities extend the definition to include any organization based on nominally Christian doctrine that is aberrant from some benchmark definition of Christianity, but this definition is not accepted outside certain conservative and evangelical circles as being overly slanted and inflammatory. The concept of Totalitarianism is a typology or ideal-type used by some political scientists to encapsulate the characteristics of a number of twentieth century regimes that mobilized entire populations in support of the state or an ideology. ... Conservatism is a political philosophy that usually favors traditional values and strong foreign defense. ... The word evangelicalism usually refers to religious practices and traditions which are found in conservative, almost always Protestant Christianity. ...
The "Christian" qualifier distinguishes these groups from groups such as Scientology, which critics say fit the classic cultic pattern but are not based on Christian doctrine. Alleged examples include groups such as the Unification Church, The Way International, the Twelve Tribes, and the International Churches of Christ. These organizations have been accused of totalitarian behavior, some of which also have the added factor of a personality cult surrounding the group leader. Scientology is a system of beliefs and practices created by American pulp fiction[1][2] and science fiction [3] author L. Ron Hubbard in 1952 as a self-help philosophy. ... The Unification Church is a new religious movement started by Sun Myung Moon in Korea in the 1940s. ... The Way International is a religious organization founded by Victor Paul Wierwille. ... This is a list of the Tribes of Israel. ... International Churches of Christ, autonomous, non-denominational christian churches, a part of the Restoration Movement. ...
Another definition of Christian cults might be those Churches and Religious organisation not accepted by the mainline Christian Churches. The reason for non acceptance might be doctrinal. All the mainline Christian Churches for example accept the doctine of the Holy Trinity. Some classifications of Christian Cults would include those groups which reject that doctrine. For this category of organisation, a softer term Christian Sect might be more appropriate. For other uses, see Trinity (disambiguation). ...
Christiancults is a designation used to distinguish two types of so-called " mind controlcults": those having an apparent Christian basis, and those with no such basis.
Some Christian authorities extend the definition to include any organization based on nominally Christian doctrine that is aberrant from some benchmark definition of Christianity, but this definition is not accepted outside certain conservative and evangelical circles as being overly slanted and inflammatory.
The "Christian" qualifier distinguishes these groups from groups such as Scientology, which critics say fit the classic cultic pattern but are not based on Christian doctrine.
By 'the Christiancults' we mean those groups which, though they claim to be Christian, differ from basic Christianity to the degree that they are regarded as being in major error and thus heretical.
Christian scholars universally recognise it to be unreliable, in places dishonest, and adapted in line with the group's doctrines.
Christian Science is pantheistic, that is, it holds that God is the universe and the universe is God.