| Labels have potential to damage. Whether it be in | | | | There is an attempt, sometimes successful to ban |
| the field of psychiatry, as in labeling someone as | | | | non-mainstream religions in these countries of the |
| being ADHD, or "bipolar," or a child being "special | | | | former USSR. The persecution that was meted out |
| education," or in the field of religion, labels stick, and | | | | to those of religions whose views did not match |
| they can be hard to shake, and are sometimes used | | | | those of the state or the state Church was severe |
| loosely to describe anyone or anything that is a little | | | | during the repression regimes of the Soviet Union and |
| bit different. A child who is labeled as being ADHD, as | | | | similar countries. |
| an example, or who knows they have been assigned | | | | Therefore, the idea is, name calling, as a way of |
| to special education, can loose a little bit of his | | | | slandering opposers is nothing new. Labeling religions a |
| dignity, self-esteem, or self-effication, that is they | | | | cult, whose views are different from one's own, is a |
| begin to think of themselves in terms of the label, | | | | tactic used by some religious leaders to put others |
| and people can start treating that child differently. | | | | down and lift themselves up. There are some |
| Other children can use the label to ridicule. | | | | websites such as that of the Christian Apologetics |
| Similarly in religion. Early Christians were considered | | | | and Research Ministry which basically attack every |
| strange to the educated Greeks and Roman | | | | other religion but there own, and have little tolerance |
| community. Those in Rome said of the Christians, | | | | for anyone. Minority religions are treated |
| "But we want to hear what your views are, for we | | | | contemptuously and labeled by such groups and |
| know that people everywhere are talking against this | | | | "ministers". |
| sect." Acts 28:22, NIT. The early Christians were | | | | In the way of solutions, better to exhibit tolerance |
| considered to be a sect, a breakoff from the Jewish | | | | and respect for others views and religions, avoid |
| religion. And other modern day commentators have | | | | labeling. In the case of religious groups which really |
| referred to first century Christians as a "cult" which | | | | are controlling, authoritarian, and are truly considered |
| revolved around Jesus of Nazareth. | | | | to be dangerous cults, and Margaret Singer does |
| Today, the term sect, bears a slightly negative | | | | have a pretty good list of those type of groups, |
| connotation, referring to, in the public eye, a breakoff | | | | then everyone should be a little wary. |
| group from a mainstream religion which might be | | | | But, in the case of a Christian religion, that accepts |
| slightly radical. In sociological terms, a sect is defined | | | | Jesus Christ as the Son of God, who preaches the |
| as, "A sect is an offshoot from a church or | | | | message of God's Kingdom, who accepts and |
| denominations, that rejects the beliefs and practices | | | | teaches that the ransom sacrifice of Jesus is the only |
| of the established churches. It limits its benefits to it's | | | | way to salvation, and even takes great efforts to |
| one members, but not to others, in contrast to the | | | | bring that message to non-Christians, differences in |
| church, whose doors are open to anyone, and | | | | interpretation of the Bible, such as involved in the |
| extends benefits to non-members, as well, whoever | | | | doctrine of the Trinity, that the Father Son and the |
| might come and visit to listen at the service." | | | | Holy Spirit are both three and one, which the Bible |
| A cult on the other hand has a slightly stronger | | | | does not explicitly teach, does not constitute that |
| meaning both in terms of its negative impact as a | | | | religion a cult, but rather, one that has as different |
| label, as well as its perception in the public mind. | | | | view of the scriptures, truthfully, a view that is more |
| Sociologically, a cult is defined as a new religion, or as | | | | fully supported by both the Hebrew Scriptures and |
| the Encarta Encyclopedia defines a cult, "A system of | | | | the religion of the early prophets, who believed in a |
| religious or spiritual beliefs, especially an informal and | | | | strictly monotheistic God, "The LORD our God is one |
| transient belief system regarded by others as | | | | LORD; or The LORD is our God, the LORD is one." |
| misguided, unorthodox, extremist, or false, and | | | | Deuteronomy 6:4, NIT. The early Christians similarly |
| directed by a charismatic, authoritarian leader." | | | | did not elevate Jesus Christ as being God, but as the |
| In the book, Cults in Our Midst by Margaret Singer, | | | | only-begotten Son of God, as Peter said, "You are |
| Ph.D., a cult has the connotation of being slightly | | | | the Christ, the Son of the living God." Matthew 16:16. |
| dangerous, controlling, and manipulating, slightly or fully | | | | And as Jesus said, "The Father is greater than I am." |
| deceitful, usually with a hidden agenda, and a religious | | | | John 14:28. |
| or other body, that revolves around a charismatic | | | | While the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are |
| leader, taking the views and authority of that leader | | | | mentioned together, Matthew 28:19,20, they are not |
| as the ultimate word in matters of doctrine, and | | | | said to be one. This is an idea that slowly developed |
| most often, in life decisions of the followers. Many | | | | centuries later. And while Jesus and God are spoken |
| cults are considered, therefore, as being dangerous, | | | | of as being "One," many view this, and the context |
| perhaps not physically, but mentally, emotionally, and | | | | of these scriptures themselves, believe that this is |
| psychologically. | | | | referring to oneness in purpose harmony and |
| At times, more mainstream religions use the term | | | | thought, rather than one of substance, that is one |
| cult or sect, in a derogatory way or as a label against | | | | and the same person. This can be seen by Jesus' |
| religions whose doctrinal views are different, who are | | | | statements, that he prayed that his followers "be |
| relatively newer in terms of age, or merely as a way | | | | one" just as he and the Father were "one". Would |
| of labeling with the intent of causing damage to the | | | | that make Jesus' disciples, then part of the Godhead? |
| reputation of the less mainstream religions of which | | | | Clearly no. |
| they identify. This can cause confusion in the mind of | | | | So, the belief in God as being a Trinity is more a |
| the public in that a cult is often perceived as being | | | | matter of religious tradition or interpretation of the |
| extreme, authoritarian, controlling and at least | | | | Scriptures, and doesn't constitute religions who do |
| somewhat dangerous. Additionally, while freedom of | | | | not accept the Trinity, as defined in the Nicene |
| worship is guaranteed in the Constitution of the | | | | Creed, as being non-Christian or a cult. Rather, it is a |
| United States, and many court cases in the 20th | | | | different way of looking at the essence of God, one |
| Century have secured freedom of worship in the | | | | that is perhaps, more fully supported by the |
| United States for all religions and religious groups, in | | | | Scriptures in the eyes of honest Christians. So then, |
| other countries freedom of religion is suppressed and | | | | encouragement is given to Christians on all sides of |
| there can be attempts to squash any | | | | the issues, don't resort to name calling, it gives a bad |
| non-mainstream religious groups, and that can even | | | | name to all Christians in the eyes of educated |
| include such groups as Baptists and Pentecostals. | | | | persons, and confuses uneducated persons, instead, |
| The term cult, and the negative connotations | | | | show respect and tolerance, as the Apostle Peter |
| associated with it has been used in countries of the | | | | said, "Always ready to make a defense [of our |
| former Soviet Union, and in such countries as Greece, | | | | Christian faith], together with a mild temper |
| in an attempt to squelch dissidence against the | | | | (GENTLENESS) and deep respect." 1 Peter 3:15. |
| mainstream state church. So while the intent of such | | | | References: |
| religious groups as Baptists or some evangelical | | | | 1. Are Jehovah's Witnesses a Cult? (October 15, |
| groups in overextending the label of cult to other | | | | 2009). Jehovah's Witnesses Headlines. |
| Christians whose views may not be as traditional as | | | | Sociological Definitions and Jehovah's Witnesses. |
| their own, it can result in long-range effects of | | | | (November 28, 2009). Jehovah's Witnesses Headlines. |
| religious suppression, persecution or governmental | | | | 2. Kornburn, William, Smith, Carolyn, D., (1994). |
| bans, if they present their case strong enough to an | | | | Sociology in a Changing World. University of New |
| already biased community. | | | | York, Graduate School and University Center, 3rd |
| Russia is an example where religious freedom is a | | | | edition. |
| relatively new phenomena, but where some would | | | | 3. Singer, Margaret T., (1995). Cults in Our Midst - The |
| like it to revert to the "good old days" when only the | | | | Hidden Menace in Our Lives. |
| Russian Orthodox Church had any say in matters. | | | | |