Recently I’ve been questioned on my use of the phrase “cult minded” when referencing the church I grew up in. In my research I have found the following checklist from the Cult Education Institute to be very helpful and informative. You can read more by visiting
https://culteducation.com/warningsigns.html
Ten warning signs of a potentially unsafe group/leader
- Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability.
- No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry.
- No meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget, expenses such as an independently audited financial statement.
- Unreasonable fear about the outside world, such as impending catastrophe, evil conspiracies and persecutions.
- There is no legitimate reason to leave, former followers are always wrong in leaving, negative or even evil.
- Former members often relate the same stories of abuse and reflect a similar pattern of grievances.
- There are records, books, news articles, or television programs that document the abuses of the group/leader.
- Followers feel they can never be “good enough”.
- The group/leader is always right.
- The group/leader is the exclusive means of knowing “truth” or receiving validation, no other process of discovery is really acceptable or credible.
Have you ever experienced any of this?
That’s a great way to describe the term “cult-minded”. Unfortunately, some churches do fall into those traps. I would add one descriptor, if I were describing an organization with this mindset: Often, they are very sceptical of any other group not exactly like them, and many times it’s apparent they will not associate with any other organization/church (or very few) in order to maintain control of the group.
Josh, I love that descriptor and agree 100%. Good stuff!
Wow! I had no knowledge about these warnings. This is the first I have seen them and it is eye opening to hold up religious organizations to these warnings and recognize the pattern of cult minded thinking. It’s saddening and frightening.
It’s very frightening, Jacob. So many of them out there…
This is Jack Hyles.
Tara, while I’ve never been directly under the Jack Hyles type of preaching and cannot personally attest to this, you are certainly not the first person I’ve heard this from. Thank you for your feedback!