What is sect and what is not
By their fruits you shall know them. (Jesus Christ in Matthew 7:16)
How do you recognize a sect or a cult?
What to watch for?
• Does the group value human life? Do they rejoice at the death of others or do they think of killing themselves?
• What is the group’s attitude towards government and authorities? Is there any inherent hatred for human government and social order?
• Are there any secrets that every member of the group is to keep from outsiders even from parents or family members?
• Are the members forbidden to leave the group or threatened if they want to do so?
• Is there any training for the members how to defend themselves instead of calling for example police?
• Does the leader of the group or organization assume that he is the Christ – the Messiah?
• Do they practice body mutilation and/or blood oaths?
• Does the group set dates of the end of the world or do they try to do something chaotic to bring about the end of the world?
• Does the group use torture for offenders or very severe and inhumane discipline for faithless members?
• Are marriages arranged for the members without their consent or forced on them against their will?
• Does the group hold secret meetings in strange places, e.g. night meetings in graveyards?
• Do they invoke spirits of dead people?
Why there are sects?
By their fruits you shall know them. (Jesus Christ in Matthew 7:16)
How do you recognize a sect or a cult?
What to watch for?
• Does the group value human life? Do they rejoice at the death of others or do they think of killing themselves?
• What is the group’s attitude towards government and authorities? Is there any inherent hatred for human government and social order?
• Are there any secrets that every member of the group is to keep from outsiders even from parents or family members?
• Are the members forbidden to leave the group or threatened if they want to do so?
• Is there any training for the members how to defend themselves instead of calling for example police?
• Does the leader of the group or organization assume that he is the Christ – the Messiah?
• Do they practice body mutilation and/or blood oaths?
• Does the group set dates of the end of the world or do they try to do something chaotic to bring about the end of the world?
• Does the group use torture for offenders or very severe and inhumane discipline for faithless members?
• Are marriages arranged for the members without their consent or forced on them against their will?
• Does the group hold secret meetings in strange places, e.g. night meetings in graveyards?
• Do they invoke spirits of dead people?
Why there are sects?