Marks of a Cult
- Authoritarian. There is almost always a central,
- Charismatic, living human leader who commands total loyalty and allegiance.
- Oppositional. Their beliefs, practices and values are counter to those of the dominant culture.
- Exclusivistic. They are the only group that possesses the “truth.”
- Legalistic. Rules and regulations abound governing spiritual matters and the details of everyday living.
- Subjective. They emphasize the experiential, the feelings and the emotions. This is usually accompanied by an anti-intellectualism.
- Persecution-conscious. The groups feel they are being singled out by mainstream Christians, the press, parents, and the government.
- Sanction-oriented. They require conformity in practice and belief, and exercise sanctions against the wayward.
- Esoteric. They promote a religion of secrecy and concealment. Truth is taught on two levels, inner truth and outer truth.
- Anti-sacerdotal. There are no paid clergy or professional religious functionaries.