Has anybody belonged to a cult? You know Reverend Sun Young Moon or Tony & Susan Alamo Type, Jim Jones or the like?
Everyone is a CULT unto themselves Dont care if yer a Christian, Jew, Mooslum, Buddhist, Atheist er what
The Alamos always used to put their propaganda handbills on my windshield at the mall. Also, I was raised in a Pentecostal church. That's the best I can do for ya.
I once went with a couple to some kind of spiritual meeting. They were pushing hard for recruitment and for awhile I thought they weren't gonna let me leave. Pretty scary. Lifespring, or Eternal Spring. Spring Hope. I don't recall the name. 5-0
Never a member myself, but I've been around members and heard about some of the local ones in rural Wisconsin. It's about what you'd expect --- the head gets tons of money somehow and the minions make it for him (it's never a "her"). What is essentially slave labor will drive local businesses to get the leader the money and accusations will be brought up in the general public, but secrecy usually keeps them outta legal trouble until a law enforcer gets brave. Or, in the case of that Texas Fundy Morman group, an anonymous false tip accuses em of child rape/abuse/etc.
All I'll say is there are two major points that Christianity has generally considered to identify a cult: 1. Any extra-biblical writings considered "inspired" 2. Its view on the nature of Jesus 3. Its view on OVJ consumption Oh, I said two didn't I?
Well sure. Any cult's definition of the word is going to include language that excludes itself. Winky face.
