Thinking Things Through

[ILG]

I have been recently looking into cults. Now, before anyone jumps to any conclusions, please understand that I am NOT saying the UPC is a cult. I just want to talk through some ideas I am thinking about.

In a book I am reading, it says that many religious movements start out as cults but gain wider acceptance in the mainstream and then are just a religious movement. The writer even included Christianity in this definition saying that Christianity was a cult at it's beginning because it was a fringe group that was not accepted by the mainstream but now it is not a cult because it is so widely accepted in our society. Huh?

I am not sure I am following this.

Anyway, I have noticed that, along these lines, many groups, including the UPC, Catholicism, Mormonism, Judaism, whatever, have many people inside that seem very content in their chosen religion. It works for them. The UPC works for many people too.

It seems to be that what causes people to leave and push against the movements is abuse.

One of my kids told me that the UPC is not a cult, but that the church we pastored at the end was a cult when we took over it because of the behaviors that were going on there.

So, I am just wondering about your opinions on this. What makes a cult? Is a cult only a cult if it is small and fringe? How does abuse play into it?