What is a cult and how do we define them. First what do we mean by “cult” The dictionary says this: “A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader. The followers of such a religion or sect.”(The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved)

Historically cults have been identified as deviant from the predominant cultural religion. Christianity was considered a Hebrew cult by the Romans. When we speak of a cult today we tend to think of it in terms of a false religion.

I have always had a short check list for determining a cult.

A. Do they alter the deity or biblical version of Jesus as Christ?

B. Do they add or subtract from the bible?

C. Do they worship anything but Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit?

D. Are they exclusionary believing they have the only true way to God and/or heaven?

The problem with this method is that it places the Roman Catholic Church, 7th Day Adventist and perhaps even the Church of Christ in a cult category and most people do not agree with those being on the list. But perhaps we should abandon that idea and stricly say what we mean by using the term “Unbiblical Church” or even bring back the word “Heretical” and “Heresy”. Those words were abused and distorted by the Roman Catholic Church. But they are more accurate to what we are saying and allow for more clear assertions and defenses. Cult is abstract really. A Buddhist in India would not be considered to be a cult but one in Texas would. This kind of designation is really unhelpful for the Christian and indefensible for the Buddhist. However ever referring to Buddhism as “biblical heresy” would then make it clear to a Christian exactly what the speaker mean and then allows the Buddhist to either agree or perhaps even make a case biblically for his beliefs. This is an extreme of course, but you can see the relevance then when we bring back into the discussion Papal Catholicism. Calling it Biblical Heresy would then open a discussion for what about it seemed in opposition to the biblical teachings and a discussion could follow. Going back then to my criteria instead of my 4 points determining a cult they could then be used to describe a church as unbiblical or heretical, providing a much less subjective critique.