This continues our look at cults. In a previous post (scroll down for that blog entry) we saw the first four — and essential — characteristics that define a cult.
These two additional characteristics complete the list of those “markers” that all pseudo-Christian cults have in common:
5. Elevation of a person to godhood, either by that person's own earning of that status, or by the “becoming one with” God. (This is a variant of the aberrant view of God: see previous characteristic # 1.)
6. Devaluation of the Bible: either by claiming that it must be translated or interpreted only by the group, or by the ranking of the Bible below other writings of the group.
7. The last essential marker of a cult is its claim to administer what Christians would define as salvation, and the cult's exclusivity in this administration/instruction/method.
In the next post, I will continue to list things that often characterize cults.
