WHAT IS A CULT?
The term "cult" is a pejorative label used to describe certain religious groups outside of the mainstream of Western religion. Exactly which groups should be considered cults is a matter of disagreement amongt researchers in the cult phenomena, and considerable confusion exists. However, three definitions dominate the writings of social scientists, Christian counter-cult ministries, and secular anticultists.Social scientists tend to be the least pejorative in their use of the term. They divide religious groups into three categories: churches, sects, and cults. "Churches" are the large denominations characterized by their inclusive approach to life and their indentification with the prevailing culture. In the United States, the churchly denominations would include such groups as the Roman Catholic Church, the United Methodist Church, the American Baptist Church, the United Church of Christ and the Protestant Episcopal Church. Groups that have broken away from the churchly denominations are termed "sects." They tend to follow the denominations in most patterns but are more strict in doctrine and behavioral demands placed upon members and emphasize their separation and distinctiveness from the larger culture (frequently spoken of as a "rejection of worldliness"). Typical sects have disavowed war (Quakers and Mennonites), championed controversial religious experiences (pentecostals), and demanded conformity to detailed codes of dress, personal piety, and moral conduct (the holiness churches). Sects such as the fundamentalist Christian groups have argued for a stringent orthodoxy in the face of the doctrinal latitude allowed in most larger church bodies. More extreme sect bodies have developed patterns and practices which have largely isolated them from even their closest religious neighbors--snake-handling, drinking poison, alternative sexual relationships, unusual forms of dress.
While most sects follow familiar cultural patterns to a large extent "cults" follow an altogether different religious structure, one foreign and alien to the prevalent religious communities. Cults represent a force of religious innovation within a culture. In most cases that innovation comes about by the transplantation of a religion from a different culture by the immigration of some of its members and leaders. Thus during the twentieth century, Hinduism and Buddhism have been transplanted to America. In sociological terms, Hindu and Buddhist groups are, in America, cults. Cults may also come about through religious innovation from within the culture. The Church of Scientology ad the Synanon Church are new religious structures which emerged in American society without any direct foreign antecedents.
When social scientists began their discussion of cults in the 1920s, they were aware of only a few cult groups, well-known groups which they could not fit into their more crucial debates about churches versus sects--theosophy, Christian Science, spiritualism, and the two large Hindu groups: the Vedanta Society and the Self-Realization Fellowship. Elmer Clark's pioneering survey of The Small Sects in America (1949) listed fourteen New Thought bodies and thirteen Esoteric bodies, showing an awareness of some twenty-seven cults (plus a few others such as the black Jews considered in the body of his text)
I believe you visited this site, but here is the URL , where you can also see a list of the most commonly accepted cults
IOW, the answer is not a simple yes/no globally applicable to all cults. You would have to name a particular belief system and reveal the adherents and their activities. If you were to do this, then I would be able to research and observe their tenets, members and activities and refer back to Matthew 7:15-23, Galatians 5:22-23 and 1 John 4 to test the spirits, looking for all of these: profession of faith, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. If any of these fruits of the Spirit were missing, then I would discern the spirit as false and turn away.
Almo , I have to say you do not hold a Christian view of salvation. Remembering that Satan is the liar and the deceiver and the imitator of God , he is capable of false fruit . Judas preached the gospel and did miracles yet he betrayed Christ. We are not saved by works.
The fact one is lost without the Jesus of the Bible is why churches send out Missionaries..at the following of the command of Christ.
Their is no other name by which one will be saved.
Jesus said I am the way the truth an the light NO MAN COMES TO THE FAHTER BUT BY ME
There are clean living atheists , and Buddhists that do good work , but they are not saved..at least according to the bible I read.
I have a bit of a scriptural teaching for you AG..the bible was written to those that were already saved.The church . Without the illumination of the Holy Spirit it is gibberish to those that are perishing .
You do not seem to want to give a direct answer to my question..(which may be an answer in itself:>)
Can one be saved without a faith in Jesus Christ as their savior?
And thank you for the above link! I do not recall surfing there before, but I did follow through and found an even more exhaustive and current website for gathering information on obscure and/or bizarre belief systems. The information is alphabetized and color coded for easy research. Fascinating website … a database with current events for research on cults and anti-cults and anti-anti-cults.
Lurkers may find their biography of J. Gordon Melton quite illuminating. He is the founder of the Institute for the Study of American Religion whose site you linked above. He also is a founder of CESNUR and runs the U.S. operation. Strangely, he also runs the U.S. chapter of The Transylvania Society of Dracula I also found it quite interesting that he filed an amicus curiae to the court on behalf of the Church of Scientology; it is referenced in this declaration by Jeffrey Hadden.
Food for thought…