WHAT IS A CULT?

The term "cult" is used loosely by many who may not be fully aware of what it means. The World Book Encyclopedia explains that "traditionally, the term cult referred to any form of worship or ritual observance." By that definition, all religious organizations would be classified as cults. However, in general usage today, the world "cult" has a different meaning. Today, while the New Age movement is not organized around one central leader, the term is generally applied to groups that follow a living leader who promotes new and unorthodox doctrines and practices.

CHRISTIANITY A CULT?

Jesus Christ was accused of being a drunkard, a glutton, a Sabbath breaker, a false witness, a blasphemer of GOD. He was also accused of being a subversive, a traitor, a common criminal. (Matthew 9:34; 11:19; 12:24; 26:65; John 8:13; 9:16; 19:12.)

After Jesus' death and resurrection, his disciples were also the target of serious accusations. One group of first century Christians were dragged to the city rulers by people crying out: 'These men have overturned the inhabited earth.' (Acts 17:6). On another occasion the apostle Paul and his companion Silas were taken by the police before the courts and charged with causing great disturbances in the city of Philippi.

THE "CATHARS" -- NOW THAT'S A CULT!

Back in the 3rd to 5th centuries as the "Donatists" and through to the 14th century as the "Cathars" good Christians were labeled a "heresy" by Roman Catholicism and the police of those times. Not much has changed in 900 years. We look at the source of these kinds of accusations, the groups involved and rest our case!

What about today? Would it be accurate to refer to the assembled good Christians as a religious group with radical views and practices that clash with what is accepted as normal social behavior? YES! Are the good Christians a cult? No.

Good Christians support all legitimate efforts and ministries which seek to monitor cults and expose their sometimes dangerous practices.

A LONG HISTORY AS THE HEIRS OF APOSTOLIC CHRISTIANITY

Is it fair to say that the good Christians are a small fringe religious group? In a sense, good Christians are very few in numbers compared to the large and comfortable churches. However, let us remember what Jesus said: "Narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it." (Matthew 7:13, 14.)

The picture of Catharism that the Roman Church have handed down to us, that is of one sole body of teachings, that these were heretical with no basis in the New Testament or life of the Early Church has been called into question by modern research, especially since the beginning of this century or thereabouts. Again, look who is calling the kettle black!

Christianity is a collection of diverse elements, older than the Roman Catholic Church and independent of it, rooted solidly in the Sayings and Teachings of Jesus Christ.

Whatever the strangeness of some of our writings, the teachings of Jesus Christ, and the expressions of Pauline and Johannine thought are always to be found at their roots, these are fundamental to New Testament Christianity.

Lets use extracts from Zoe Oldenbourg's book, Massacre at Montségur to help set the facts straight :

"The Cathars declared themselves the heirs of a tradition that was older than that held by the Church of Rome - and, by implication, both less contaminated and near in spirit to the Apostolic tradition. They claimed to be the only persons who had kept and cherished the Holy Spirit which Christ had bestowed upon His Church; and it looks as though this claim was at least partially justified. The Catharist Ritual (of which we possess two texts, both datable to the thirteenth century) demonstrates, as Jean Guiraud proves in his magnum opus on the Inquisition, that this Church possessed certain most ancient documents, which were directly inspired by the traditions of the Primitive Church."
pg. 42

"In fact - and Guiraud shows this too, by a comparison of initiation ceremonies among the Cathars with the baptism of the Catechumens in the Primitive Church - the parallelism between the two traditions is so consistent that it could not be due to mere coincidence."
pg. 42

"The very text of the Ritual as we possess it today certainly goes back to an extremely early date, [in reading it you would have] the impression that he was savouring the full flavour and vigour of primitive Christianity, rather than the theological speculations of a sect that was credited with the most highly unorthodox doctrines."
pg. 43

TEACHINGS OPPOSED TO CONSTANTINIAN CHRISTIANITY