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The Line Between Religion and Cults by Crystal Lewis
To
talk about a cult, one must start by defining it. I’ve read on several occasions that cults are like porn, “You know them when you see them,” but that is intangible, abstract. The best definition I have seen is from an accused cult leader, Mike Bickle, the founder of the of International House of Prayer (IHOP), who has defined these seven ways to recognize the difference between a religion and a cult: • opposing critical thinking • isolating members and penalizing them for leaving • emphasizing special doctrines outside of scripture • seeking inappropriate loyalty to their leaders
Aum Shinrikyo—Leader: Shoko Asahara. Active: 1984 to Present (as Aleph and Hikari no Wa). Peak Membership: 40,000+
