Reflection: How to Identify a Dangerous Religious Group

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By Ian Gustafson, 19, USA

When one takes an honest look at the church, they might see a good number of young people who’ve grown up in it but are frustrated with the politics and division they’ve experienced. Statistics show that many young people leave the church between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five. Among them are those who said they are searching for a church that represents the gospel in a “godlier” and more attractive way. If you are one of these people, I’m glad to inform you that—in my short life experience—I’ve found communities of believers with such qualities. They do exist.

But may I also warn you that seekers like us can be, and often are, easy targets for dangerous religious groups. As such, it is important to understand what dangerous religious groups (DRGs or more commonly known as cults) are about. Otherwise, it will be easy to fall prey to one as they do have their appeal.

Firstly, unlike common belief, members in DRGs are not uneducated and irrational fanatics. Leaders of said groups are very crafty and use carefully orchestrated logic and persuasion to gain followers in people who are searching for the truth. Secondly, the logic of DRGs is never all wrong. In fact, some of their persuasions are based on biblical ideas and they offer new and exciting insights to those weary of the church’s flaws while passionately disowning the said flaws. An encounter with such a group can easily seem like it has all the qualities that one is looking for.

So how can we tell that we’ve come into contact with a DRG? Fortunately, these groups share common traits that we can watch out for.

1. Common marks of DRGs that may appear attractive are a shared idealism, enthusiasm, and a sense of family among the members as well as chanting and singing and “love bombing.”
Members of DRGs, on the surface, will probably strike you as the friendliest people you’ve ever met. But there’s a dark side. New converts find themselves slowly exposed to manipulative twisting of Scripture, indoctrination, elitism, and a lack of privacy. Leaders of these groups use carefully designed forms of mind control through means of inadequate nutrition, sleep deprivation, peer pressure, conformity, and sometimes even threats to ensure members form a childlike dependence on the group and become frightened to question their beliefs. Once you’re in, such questions are not tolerated and total commitment to the group (which may include sacrifice and assigning money and property over to the group) is heavily emphasized.

2. In acquiring new converts, DRGs use what’s called “the bait-and-switch method.”
The New Testament warns us several times about false teachers who claim to be something they’re not. Judging by these warnings, we know that when joining a community of believers, it’s important to consider any promises that the community makes and contrast it with what you actually receive as a member. The biggest trick of some DRGs is their attempt to come across as just another Christian denomination. Using terms familiar to Christians, they claim to have great respect for the authority of God’s Word. They emphasize subjects such as salvation, faith, the need for godly leadership, and separation from the world. These things are the bait. New converts soon find that the “denomination” they’ve joined has their own version of Jesus. That’s the switch. New converts also find that these groups make presumptions about the Bible and take it out of context, create false trust and are under an essentially tyrannical leadership.

Thankfully, there are also marks of a healthy church that we can look out for while watching out for signs of DRGs. The focus of a good church is on God and a personal relationship with Christ as opposed to a focus on the leader, making additional requirements for salvation, and only accepting those who meet such requirements. Giving in a healthy church is done voluntarily, unlike in DRGs when the giving requirements are often spelled out. The congregation of a healthy church is encouraged to judge whether or not what they’re taught is consistent with the message of the Scriptures. Questions or analytical thinking is not frowned upon. Manipulative techniques of persuasion is not tolerated, for it is believed that the Holy Spirit is able to move people in ways we can’t. Biblical principles are taught, resulting in the personal growth of believers as opposed to the inculcation of childlike dependency in DRGs where the leaders make all critical decisions.

But most of all, a good, healthy church is what it is, not because of what they add or take away from the Bible, but because of their love and devotion to the One who inspired it.

This reflection is based on the Discovery Series booklet How To Identify A Dangerous Religious Group? by Mart De Haan. Read the Discovery Series booklet here.