|
Cults
Would
you recognize a Cult?
The
following page will help you identify a cult and tell you what to do if you feel
you are being harassed by members of a cult.
How
to Identify a Cult
Here's
a few guidelines to recognize a cult. If several of these apply to a group which
has approached you, think twice before getting involved.
-
Do they put the demands of the group
before family, school, and interests?
-
Are they vague about what their beliefs
are until you're in the group?
-
Does the leader demand unquestioning
agreement or obedience?
-
Is the leader a charismatic person who
claims special spiritual powers?
-
Does the group change your sleeping and
eating patterns?
-
Does the group keep you in constant
group situations & promote dependency?
-
Does the group feel that only they have
spiritual truth and that all other groups and churches are wrong?
-
Do group members keep contacting you
even after you have told them you are not interested?
What
Should You Do If You Think You Have Been Approached by Members of a Cult?
Contact:
Campus
Ministry at 508.929.8636 or 508.929.8017 or the Counseling Department at 508.929.8072.
In
recent years it has come to the attention of the college that an area church has
been active on campus. This church,
which goes by several names, has been recently banned by several schools for
cult-like tactics on the college campus. Some
of the names of this church include the International
Church of Christ, the Worcester Church of Christ, the Boston Church of Christ
and the Christian Family Fellowship.
Some of the
practices of this group include:
-
Heavy proselytizing and religious
harassment for the sake of gaining converts.
-
Deceptive recruitment - often calling
the "Church" by another name so as to avoid negative stereotyping.
-
Mandatory tithing. Members are required
to donate a certain percentage of income and may be shamed into this.
-
Psychological and spiritual abuse. This
may include strict obedience to leaders without questions, violation of
confidentiality, dependency on the group and fear of reprisals for leaving it.
-
Eventual pressure to cut ties with
family and friends.
Worcester
State College has had a long tradition of supporting religious freedom through
the Campus Ministry department, a Campus Ministry House and student clubs
affiliated with Campus Ministry. The following groups are officially recognized by WSC and do not engage in destructive
religious practices.
Officially
Recognized Groups:
-
Catholic
Campus Ministry
-
Campus
Ambassadors
-
Newman
Club
If
you have any questions about whether a group has been officially recognized by
WSC, please call Campus Ministry at 508.929.8017 or 508.929.8636.
|
