ApostateAbe

My theory of Christianity's beginning is that Christianity started as a cult, much like the dangerous cults we see today, and that Jesus was the original cult leader. This idea sprung up when I read a checklist of cult characteristics on the web. I used the list to positively identify two cults that attempted to recruit me in my college days. This list seems to align significantly with early Christianity as it is presented in the New Testament.

Characteristics Associated with Cultic Groups - Revised

Janja Lalich, Ph.D. & Michael D. Langone, Ph.D.

published in the Cult Sudies Journal of the International Cultic Studies Association

http://www.csj.org/infoserv_cult101/checklis.htm

1. The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.
2. Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.
3. Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s).
4. The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel (for example, members must get permission to date, change jobs, marry--or leaders prescribe what types of clothes to wear, where to live, whether or not to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth).
5. The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s) and members (for example, the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar--or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity).
6. The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society.
7. The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations).
8. The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members' participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (for example, lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities).
9. The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt in order to influence and/or control members. Often, this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion.
10. Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group.
11. The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.
12. The group is preoccupied with making money.
13. Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities.
14. Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members.
15. The most loyal members (the 'true believers') feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave (or even consider leaving) the group.

I hope to cite New Testament passages for all or most of these fifteen items as part of my athevangelist handbook to explain how I think Christianity began. For example,

1. Matthew 26:20-22, 26:33
2. Matthew 12:38-39
3. 1 Corinthians 14:23

If you don't think Christianity began this way, I would like to hear it. But what I would really like are further Bible passages that match with this list, and that would save me some time.

Godless Wonder

Check out the book of Acts, specifically the story of Sapphira and Ananias. They were murdered for failing to give enough of their own money to the church, then Peter blaimes the murder on God, and uses the story to browbeat others out of their money, and they use the story that way "to this day," as they say in Biblespeak.

GakuseiDon

Someone posted a link here recently to an interesting article that looked at the similarities between the development of the Nation of Islam and early Christianitity. You may find the parallels useful. (I can't find that link unfortunately - if anyone has it, I'd appreciate it if you could post it here).

In summary, the article said that many cults start out as holding extreme beliefs initially, but then quickly become more in tune with mainstream beliefs after the founder dies or loses influence. The author looks at parallels between Malcolm X and St Paul in being moderating influences on extremist beliefs set up by an original cult leader.

ApostateAbe

Thank you. Yes, that would certainly be a part of my propaganda. That passage alone could cover several of the items.

orac

Began that way? What makes you think anything has changed??

Look how many people say that the hardest thing about deconversion is the way their friends and families refuse to have any contact with them - it's a classic trick from any cult.

Zeichman

It might be best to focus on a certain school of Christianity rather than assuming that all were the same. The Q community, for example, exhibits very few of the qualities you've listed.

Just glancing through it:
1. - It would be kind of difficult to demonstrate excessive zeal for Jesus in any Christian writings, with the possible exception of some of the Cosmic Christ material such as the Johannine gospel. Either way, Jesus' authentic teaching is (almost) totally absent from the gospel.
2. - I suppose that this could work with some Pauline stuff, patricularly in regards to the Corinthian correspondence.
3 - Evidence of this one is lacking.
4 - If one wanted to drop the context for the Corinthian correspondence, those epistles could be used. However, it seems rather, that the Corinthians were engaging in Libertine practices and Paul wished to stop them (cf the step-son/step-mom relationships and awkward explanations of the importance of the body)
5 - This would apply to the Christ cults, but Q, Markan Pronouncement source and Miracle sources all conspicuously lack reference to Jesus' messiahship. The Q community certainly viewed itself as superior in later stages, but this cannot be said of the other two sources which I mentioned.
6 - Certainly the case in most Christian writings, though this is probably due to diversity early on. (Especially Johannine writings, Markan Pronoucement source)
7 - Any Christianity which was aware of the Passion this would not apply to, for obvious reasons. Likewise, Paul himself was subjected to punishment (again, Corinthians). The early Q community probably viewed Jesus as anti-authority, but I'm not sure this would apply.
8 - The early Q community was certainly counter-cultural (having to hate one's family, etc.), but I don't see it being for the reason stated here.
9 - We're 1940-1970 years too late to tell on this one.
10 - Certainly advocated by the Q community in all stages.
11 - Paul certainly was, plausably Peter (gospel for the circumcized), but no other community, as far as I can tell, exhibited missionary work.
12 - Anything but the case. Concern for the poor/outcast are shown in almost all communities (Q, Miracle, Pauline, Jerusalem Pillars, etc.)
13 - I know of no evidence for this
14 - I don't know enough about this to respond
15 - One would expect this from apocalyptic groups such as the Pauline congregations, depending on devotion to their church. It's missing in various communities, though.

ApostateAbe

Zeichman, I am focusing on the Christianity responsible for the New Testament, primarily since modern Christianity is based on it, and fundies/evangelicals believe it is the inspired Word of God. I don't even know anything about this "Q."

Sarpedon

I posted a remarkably similar thingy yesterday, in the "Assuming the Historical Jesus Existed..." thread.

Here's a quote:

ApostateAbe

Sarpedon, that is going to help me out a lot! It is cool that you posted that.

Sarpedon

You are welcome, Abe.

For a fun filled and immensely helpful guide to the silliness of the Bible, visit: www.thebricktestament.com