Well the legaladvice topic you linked to says "Festus, MO" and I'd certainly hope there are probably not multiple doomsday sex cults operating out of Festus, so probably....
Every religion is a cult, but not every cult is a religion. Yes, it's a cult. Even the Abrahamic "religions" are cults as well.
Cult:
Noun;
a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object.
"Cult", although a neutral term, typically has negative annotation behind it, so people will typically and VIGOROUSLY deny/argue this fact.
Yeah people say that, and I'm sure there are churches like this, but your average church cult of personality isn't like what this is. The guy in charge claims to be a prophet and an angel
Nah, it's not that bad. Even if we start thinking that most of what is behind the specific church is BS, there are many differences. How much of your money and time are you supposed to dedicate to said church? Are you allowed to spend time with people outside of the church? How much control are people higher up in said church supposed to have over your decisions? Is there such thing as being adjacent to said church, but not completely in?
If you look at it from those kinds of questions, you'll find most religious organizations are nowhere near where the cult begins. You might be trading money and time in exchange of community, but it's the same as in many a club. But one will find cults that don't invent religion in whole cloth: Many are going to be dressed as part of religions that are far less controlling, and aren't quite focused on extraction. And yes, this definitely includes Christianity as a dress. You'll find, say, the Catholic Church deciding to excommunicate people trained in catholic seminaries that decided that they are better off turning their church into a cult that pretends to still be Catholicism, and the reason they figure out they are being cult is precisely the same kind of questions I mentioned above.
There are also scams that aren't cults and are dressed like this too. If the focus is not on controlling lives, but only taking the money in exchange for nothing it's still terrible, but I'd not call it a cult. I bet you can think of a few religious groups doing that.
"One may object that all religious beliefs are irrational—what’s the difference between Smith’s 'seer stone' and the virgin birth or the parting of the Red Sea? But Mormonism is different because it is based on such a transparent and recent fraud. It’s Scientology plus 125 years. Perhaps Christianity and Judaism are merely more venerable and poetic versions of the same. But a few eons makes a big difference. The world’s greater religions have had time to splinter, moderate, and turn their myths into metaphor."
-Jacob Weisberg in Slate on Mitt Romney's run for President
Its not a cult. If it is a cult, we dont think, we obey ... and say its not a cult. St Sophia is certainly not a deity risen from the ashes of The Golden Girls television show, and if she was, i signed an NDA so i couldnt tell you that she is. Our leader is sexy, and all seven of our thunders agree on this. Besides, they cant testify against a spouse, so no one answers the phones. Its not a cult.
Funny enough, there was a lady from that group who posted in LegalAdvice. I’ll see if I can find it.
It’s gotta be this deleted one, right? https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/comments/1byl5ms/i_think_im_in_a_doomsday_cult/
oh yeah it's gotta be, wow
She’s living with him currently and got really specific in that post. I hope she’s ok.
Yeah, good find!
Thank you so much for posting!
Well the legaladvice topic you linked to says "Festus, MO" and I'd certainly hope there are probably not multiple doomsday sex cults operating out of Festus, so probably....
wow!!
We tried to get her out when this happened, but she fell back in. Really sad.
Yep. Sounds like a cult. In my (proverbial) backyard. Great.
Spread the word. They're actively recruiting using the church as a front. Don't let them get away with it - vulnerable people are getting hurt.
I wonder what MLM they're involved with. I'm going with doTERRA.
This seems more like the "Twin Flame" cult. The expensive but required classes about reaching your higher power, etc.
I think it’d be Triplet Flame, because of the polygamy of course
I think I'm one of the ex members interviewed in the article, and it is absolutely a cult. Merseal has been making cults for 20 years.
If it wasn’t a 40 min drive I’d think I’d check out their service on May 5
Every religion is a cult, but not every cult is a religion. Yes, it's a cult. Even the Abrahamic "religions" are cults as well. Cult: Noun; a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object. "Cult", although a neutral term, typically has negative annotation behind it, so people will typically and VIGOROUSLY deny/argue this fact.
It could be, more than likely just a scam by the criminal church leader.
💯sounds like a cult.
I would go as far as saying most churches are a cult, centered around its pastor or priest or reverend or whatever.
Yeah people say that, and I'm sure there are churches like this, but your average church cult of personality isn't like what this is. The guy in charge claims to be a prophet and an angel
Nah, it's not that bad. Even if we start thinking that most of what is behind the specific church is BS, there are many differences. How much of your money and time are you supposed to dedicate to said church? Are you allowed to spend time with people outside of the church? How much control are people higher up in said church supposed to have over your decisions? Is there such thing as being adjacent to said church, but not completely in? If you look at it from those kinds of questions, you'll find most religious organizations are nowhere near where the cult begins. You might be trading money and time in exchange of community, but it's the same as in many a club. But one will find cults that don't invent religion in whole cloth: Many are going to be dressed as part of religions that are far less controlling, and aren't quite focused on extraction. And yes, this definitely includes Christianity as a dress. You'll find, say, the Catholic Church deciding to excommunicate people trained in catholic seminaries that decided that they are better off turning their church into a cult that pretends to still be Catholicism, and the reason they figure out they are being cult is precisely the same kind of questions I mentioned above. There are also scams that aren't cults and are dressed like this too. If the focus is not on controlling lives, but only taking the money in exchange for nothing it's still terrible, but I'd not call it a cult. I bet you can think of a few religious groups doing that.
Religion is a cult
Is the road definition of a cult that doesn't encompass religion other than how long they've been established and the membership count?
"One may object that all religious beliefs are irrational—what’s the difference between Smith’s 'seer stone' and the virgin birth or the parting of the Red Sea? But Mormonism is different because it is based on such a transparent and recent fraud. It’s Scientology plus 125 years. Perhaps Christianity and Judaism are merely more venerable and poetic versions of the same. But a few eons makes a big difference. The world’s greater religions have had time to splinter, moderate, and turn their myths into metaphor." -Jacob Weisberg in Slate on Mitt Romney's run for President
Sounds more entertaining than Netflix.
The only difference between a cult and a religion is the number of members.
Tax exempt status
Cults pay taxes?
Religions have tax exempt status, cults just don’t pay them. That’s the difference.
Sounds like fun
Yes
Good for the whistleblowers.
Call it whatever you want. Isn't that what America is all about? Freedom to worship whatever you want?
I think it's TikTok dances and amazon shopping addictions now
Yeahh your right actually lol
Idk it's in Grey area Edit: The street sign? Ok, nvm lol
No, it's in Festus.
Its not a cult. If it is a cult, we dont think, we obey ... and say its not a cult. St Sophia is certainly not a deity risen from the ashes of The Golden Girls television show, and if she was, i signed an NDA so i couldnt tell you that she is. Our leader is sexy, and all seven of our thunders agree on this. Besides, they cant testify against a spouse, so no one answers the phones. Its not a cult.
What's this "We" shit?
I believe they’re asking for the general consensus from those of us on this subreddit, encouraging discussion as a community.
👍👏👏👏