Roger E. Olson, patheos.com
Note: If you are pressed for time and cannot read the whole essay below, feel free to skip to the end where I list 10 criteria. The essay describes my own history of interest in and research about “cults” and new/alternative religious groups.…
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/rogereolson/2015/05/criteria-for-recognizing-a-religious-sect-as-a-cult/ “The denominations and mission organizations most of us grew up in meet the criteria for cult status. For years now I’ve been like the author of this article, unwilling to identify the C&MA (Christian and Missionary Alliance) as a cult. Instead, I’d say things like, “they have many of the characteristics of a cult” or “all of us drank the kool-aid”. And then about a month ago I read a 1986 document co-written by Peter Nanfeldt (if you’ve seen the documentary All God’s Children you may recognize the name; he was largely responsible for stonewalling our request for an Independent Investigation into Mamou). In the 1980s some missionary parents were requesting permission (yes, they needed permission) to send their children to the nearest international school, rather than to a C&MA school which often was very distant from the parents and required attending a boarding school. So in 1986 the C&MA struck an Advisory Council to study educational options and financial implications of allowing their oversea employees to send their children to local schools. Recently I found a 1986 working paper co-written by Peter Nanfeldt examining the ramifications of changing the C&MA’s requirement that children of missionary employees attend C&MA Boarding Schools. Twice in this document, Nanfeldt and Volstadt raise the issue of how a change would impact the MK’s later loyalty to the C&MA. First, they write, “Are our MKs more inclined to enter Alliance missions in adult life if they have attended C&MA MK Schools?” Later they write, “We have previously concluded that there are advantages to having our own school… denominational loyalty can be nurtured with a view to challenging MKs to wholeheartedly supporting Alliance missions in the future”. Fostering lifelong loyalty to the denomination trumped recognition of the importance of parental/child attachment, physical/psychological/emotional safety and well-being of children, and the right of parents to determine what was in the best interest of children, parents and families. And the vast majority of C&MA missionaries, often against their better instincts and their intellect, followed the leaders’ directive. Something finally clicked and I’m able to acknowledge that the Christian denomination I was born into, raised in, employed by, is a cult. Quite liberating, but also very sad.” Beverly Shellrude Thompson MK Safety Net Canada board member Note: Within the last 5 to 10 years, due to fear of litigation and pressure from some missionary staff, the C&MA now gives their oversees staff the option of using local schools.
