Quote From: bluetrueI am terrified by the word "CULT" While the Amish, Old-Order Mennonite and various PLAIN groups might seem weird they are often more "Christ-Like" in their beliefs than most Main stream Christian Church bodies.
As a Conservative Mennonite myself. I have studied many of the World Religions and have a Graduate degree in Religious Education. While I have not seen this show Yet. I tend to feel that we need to listen first and then evaluate things with the guidlines given in Scripture. A cult would inply that these people do not put their faith in Christ. WHile there are many cults that say that they are Christian. The key to seperate a cult from a non cult is the basis for their salvation. If Christ is the only way then according to the Christian tradition not a cult if Christ is not the only way then Cult.
The Amish and other Plain peoples do not belive that their lifestyle is EARNING their way to heaven. But it is a way to seperate from the world as it tells us in scripture to "be in the world but not of the WOrld."
The way to separate a cult from a religion is NOT belief in Christ. There are many real religions that do not hold that Christ is the way. Just because you don't subscribe to their beliefs they aren't necessarily cults.
The hallmark of a cult is control - if free choice and free will are removed from the adherents, either by physical force/restraint or by overwhelming emotional/mental pressure (i.e. brainwashing), then you have a cult.
I don't for a moment believe that the conservative Christian groups like the Mennonites or Amish are cults. But neither is Buddhism.
