Marks of a Cult:

1. Authoritarian: There is almost always a central, charismatic, living human leader who commands total loyalty and allegiance.
2. Oppositional: Their beliefs, practices and values are counter to those of the dominant culture.
3. Exclusivistic: They are the only group that possesses the "truth."
4. Legalistic: Rules and regulations abound governing spiritual matters and the details of everyday living.
5. Subjective: They emphasize the experiential, the feelings and the emotions. This is usually accompanied by an anti- intellectualism.
6. Persecution-conscious: The groups feel they are being singled out by mainstream Christians, the press, parents, and the government.
7. Sanction-oriented: They require conformity in practice and belief, and exercise sanctions against the wayward.
8. Esoteric: They promote a religion of secrecy and concealment. Truth is taught on two levels, inner truth and outer truth.
9. Anti-sacerdotal: There are no paid clergy or professional religious functionaries.