Lily Rose,
You posted......That's how people were forced to live during the Dark Ages. If anyone is a history buff correct me if I am wrong, but isn't that exactly what the Reformation movement fought against, for depriving individuals their freedom to approach God directly without the involvement, meddling, intrusion of the unbiblical Catholic priests.....
Lily,
My perspective is that of a layman.
starting way back in history
I think:
every church that exists - exists because it broke away - from an existing church - having had a major doctrinal or possibly a political disagreement of some kind.
So there are probably many 1000's of different churches today that exist - with their own doctrines, teachings and fellowships which are available for anyone to become a member of - if they wish to.
The way I define for myself ( a cult is ) - any religious institution that is not recognized as being legitimate by some of the Traditional Major Denominational Churches.
But I also have to consider that those Major Denominations of the church each consider their own Institution as being legitimate - but the major traditional denominations - also exist because they broke away from a Major existing church because of some major disagreement.
You posted......That's how people were forced to live during the Dark Ages. If anyone is a history buff correct me if I am wrong, but isn't that exactly what the Reformation movement fought against, for depriving individuals their freedom to approach God directly without the involvement, meddling, intrusion of the unbiblical Catholic priests.....
Lily,
My perspective is that of a layman.
starting way back in history
I think:
every church that exists - exists because it broke away - from an existing church - having had a major doctrinal or possibly a political disagreement of some kind.
So there are probably many 1000's of different churches today that exist - with their own doctrines, teachings and fellowships which are available for anyone to become a member of - if they wish to.
The way I define for myself ( a cult is ) - any religious institution that is not recognized as being legitimate by some of the Traditional Major Denominational Churches.
But I also have to consider that those Major Denominations of the church each consider their own Institution as being legitimate - but the major traditional denominations - also exist because they broke away from a Major existing church because of some major disagreement.