Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 18, 2001, Page 57
Table 1
Comparison of characteristics among religious groups and cults
Characteristic Group (see below for expansion of abbreviations)
Lub Amish R.C. Mor. U.C. Sci Alamo COG
Charismatic Leader ?X X X X
Submission to Authority X X X X X X X X
Communal Lifestyle X X* X X
Rigid Ideology X X X X X X X X
Restricted
Communication
X X X X
Isolation from Family #X X* X X
Active Recruiting X X X X X X
Physiologic Deprivation X X X X
Hate/Fear of Outsiders X X X X
Assets Turned Over to
Group
Tithe Tithe Contb.. Tithe X X* X X
*These hold true for members living within the group‘s community, but not necessarily
for all members.
#The Amish practice ―shunning,‖ or separation for violating Church principles.
Lub – Lubavitcher/Chassidim R.C. =Roman Catholic Mor. =Mormon U.C. =Unification Church Sci =
Scientology COG =Children of God/The Family
Comparing the first four groups, considered legitimate religions or sects by society
generally, with the second set of groups reveals that, in the researchers‘ opinion, all eight
groups are submissive to an authority figure – whether the Pope for Roman Catholics, the
Bishop among the Amish, the Rebbe of the Lubavitcher Chassidim, or the head of the
Mormon church, Rev. Moon of the Unification Church, or the current head of the Church of
Scientology, the Family of God, or the Alamo Christian Foundation – and that all eight
groups have a rigid ideology to which followers are supposed to adhere. Only the four cultic
groups had the other practices or characteristics in common: a charismatic leader obeyed
by all without question, restricted communication outside the group, isolation from the
member‘s family of origin, active recruiting (often using ―heavenly deception‖), physiologic
and other deprivation, contribution of all or nearly all assets to the group, and intensive
preaching of hate and fear of outsiders.
Levine (1999) has a slightly different list of features that cults share, some of them
overlapping what has already been stated: charismatic leader, hierarchy, ideology, some
Table 1
Comparison of characteristics among religious groups and cults
Characteristic Group (see below for expansion of abbreviations)
Lub Amish R.C. Mor. U.C. Sci Alamo COG
Charismatic Leader ?X X X X
Submission to Authority X X X X X X X X
Communal Lifestyle X X* X X
Rigid Ideology X X X X X X X X
Restricted
Communication
X X X X
Isolation from Family #X X* X X
Active Recruiting X X X X X X
Physiologic Deprivation X X X X
Hate/Fear of Outsiders X X X X
Assets Turned Over to
Group
Tithe Tithe Contb.. Tithe X X* X X
*These hold true for members living within the group‘s community, but not necessarily
for all members.
#The Amish practice ―shunning,‖ or separation for violating Church principles.
Lub – Lubavitcher/Chassidim R.C. =Roman Catholic Mor. =Mormon U.C. =Unification Church Sci =
Scientology COG =Children of God/The Family
Comparing the first four groups, considered legitimate religions or sects by society
generally, with the second set of groups reveals that, in the researchers‘ opinion, all eight
groups are submissive to an authority figure – whether the Pope for Roman Catholics, the
Bishop among the Amish, the Rebbe of the Lubavitcher Chassidim, or the head of the
Mormon church, Rev. Moon of the Unification Church, or the current head of the Church of
Scientology, the Family of God, or the Alamo Christian Foundation – and that all eight
groups have a rigid ideology to which followers are supposed to adhere. Only the four cultic
groups had the other practices or characteristics in common: a charismatic leader obeyed
by all without question, restricted communication outside the group, isolation from the
member‘s family of origin, active recruiting (often using ―heavenly deception‖), physiologic
and other deprivation, contribution of all or nearly all assets to the group, and intensive
preaching of hate and fear of outsiders.
Levine (1999) has a slightly different list of features that cults share, some of them
overlapping what has already been stated: charismatic leader, hierarchy, ideology, some
