I have decided to come out and say it. Healing Place Church is a cult.
In order to support this belief, I would like to share a list I found in Mary Ann Miller’s book, “Coping With Cults.” This list was compiled by Marci Rudin:
Characteristics of cults:
1. Members swear total allegiance to an all-powerful leader whom they believe to be the Messiah.**
2. Rational thought is discouraged or forbidden.**
3. The cult’s recruitment techniques are often deceptive.*
4. The cult weakens the follower psychologically by making him or her dependent o the group to solve problems.*
5. The cult manipulates guilt to their advantage.*
6. The cult leader makes all career and life decisions for the members.**
7. Cults exist only for their own material survival and make false promises to work to improve society.
8. Cult members often work full time for the group for little or no pay.*
9. Cult members are isolated from the outside world.*
10. Cults are antiwoman, antichild, and antifamily.**
11. Cults claim to be the only ones who will survive the soon approaching end of the world.
12. Many cults follow an “end justifies the means” philosophy.
13. Cults, particularly in regard to finances, are shrouded in secrecy.*
14. A feeling of or potential for violence frequently surrounds cults.
** Applies partially to Healing Place Church and/or Healing Place School of Ministry.
* Applies fully to Healing Place Church and/or Healing Place School of Ministry.
I hope to expand on each of these points in the future, and explain how they do or do no apply to Healing Place Church and Healing Place School of Ministry.
