What Makes a Church a Cult?

https://youtu.be/cJnFDcOz_Lg Guest Bios Show Transcript Many churches and Christian groups have been accused of being cult-like. But what qualifies as a cult? And what are the red flags people should look for? In this edition of The Roys Report, well-known cult expert Dr. Steven Hassan joins Julie to discuss how to identify a cult and its tactics—including mind-control and authoritarian leadership. Dr. Hassan spent two years as part of the so-called Moonie cult in the 1970s. During that time, he recalls living in communal housing, surrendering his bank account to the Unification Church, and being ready to kill or die for the late Reverend Moon. But now, Dr. Hassan has a new mission—educating people about the dangers of cults and equipping them to avoid their traps. And interestingly, Dr. Hassan says what makes something a cult is not a group’s ideology or its doctrine, but it’s behavior.  With Dr. Hassan, Julie explores whether some scandal-plagued evangelical churches, like Hillsong or Mark Driscoll’s The Trinity Church, might qualify as cults. We also analyze exclusive audio obtained by The Roys Report, where Hillsong founder, Brian Houston, engages in what Dr. Hassan terms cultish information control.  We also explore the concerning influence of the Moonies today. Just last month, Donald Trump spoke at a major Moonie event. And, as Dr. Hassan will explain, the Moonies are in no way a fringe group, but remain actively interwoven into the power structure of conservative politics. This Weeks Guests Steven Hassan, PhD Mental health professional, cult and undue influence expert Steven Hassan, PhD (pronounced /hɑːsɪn/) has been working in the field of relationship, group, and political cults for over 40 years.  Show Transcript SPEAKERS JULIE ROYS, DR. STEVEN HASSAN, BRIAN HOUSTON, DONALD TRUMP JULIE ROYS 00:04 Many churches and Christian groups have been accused of being cult like, but what qualifies as a cult? And what are the red flags that people should look for? Welcome to The Roys Report, a podcast dedicated to reporting the truth and restoring the church. I’m Julie Roys, and joining me today is Dr. Steven Hassan, a former cult member and a leading expert on cults, mind control and the tactics of authoritarian leaders. Dr. Hassan spent two years as part of the so-called Moonie Cult in the 1970s and during that time, he recalls living in communal housing and sleeping less than four hours a night. He also says he surrendered his bank account to the Unification Church and was ready to kill or die for the late Reverend Moon. But now Dr. Hassan has a new mission, educating people about the dangers of cults and equipping them to avoid their traps. And today I’m so looking forward to discussing cults and cults like tactics with Dr. Hassan. We’ll also be exploring the influence of the Moonies today. You may be thinking this cult has faded into obscurity. But just last month, Donald Trump spoke at a major Moonie event. And as Dr. Hassan will explain, the Moonies are no way a fringe group but remain actively interwoven into the power structure of conservative politics. So, I think this is going to be a very eye-opening podcast and I’m so excited to speak with Dr. Hassan. But first I’d like to thank the sponsors of this podcast, Judson University and Marquardt of Barrington. Judson University is a top ranked Christian university providing a caring community and an excellent college experience. Plus, the school offers more than 60 majors great leadership opportunities and strong financial aid. Judson University is shaping lives that shape the world. For more information just go to Judsonu.edu. Also, if you’re looking for a quality new or used car, I highly recommend my friends at Marquardt of Barrington. Marquardt is a Buick GMC dealership where you can expect honesty, integrity, and transparency. That’s because the owners there Dan and Kurt Marquardt are men of character. To check them out, just go to buya