Human damage caused by religious cult practices

Punishment of the wicked in colonial times

Carol Forsloff---In 2013 a couple in the State of Washington, Carri and Larry Williams, were found guilty of abusing two of their adopted children so severely that one of them died, as religious cults continue to cause “human damage, that  Bishop Georges Pontier, president of the French bishops,’ and others have observed needs the attention of faith groups and secular people as well.

At a conference Pontier issued a public statement in response to calls for recognition of the “human damage” that has been caused by various religious groups. A group of approximately 40 people addressed the bishops at a recent meeting to discuss the impact of spiritual abuse that has caused problems ranging from depression to suicide to death.

14 spiritual communities were underlined as being cult-like in their practices, referencing specifically some of the abuse that is being criticized by ecclesiastical leaders. Only five of these groups have been chastised or disciplined by the principle religious authorities.

Pontier said not to condemn everyone in some of these cults just because of the behavior of some of the individuals in those groups, as he underlined the need for religious freedom.

While many Christians hear mostly about religious cults and abusive practices in the United States, the problem is worldwide. A sadistic cult leader in Israel was recently found guilty of sexually abusing women and children and sentenced to 26 years by a Jewish court.

The secular community, or popular view, is said to define as a cult, "a religious or semi-religious sect whose members are controlled almost entirely by a single individual or by an organization" that requires total commitment from its followers, often with emotional coercion  But the Evangelical Christian groups maintain it is any group that deviates from Biblical teachings specifically that "deny or distort fundamental Christian doctrines such as the Trinity, the deity of Christ and salvation by grace through faith alone."  Examples the source of this information claims to be among these "cults" include Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Scientists, Mormons, and members of the Unity Church of Christ."

The recent concern about the human damage from religious cults, however, appear to be those involving coercion and specific practices that are particular hurtful to the mind and body.

Abusive practices by extremist groups continue to plague the world's religious communities, even as the mainstream groups condemn them.