Is Christianity a Cult?

Perhaps the title of this blog was a bit jarring for you, especially if you consider yourself a Christian. I first considered this question when I was in seminary. I was studying church history and reading a book by sociologist Rodney Stark called The Rise of Christianity (HarperOne, 1997). In it, Stark questions the rapid increase in Christians following Jesus’s death and resurrection. Was the growth due to charismatic leadership and control, two things frequently found in cults, or was the growth because of something less nefarious?[1] Ultimately, Stark determined Christianity doesn’t meet the criteria of a cult, but this question continues to be asked.[2] (One thing to note about Stark is that when he wrote The Rise of Christianity he was agnostic, eventually converting to Christianity, so he was not biased in favor of the faith.) Of course, part of the problem is that cults do exist under the guise of the Christian umbrella; that is, there are dangerous groups that have been created that claim to align with the Bible. However, this blog considers orthodox Christianity, not offshoots or sects established from it. With that in mind, then, how might we respond to a claim that Christianity is a cult?

Want to read more?

Subscribe to beemboldened.com to keep reading this exclusive post.

Subscribe Now