List Of Catholic Church Cult-like Characteristics
They have an elite class of members who lead the rest and who are claimed to never be wrong in their doctrine or practices.
Only the leaders are allowed to interpret the Bible for the “underdogs” (the non-clergy).
Their leaders have their own book(s) of doctrine – such as the Catholic catechism – which is their own “private interpretation” of the Bible.
Their leaders say there is no salvation outside of THEIR church or organization, rather than no salvation outside of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Their leaders claim theirs is the “one true Church” and that all other churches are false or inferior to theirs.
Their leaders claim that their church alone can trace its roots back to the 1st century.
They typically have a central leader here on earth who is above all other members in rank.
They typically have a central headquarters here on earth such as the Vatican (Catholics), the Watchtower Headquarters, Brooklyn, NY (Jehovahs Witnesses) and the Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah (Mormons).
They have an elaborate “works-based” system of salvation unique to their particular cult.
Often their religious practices have origins in pagan religions, not Christianity.
Many of their religious teachings have origins in the writings of their so-called church fathers or their cult’s prophets, not in the Bible.
Instead of being preoccupied with Jesus, they are preoccupied with mere mortals, be it dead saints or their popes or their cult’s leaders or founders.