Is the Seventh-Day Adventist Church a Cult?

I have been asked a few times if the Seventh-Day Adventist Church is a cult. While I no longer belong to this denomination, it is a good question. The truth really depends on who you ask.

I did not feel like it was a cult. I was a member, but to be fair, as a kid, I was only somewhat involved in extra church activities, and as an adult, I was more of a passive member of the church.

I decided to focus on comparing the two today and let you, the reader, decide for yourself.

To comprehensively compare Seventh-day Adventists and the general characteristics of a cult, I must first establish clear definitions and understand the criteria used to classify religious movements or groups as “cults.”

This definition will help us objectively compare these criteria to the beliefs, practices, and organizational structure of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Definition of a Cult

A cult, in a religious or sociological context, typically refers to a group that is characterized by:

• Unquestioning commitment to a charismatic leader.
• Doctrinal rigidity, often with a focus on end-times or apocalyptic scenarios.
• Isolation from the broader society, either physically or ideologically.
• Exploitative practices may include financial, emotional, or physical abuse of members.
• A tendency to label…