Early Church as Utopian Cult: The Case of Hebrews

Abstract

Abstract This article uses cultic studies to explicate the development of the earliest churches, using Hebrews as a case study. “Cult” is defined as a group that suppresses individuality and critical thinking, demands intense commitment and loyalty to an individual or ideology, and curtails or eliminates personal autonomy to be replaced by the cult’s worldview. The cult-like attributes of the early ecclesia are summarized, followed by a brief introduction to cultic studies, with particular reference to the characteristics of contemporary cults, suggesting that an under-appreciated aspect of cultic appeal is the offer of utopian promises. Finally, the bite (Behavior, Information, Thoughts, Emotions) model of coercive control is applied to the hortatory sections of Hebrews and the utopian hopes held out by the author. The article concludes that the community behind Hebrews shows many characteristics of a high demand cult as defined by cultic studies.