Is the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church a cult? This academic says no

Is the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church a cult? This academic says no

Across the past two decades, the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church has often had to defend itself against accusations of being a cult. While we are a mainstream Christian Church that does not actively recruit new members, the use of the word ‘cult’ is still used against us by detractors and repeated by some members of government and the media. Sometimes its use is malicious, but often it is based in misunderstanding. As members of our church can tell you, the word and its imputations are not at all aligned with their lived experiences as part of a faith-based community that has strong family values and is guided by Christian scripture.

‘Cult’ is a ‘click-bait’ word, and therefore often used in sensationalist media articles about the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church and its members that are based on inaccuracies, biases, exaggerations and outdated information.

These articles are easy to find on the internet – but if you dig a little deeper you can find well-balanced, well-researched and cross-checked information about the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church and our Christian fellowship.

‘They are not a cult’ – Introvigne, 2018

One such resource is The Plymouth Brethren, written by Italian sociologist Massimo Introvigne and published in 2018 through Oxford University Press. Mr Introvigne researched widely for his book, and during this process he interviewed members of the PBCC, and visited with them at church and school.

In his book, Mr Introvigne explores how anti-cult campaigners have targeted the PBCC, in some cases to ‘obsessive’ levels. He also cites the work of Margaret Singer, a clinical psychologist and co-author of the book Cults in our Midst who defined a cult as a group that uses coercive persuasion techniques to recruit, train and retain members through ‘thought reform’, as he poses the question, ‘are the PBCC’s members part of a cult’?

In answering that question, Mr Introvigne reasons that trademark feature of cults does not apply to the Plymouth Brethren.

“In fact, they have even been described as ‘a group which does not actively recruit members and relies almost solely on current members having large families to ensure the continuation and growth of the group’. Their marginal growth is mostly due to their remarkable capacity to retain their young men and women in the movement, where they marry and have children. In this sense, they are not a cult…”

Religious freedom and discrimination

Mr Introvigne also examines the Plymouth Brethren belief in separation – the practice of only sharing a meal with those in fellowship – describing it as a ‘bone of contention’, even though it has ‘a clear religious basis’. He refers to the work of other sociologists who have noted that the principle of separation is not unique to the Brethren and is practiced by other Christian and Jewish communities. And he concludes:

‘Whether a society is capable of accepting it becomes precisely a test for its real openness to religious liberty and tolerance.’

Work ethic, family values and charity

Other noteworthy observations of the Plymouth Brethren, either made by Mr Introvigne or cited from other scholars, include:

• The Plymouth Brethren community has a strong work ethic: ‘They work hard, and their businesses are often successful.’
• The Plymouth Brethren community has strong family values: ‘Parents emphasise the importance of keeping the family together and spending as much time as possible with their children. The whole family, or several families, often spend time with outdoor activities. Parents emphasise the importance of love and consideration.’
• The Plymouth Brethren community prioritises charity: ‘In fact, while the RRT was established in 2013, charitable and humanitarian activities in favour of those who are not members of their community are as old as the Brethren themselves. In various historical instances, including the Irish potato famine of 1847 and the Franco-Prussian war of 1870, early Brethren mobilised themselves in favour of all the victims, members of their fellowship or not.’

If you are interested in reading more of the works of Massimo Introvigne, he is the Editor in Chief of Bitter Winter, a religious liberty and human rights magazine.