I studied various religions as a teenager and continue to do so. Cults, particularly ones like Heaven's Gate and the last generation's Jonestown, have distinguishing doctrinal features which are bound to spell trouble later on. First, the leader is venerated and, if not actually worshipped, is regarded as a person who is to obeyed because of his or her insights about, or connections to, the mysteries of the faith. This is a very important distinguishing feature of cults. It should be pointed out that some churches, over the last 2000 years, have taught this view.
Cults are wholly inward, except of course when it comes to recruiting.
There are other distinguishing features between Cults and Christianity, but enough has been said for now. It seems to us that the challenge for us as Church is twofold. One - we need to be the kind of people, the kind of place, where the lost and the lonely feel loved and supported. As cults like Heaven's Gate show us, not all belief systems are equal, and not all lead to life. There have been some notable revisions to United Resources , with Music moving to a Worship and Devotional section, and some new resources being added.