A hearing is expected this month. But a broader issue on campus is whether the Upside Down Club, in its affiliation with the larger church, is a cult that harasses and intimidates students. There's no unorthodox teachings in this group. We believe that the Bible is the word of God, that we need to commit ourselves to God, as adults we need to be baptized for the remission of our sins. Defining a cult is tricky business.
Specialists say that practices, rather than beliefs, make a cult.
It's the church's zealous evangelism, strict hierarchical structure, and tight control over the personal lives of members that serve as red flags to cult experts. University administrators are guarded about what they can or wish to do about the Upside Down Club. Officially, the university says it can do nothing to ban a religious organization. Officials acknowledge there is a fine line between harassment and freedom of speech. UMass spokeswoman Barbara Pitoniak said that inviting someone to Bible studies, even several times, is not against the law.