There are about seven principle signs that identify a cult.
Oh really based on who’s authority? Why seven and not six or eight? Why your seven and not some other seven? Who made you an authority on cults?
Now when one hears the word "cult," the first connotation is that of some strange obscure religious group. But for our discussion the word cult is simply a word that describes organized heresy. In other words, any religious group that systematically teaches false doctrine. Knowing some of these signs is key to preventing people from following these cults.
Maybe for your purposes, but not for ours. It is the height of inpoliteness to speak for others especially when one has no qualifications. Your definition of a cult would make every denomination appear as a cult to every other denomination as they all disagree on some point of doctrine, thus the reason they are different denominations.
The sign we will focus on here is the teaching of exclusivity. Cults will declare that they are the only way to heaven. Apart from them there is no salvation. They alone are the repositories of truth and all must join them to be saved. Here one might say, "yea, like the Jehovah’s Witnesses or the Mormons." But to infer, let alone say, that Catholicism is in this class, is to be condemned as a hate monger or Catholic basher.
It’s funny but this exclusivity is exactly what your groups definition of a cult is – a statement of exclusivity in the sense that only they keep from teaching false doctrine, that would mean you fit your own definition of cult exclusivity. You need to rethink your definition.
To demonstrate that Roman Catholicism bears the mark of a cult is quite easy indeed. If we were left to our opinions and personal interpretations, it might be difficult, but Rome has supplied a mass (no pun intended) of evidence to use. For example:
1) "WE BELIEVE THE CHURCH IS NECESSARY FOR SALVATION BECAUSE CHRIST, WHO IS THE SOLE MEDIATOR AND EXCLUSIVE WAY OF SALVATION, RENDERS HIMSELF PRESENT FOR US IN HIS BODY WHICH IS THE CHURCH. WE MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER THE UNITY OF THE MYSTICAL BODY, WITHOUT WHICH THERE CAN BE NO SALVATION, IS OPEN TO NO ONE OUTSIDE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH."
Pope Paul VI
2) "THE HOLY UNIVERSAL CHURCH PROCLAIMS THAT GOD CANNOT TRULY BE WORSHIPPED SAVE WITHIN HERSELF, AND ASSERTS THAT ALL THEY WHO ARE WITHOUT HER PALE SHALL NEVER BE SAVED."
Pope Gregory the Great (Now how is that for ecumenism!)
3) "THE CHURCH IS LIKE THE ARK OF NOAH, OUTSIDE OF WHICH NOBODY CAN BE SAVED."
Thomas Aquinas.
4) "THAT THERE IS ONE HOLY CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH WE ARE COMPELLED TO BELIEVE AND TO HOLD, PROMPTED BY DIVINE FAITH, AND WE DO BELIEVE THIS FIRMLY AND CONFESS IT SIMPLY, OUTSIDE OF WHICH THERE CAN BE NO SALVATION, OR REMISSION OF SINS…."
Pope Boniface VIII
5) "IT IS A SIN TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS SALVATION OUTSIDE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH."
Pope Pius IX
6) "FOR IT IS THROUGH CHRIST’S CATHOLIC CHURCH ALONE, WHICH IS THE UNIVERSAL HELP TOWARDS SALVATION, THAT THE FULNESS OF THE MEANS OF SALVATION CAN BE OBTAINED."
Vatican II
No argument here, the Catholic Church does teach that the only way to salvation is to be a part of the Church. But this is only logical. If you have the doctrine of salvation wrong you cannot be saved and if two or more bodies differ on the doctrine of salvation they cannot all be right. So if only one is correct you would need to be following its doctrine to saved and if you follow its doctrine you are a member of that Church whether you realize it or not.
Now we have just cited six infallible sources of the Catholic Church
This just goes to show how little you know about the Catholic Church. Only one of those sources was infallible. Certainly Aquinas (though a great theologian) was never infallible. Even the Popes statements were not infallible as they were not taken from ex cathedra statements (which is the only time the Pope is infallible). Only the statement from Vatican II ( a congregation of the Bishops of the Church) would be put forward as infallible. You really need to study the RCC more before you go off on a Catholic bashing exercise.
Now we have just cited six infallible sources of the Catholic Church to prove without reservations that they believe that they are the only way to heaven. Understand that they are saying that only Roman Catholics have a chance at going to heaven. This is classic cult mentality.
It is only a cult mentality because you say it is. Sorry not good enough.
The organization becomes the focus and the savior.
The Church does not see itself, nor do its followers as the savior. That is your extrapolation and it is a faulty one.
Allow us to clearly illustrate this fact. In a recent debate with a Jesuit theologian, we were able to ask a very simple yet extremely important question. The question was "what do we have to do to go to heaven?" The answer that followed was very revealing. It clearly proved that Roman Catholicism teaches that every Baptist is going to hell, in addition to every Presbyterian, Methodist, etc. The Jesuit theologian said to go to heaven we must "do" several things. Firstly, believe the entire Bible. (Sounds like a fundamentalist.) Secondly, we must be baptized in water. Thirdly, we must keep the commandments. Fourthly, we must eat His flesh and drink His blood literally (in the sacrament of the mass). He mentioned a couple of others, but these four should suffice.
I have to start by saying that a Jesuit theologian could get some of this wrong they cannot speak authoritatively for the Church. But be that as it may there is scriptural support for each of the issues you present.
First, believing the Word of God should not offer any problems to Christians.
Second though the Church does teach that in some circumstances it is possible to be saved without water baptism the general guideline is that it is required based on the following verse among others.
Mt 16:15-16
15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
John 3:5
5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Keeping the commandments comes again from Christ’s own teachings in Matthew 19 for one.
Matthew 19:16
16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Finally your fourth point is based once again on Christ’s teachings.
John 6:53
53Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Yes Catholic’s take the scripture literally in this case, but it is clear from 1 Cor 11:26 that we should.
26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 27Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
Paul is clearly teaching that if you don’t see Christ body truly present in the bread and wine you risk damnation by participating in the Eucharist.
The Scripture clearly reveals to one and all that salvation comes from believing in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. (Cf. Acts 16:30-31; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5) The entire book of Galatians was written to demonstrate the futility of believing that the Law justifies or saves anyone.
The Catholic Church does not teach salvation comes from obeying any law in and of itself. It teaches that following these laws or rules show obedience to the gospel (2 Th 1:8 and 1 Pt 4:17), which are works that make for a living faith (James 2:17) which is the only acceptable way in which to accept the free gift.
Notice how all of your interpretations are from the teachings of the apostles and you force what Christ said to fit your interpretations of the apostles teachings. While I can make the teachings of the apostles fit consistently with the teachings of Christ. Which do you think makes the most sense?