Is Betel of Britain a cult?

Answer 1

No, according to Wikipedia a Cult is a group "whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre by the larger society". It is a Christian church, affiliated to the Evangelical Alliance of Great Britain and WEC (a UK Christian missionary agency) and the Ground Level Christian Church network (an independent modern mainstream Christian denomination). Thus by the Wiki definition they are NOT a cult, as they and all their affiliates are regarded by the larger society as mainstream Christian churches.

What is unique about Betel of Britain is that as a church they consists of ex-addicts who have realised freedom from their addiction through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. They collectively care for other addicts who want that same freedom, without charge (nobody pays Betel for what they do) and in that respect their objectives are the same as Victory Outreach, Livingstone House, Teen Challenge and other Christian rehabs, although their method of operation may differ slightly in practice.

Another Opinion:

The answer below is very wrong. I lived in betel for 10 months and yes I did get off drugs and alcohol which I truly appreciate but for a huge price which was my life and sanity. I was forcefully encouraged that the world we live in is evil. They had complete control over my life. I was not allowed to read anything non christian including newspapers I was not allowed any contact with the outside world unless they were christian. I was allowed to speak to family for half an hour once a week. I was made to believe that unless I stay with them I will fail in life. I refused to be brainwashed which made my life difficult because if you dont show you are converting you have no freedom to just even spend 5 minutes on your own. So instead of asking them questions abut the bible which they could never seem to answer I decided to slowly "convert". This gave me a little more freedom where I could look after new girls and be in charge of taking girls out flyering which was one of the jobs we did.

Other jobs were to work in there furniture shop or collect food donations from sainsburies. But sometimes they had no work for the girls to do so I spent many a day raking and weeding a forest. Pointless. At the start we are showered with love and when a new girl comes in we are told they are the most important thing and we have to sacrifice everything for them. You get trapped there because you have to give up benefits, your house,everything. They say they will help you when they think you are ready so if I were there 3 years and they thought I wasn't "christian enough" they don't want to know. i got pressured into praying out in church which i didn't. They couldn't seem to understand that I wasn't waving my arms around during praise and worship or wrything around on the floor.

They spoke in tongues all the time except every persons tongues was the same sounds. i.e copying each other. I was trapped there when they found out I was trying to get my family to find accommodation with freedom,(I wasn't even allowed to listen to non Christian Music) They told me this isnt a hostel and I had to leave straight away. I couldn't say goodbye to anyone and they dropped me off at the station with £2 for a phone call as I was not allowed to make any contact or arrangements for my next move whilst there. This is not caring or christian it's mind control and if you don't meet there needs they don't care. One minute you are told your the chosen one next minute it's see ya later.

I believe it is a cult. You are not allowed to speak to the men there after 18 months you can date once every two weeks with an escort then usually within the year you are married to this person you don't really know. I believe having faith can help very much but you can't force people to think that the world we live in is evil and dangerous isn't it ur choice to take the good from it and leave the bad.