Question: What is a cult?

[Firegirl]

I have been wondering about this all my life, just what Makes a Cult, a Cult? How does one define a Cult? Are all religions cults? or just some religions? Are new religions (200 years or less) cults as they are usually not accepted by large amounts of people and merely branch off from older, more prominent religions?

[hive_king]

Well, there are several definitions of a cult: one of the broadest and most neutral is that it is any new, small religion or subset.

I, personally, define a cult as any religion or religious sect that attempts to overtly control a person's personal life and/or that discourages free thinking.

[Andorbal]

I, personally, define a cult as any religion or religious sect that attempts to overtly control a person's personal life and/or that discourages free thinking.

I think I'm inclined to agree with the above. And I think that the word "overtly" is important, because one could make the argument that most religions attempt to control a person's life in one way or another.

Andorbal.

[Fish Tank]

So Mormonism is a cult? It gives you strict rules on how to live. And it is pretty recent; less than 200 years old.

[eriador]

I can't think of a religion that ISN'T a cult by that definition.

[Andorbal]

Seems to me that all religions had to at least start as cults...

So maybe the main difference is public acceptance?? Of course, that's highly subjective, so it may not be too useful. I think the majority of people would agree that Christianity is not a cult and the group lead by David Koresh (sp?) was. Now, what about Wiccans? I'd guess there are many people that would classify them as a cult, but many others that wouldn't. So... Who knows?

Here's what Merriam-Webster has to say:

1 : formal religious veneration : WORSHIP
2 : a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents
3 : a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents
4 : a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator <health cults>
5 a : great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book); especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b : the object of such devotion c : a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion

Doesn't help much, does it?

Andorbal.

[eriador]

in response to the question:

Apple Inc.!!!!


Yay iPhone!!!

[LilBee91]

I foresee a new religion forming with Steve Jobs as the savior of mankind, and all those without the latest Apple gadgets shall be doomed to suffer unimaginable torment. That aside...

Cults are a matter of size and public perception, both of which are rather subjective characteristics. I think any religious (or other) movement that has any of the following is a good cult-candidate:
-oppressive means of enforcing their views on all people
-obsession with purifying humanity by violence
-requirements for extreme sacrifice (e.g. suicide) from its members

[lyons24000]

This is how mainstream Christian websites define cults...

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=define%3A+cult

I personally like:

1. A religious group that follows a particular theological system. In the context of Christianity, and in particular, CARM, it is a group that uses the Bible but distorts the doctrines that affect salvation sufficiently to cause salvation to be unattainable. A few examples of cults are Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Science, Christadelphians, Unity, Religious Science, The Way International, and the Moonies.

2. A religious group which denies the essential doctrines of Christianity. The term is usually reserved for groups founded after 1750.

But, of course, that's just mainstream Christianity.

And, according to Jack Chick, "anyone who doesn't agree with everything I say."

[jotabe]

"anyone who doesn't agree with everything I say."

That's how i define a criminal

just kidding, really

[wizzard]

I think there's a big difference between the technical term "cult" and what most people mean by it.

The way I've always heard it (and I've heard it a lot, growing up in a religion that many people call a cult) is that there are characteristics of cults, but most cults don't have all of them. The big ones are:

Charismatic leader. Some people claim that to be a cult, they have to actually worship this person.

Brain washing/"group-think". Cults discourage people from questioning the authority of the cult, and from trying to think for themselves.

By some people's standards, catholicism is a cult, with the Pope as the "charismatic leader".

Then there's the "this group of people all follow the same small religion that I've never heard of, and they tend to exclude people who don't follow their religion" definition.

When my religion is called a cult, it's usually for the second reason, although it has also been condemned by a fair number of mainstream christians for the reasons that lyons posted.

[lyons24000]

The way I've always heard it (and I've heard it a lot, growing up in a religion that many people call a cult) is that there are characteristics of cults, but most cults don't have all of them.

What religion did you grow up in?

[lyons24000]

I like the technical definition of cult as brought out in the dictionary. I've never actually looked it up until now but it pretty much says all religions are cults.

I really like that.

[hive_king]

Is your religion a cult, Lyons?

[lyons24000]

According to the dictionary, it is. If we go by the technical definition of "cult" I will admit that it is.

If we go by personal opinion, then I will say no, it is not a cult.

But personal opinion only counts to the person, hence personal.

Nice way to try to trap me, Nick, you jackass.

[lyons24000]

Is your religion a cult, Lyons?

One thing I can never tell from your posts is whether or not you are being sarcastic or just trying to razz me. If you are not playing around then I'd appreciate it if you'd stop picking on me.

Thanks

[eriador]

I can't think of a religion that ISN'T a cult by that definition.

[wizzard]

The way I've always heard it (and I've heard it a lot, growing up in a religion that many people call a cult) is that there are characteristics of cults, but most cults don't have all of them.

What religion did you grow up in?

The Church of the New Jerusalem, a Christian church based on the teachings of Emmanuel Swedenborg, an 18th century philosopher/theologian.

The cultish part of it is just that I grew up in the small town that serves as somewhat of a center for the religion, so almost everyone living there is part of the religion, and until very recently (the past generation or 2) has been hostile to outsiders.

[VelvetElvis]

I can't think of a religion that ISN'T a cult by that definition.

Why do you always quote yourself?

[eriador]

my way of saying "we've already been over this, and I am vindicated" It's like gloating.

[Eaquae Legit]

I wish I could locate my old post on what a cult is. It was certainly more helpful and more specific than the dictionary, not to mention more accurate. It also refrained from value-judgements, which I find useful in these sorts of discussions.

Alas, it is gone, and wayback didn't save it.

[vendor]

bump

I would define a cult as the belief that what the current leaders teach are above or contradict the teachings of Christ. If your what your minister/leader says carries more weight than Christ's then your in a cult.

[Eaquae Legit]

Where does that leave non-Christian groups, then?

Is Hinduism a cult? Buddhism? Islam?

[BonitoDeMadrid]

Alright, I'm gonna be cheap here and bring the Wikipedia definition- because frankly, it's what I believe as well:

Cult roughly refers to a cohesive social group devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding culture considers outside the mainstream, with a notably positive or negative popular perception. In common or populist usage, "cult" has a positive connotation for groups of art, music, writing, fiction, and fashion devotees,but a negative connotation for new religious, extreme political, questionable therapeutic, and pyramidal business groups. For this reason, most, if not all, non-fan groups that are called cults reject this label.

[vendor]

You're right, EL.

Maybe I should have said 'mainstream perceptions of deity' instead of Christ.

[SaintDrogo]

"Forty-eight people donning plastic and shooting themselves in the head is a ’cult,’ while a hundred million people bowing before a flesh-hating elderly celibate is obviously a world-class religion." -Barbara Ehrenreich

It's all about the numbers, baby.

[Rei]

Uh-huh... right...

[Dr. Mobius]

Cult: A small and unpopular religion.
Religion: A large and popular cult.