Question: What is a cult?
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Question: What is a cult?
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?
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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.
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.
The Makeout Hobo is real, and does indeed travel around the country in his van and make out with ladies... If you meet him, it is customary to greet him with a shot of whiskey and a high five (if you are a dude) or passionate makeouts (if you are a lady).
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.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.
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:
Andorbal.
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:
Doesn't help much, does it?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
Andorbal.
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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
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
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Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
- lyons24000
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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."
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."
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
"This must be the end, then."-MorningLightMountain, Judas Unchained
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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.Is your religion a cult, Lyons?
Thanks
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- wizzard
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The Church of the New Jerusalem, a Christian church based on the teachings of Emmanuel Swedenborg, an 18th century philosopher/theologian.What religion did you grow up in?
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 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.
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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.
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Where does that leave non-Christian groups, then?
Is Hinduism a cult? Buddhism? Islam?
Is Hinduism a cult? Buddhism? Islam?
"Only for today, I will devote 10 minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading is necessary to the life of the soul." -- Pope John XXIII
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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.
Who controls the British crown? Who keeps the metric system down?
We do! We do!
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Who leaves Atlantis off the maps? Who keeps the Martians under wraps?
We do! We do!
Who holds back the electric car? Who makes Steve Gutenberg a star?
We do! We do!
Who robs cavefish of their sight? Who rigs every Oscar night?
We do, we do!
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