What religions do you believe are cults and why

Here's an excellent article that covers both religious and non religious Cults.
After all we are all members of a large internet based Cult in AMHD ;)

You have to admit though it will take a lot to get this one shut down

I seem to be the kiss of death for thread locks so I'll remove myself and go with Curly's link.

:)

This is a difficult question... while I have never referred to any one religion as a cult, the meaning itself seems to define any religion.

However, when you look at alternative definitions, it would only be in perspective... where one religion could not be deemed a cult unless it conflicted with the religion of him who is classifying it (did that make any sense? Lol :D)

In my Survey of World Religions course last fall the professor described a cult as an unorganized/unrecognized religion.

Catholicism is a recognized/organized religion for example, but in his teachings Jehova's Witness was still largely considered a cult.

The sound of the word itself definitely gives way to a derogatory remark, although, the definition does not. That is why this could be a very "sticky" thread lol :cool:

If we really are a cult, can we have our first sacrifice now? I mean... I isn't volunteering or nuthin... we could draw straws or sumpthin... ya know.

You make me laugh yet again. Although this was the teachings of my professor, I believe him to have been an idiot.

*raises hand*

I'll make the KoolAid!



**and with that, I am out of here! Catch you all tomorrow!

Don't forget the peanuts Dr. J.

Anytime one guy makes the rules as he sees fit and isolates the members who follow like sheep, in my mind that is a cult! I could go on about the major organized religions, because a lot of them seemed to be isolated and follow like sheep but the jury is out for now.:cool: ;)

First of all I want to applaud Demon for making a legit new thread for a legit new debate...

BRAVO!!

See... that wasn't so difficult! :rolleyes:

To me a cult is an organization that controls its members financially and morally, brainwashes them into very odd and sometimes dangerous or damaging beliefs, insists that these beliefs are the ONLY truth, cuts them off from family and friends who are not members of the cult, disowns them completely if they ever leave the cult... in other words, controls every aspect of their lives so that the cult member is "trapped". Leaving is very very difficult because they have surrendered their finances and burned their bridges as far as outside friends and family.

I would consider the JWs a sect (sort of a "fringe" religion) rather than a cult, but they are definitely bordering on being a cult.

Oh and by the way my definitions of "cult" and "sect" are not really my own opinions... they're what I learned in Intro Sociology in university, but I do agree with the sociological definitions. The article that Curlyben shared is really good, too.

As for the topic...
I would like to add that we tend to be quick these days to place judgement where judgement shouldn't be. I have seen cult, sect, denomination and religion all used somewhat interchangeably in many many readings.

I am happy with dictionary definitions of most words and see this term in a neutral light. I think any cult needs to be evaluated more on its context, intentions and actions. To wholesale see the term in a negative light isn't really good journalism, in my book. Its just a poor little word, for heavens sake!

To borrow a paraphrased line from the Wizard of Oz:
Is this a good cult or a bad cult? :p

Christianity was considered a cult when it first emerged.


My personal definition of a cult is a religious organization whose activities are totally anti Christian oriented. Satanists, voodoo practicing, black magic, witchcraft oriented groups, or groups which twist the Bible to such a degree that God ceases to be God, Jesus isn't important for our salvation, and biblical morality is ignored and so on.


I wouldn't call any religion which teaches that the Bible is inspired of God, considers the biblical God as the TRUE God, and teaches us that Jesus died for our our sins a cult. Neither would I call the required adherence to Christian morality or regular Bible study with the purpose of gaining apreciation for scripture mind control since we are told clearly in the scriptures to do these things.


Importance of Study
http://www.biblebelievers.com/misc_p...choes_001.html

Christian Living
http://www.fbcsf.org/lives/live.htm


BTW
Part of the danger in classifying people of a Christian sect as belonging to a cult is that
It involves a judgement of their present relationship to the creator and an assumed knowledge of their eternal future. It seems to denigrade their efforts to please God to the best of their PRESENT knowledge classifying their activities as totally worthless.

Of course this might very well be the case but not always. Only God knows.

Hmmm…..

So that whole Jew thing, cultish?

Jews don't believe Jesus is the salvation.

In fact, Jews have been around loner than Christianity.

In fact, Jesus himself was Jewish.

I think a Christian religion could be a cult if it kept people totally away from society and their friends and family, took away their freedom of choice, all their money, etc. Offhand I can't really think of a Christian religion that does that, though, at least not to the extent that it would be considered a cult. In my sociology class, so-called radical Christian groups such as the Amish, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc, were classified as sects rather than cults. The cult groups were the "traditional" ones people think of, such as the Moonies and Krishna Consciousness.

That's what happens when we post information without first considering all possible ramifications and clarifying accordingly. I should have said anti-biblical-God oriented in the sense of dealing in the occult via the means I described previously.


Sorry I gave you that impression. I do not consider the Jewish religion a cult in the same way that I don't consider any of the other main religions cults. To me a cult has to be essentially demonic and anti God. The Jewish religion is neither.

The Jewish religion adheres to biblical morality, condemns spiritism, identifies Satan as God's enemy, recognizes the Biblical God as God and the Hebrew scriptures as inspired of God. However, like the Moslems the Jewish religion considers Jesus just a prophet. That is where we disagree because to Christians he is far more.

BTW

Not all the Jews for Jesus and the Messianics are "real" Jews though... a lot of them are gentiles posing as Jews to win converts. I find both groups highly questionable for that reason. I prefer the Jews for Judaism, a counter-missionary group, of course! :p

http://www.jewsforjudaism.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews_for_Judaism

Anyway I don't want to start an off-topic discussion here... I just thought you should know that most Jews who practice Judaism have a very low opinion of the organizations you mentioned, and consider them a threat to our culture, heritage, faith... to our people in general.