What is a cult?

[cynatnite]

My mother insists that Mormonism is a cult. Various religious leaders have said as much, too. There isn't a real clear definition of cult. We lived in a primarily Mormon area for some years and I wouldn't have thought of the folks we knew as cultists. They weren't brainwashed or controlled in a way to where they gave up all their worldly possessions, moved away and lived in a commune. They weren't manipulated into doing things they didn't want to do. This is what I always thought was a stereotypical cult. It was some small group of weirdos living out in the middle of nowhere being brainwashed such as what we saw on TV back in the 70s.

Instead, the Mormons I knew acted no differently than the Christians. They tithed, proselytized and all that according to their biblical law. They went to church, worked and did just about everything that Christians did. The differences were in the small details of beliefs and whatnot, but they were very similar by way of behavior.

So, if I applied the label to Mormonism...can't I apply it to Christianity as well? Or perhaps it's dependent on size of the group? The age of the religion? Mormonism is relatively newer than Christianity.

Thoughts?

[Chovexani]

1. A religion that the majority religion disapproves of.

[Duer 157099]

2. Being ostracized if you choose to leave

that's one hallmark of a cult.

Strong charismatic leader is another.

Controlling people's lives (and money) is another.

Influencing people to dissociate from non-believing family members.

It's true that the lines can be very blury.

[bumblebee1]

3. I had a very interesting talk with a Jewish Scientologist one evening.

The subject came around to cults. I had mentioned that Scientology is often called a cult. He then told me that his being Jewish, he saw Christianity as a cult.

[Common Sense Party]

4. I'm Mormon and I'm not in a cult.

The usual definition of cult involves a charismatic, dynamic leader who exerts undue control over the lives of the cult members, peculiar beliefs, the religious group's total domination and control over the members' lives, giving all wealth and possessions to the cult, etc.

When the LDS Church was first formed under Joseph Smith, it would have been accurate to describe it as a cult.

When Christ formed his church when he was on the earth, it, too, was a cult.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

6. Can you leave and not be shunned by them?

I'm curious, after reading answer #2, which seemed to me to be pretty accurate.

Read about Sonia Johnson, if you're interested.

[Common Sense Party]

7. You mean would they still speak with me?

Yes, of course they would. I might not get invited to quite as many church socials, though...

[Goblinmonger]

13. That's just what a cult member would say.

:evilgrin:

[Common Sense Party]

15. I must shun you now, you heretic. nt

[Cronopio]

5. Microsoft. nt

[Common Sense Party]

8. In Latin America, the Catholic church is the "culto católico"

So, by one definition, a "cult" is any separate denomination. There doesn't have to be a negative connotaion.

[provis99]

9. My Seventh-Day Adventist Uncle says Mormonism is a cult

I think Seventh-Day Adventists like my uncle are in a cult. All a matter of opinion, I guess. Personally, I worship the Flying Spaghetti Monster. :shrug:

[DeSwiss]

10. The dictionary says.....

cult (kuhlt) –noun

1. a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies.

2. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult.

3. the object of such devotion.

4. a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.

5. Sociology. a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.

6. a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader.

7. the members of such a religion or sect.

(Origin: 1610–20; < L cultus habitation, tilling, refinement, worship, equiv. to cul-, var. s. of colere to inhabit, till, worship + -tus suffix of v. action)

Source: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cult">Dictionary.com

re·li·gion (ri-lij-uhn) –noun

1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.

3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.

4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.

5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.

6. something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.

7. religions, Archaic. religious rites.

(Origin: 1150–1200; ME religioun (< OF religion) < L religion- (s. of religio) conscientiousness, piety, equiv. to relig(are) to tie, fasten (re- re- + ligare to bind, tie; cf. ligament) + -ion- -ion; cf.)

Source: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion">Dictionary.com

- Dictionary.com's definition of cult and religion, to me appears to be unclear in their distinctions between the two. If not slightly prejudiced against cults from the way the definitions are worded. Both reference a system of "worship" practiced by its members, with the emphasis in cults upon rituals and the veneration of objects and/or individuals.

Of course, the same veneration of ritual, objects and individuals must attributed to most all religions as well. Because most religions also have an emphasis upon the importance of rituals, (communion, baptism, etc.) objects (crackers, wine, crosses, etc) and upon individuals (Jeebus, Mary, Paul, etc.). Both strongly resist having their tenets interpreted by outsiders. And both tend to scapegoat other beliefs as being "false," and only theirs as being "true." And Christianity was itself considered to be a cult by the Romans and many others until it was legitimized by being adopted as the state religion of the Roman Empire. So from this perspective, the definition of a cult is a "religion that lies outside the mainstream."

The only real difference between a cult and a religion as I see it, is that a religion probably owns more property and is richer. Its more "respectable." And religions will usually have a larger population of followers than a cult.

Other than that, they are both belief systems have a basis that was originally predicated upon early man's attempt to explain the vicissitudes of nature. Which of course have long since been debunked. They are both systems that are designed to provide "answers" to questions of everyday life and the reason for being. And the answers which they provide to their followers are all derived outside the realm of rationality.

The simplest definition for both: "fictional allegories and metaphors advanced as reality and the truth."

[parkia00]

11. To me at least...

A cult is a religion that is unestablished and unaccepted by the majority. A religion is an established cult that has been accepted or tolerated by more people. So in effect, all religions start out as a cult then matures into a religion when it become larger and with more influence with more followers.

[kwassa]

12. Weren't they a band in the '80s?

[Tesha]

14. All religions are cults but some have better P.R. than others (NT)

[Popol Vuh]

16. All

The Abraham religions are a cult.

Random House Unabridged Dictionary:

1. A particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies;
2. An instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers;
3. The object of such devotion;
4. A group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc;
5. Group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols;
6. A religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader;
7. The members of such a religion or sect;
8. Any system for treating human sickness that originated by a person usually claiming to have sole insight into the nature of disease, and that employs methods regarded as unorthodox or unscientific.


Webster's New World College Dictionary:

1a. a system of religious worship or ritual
1b. a quasi-religious group, often living in a colony, with a charismatic leader who indoctrinates members with unorthodox or extremist views, practices or beliefs
2a. devoted attachment to, or extravagant admiration for, a person, principle or lifestyle, especially when regarded as a fad
2b. the object of such attachment
3. a group of followers, sect

[and-justice-for-all]

17. I consider all religions cults...

Religions are cults, just with more members.

[Random_Australian]

18. For me it is simple. There are a number of reasons that one might want to

be part of a religious organisation (mainstream and cults) for instance, you might like the feeling of prayer or something.

Of course, there are other reasons that can be used to convince people to stay; like shunning anyone who leaves or telling members that outside the group, people are nasty and evil, family included.

Basically, that is how I make the distinction. If they are willing to let people leave without consequence, if they give people at least a vague idea that there is safety and such outside the group, and if they make sure people know that they can depend on other people (eg their families and friends, charitable organisations and such) outside the group, then people will only really stay if they have decided they agree with bieng there.

With that decision, a group becomes a valid religion. Without it, they are cults.

I don't know anything much about the mormons at all, so I can't comment on them.

[crawfish]

19. A cult...

at least the negative connotation would refer to a group that is manipulated and taught not to think for themselves. You'll find the majority of Christians (and Mormons) do not fall under that category.

There are, however, sub-groups of Christians (and Mormons) who are essentially cults. I've ran into a few of these and they're scary. The key is typically a charismatic preacher who squelches any competition or negative voice and holds absolute sway over the group. Most, if not all, of the Mormon polygamy groups fall into this category.

[Midwest_Doc]

20. The definition of "cult"

A religion other than yours.

[TechBear_Seattle]

21. It's as simple as ABCDEF

That would be the Advanced Bonewits’ Cult Danger Evaluation Frame written by Isaac Bonewits.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

22. Some characterisations:

Obviously, there is no hard line between what is a cult and what isn't, but the word "cult" tends to refer to religious groups that are:-

:-small
:-secretive
:-based around a single charismatic leader or group of leaders.
:-allow superiors to exercise great control over their followers day-to-day lives.
:-place emphasis on the organisation, not just the teachings.

Or some of the above.

[Warpy]

23. A cult is a new religion headed by a charismatic leader

A religion is a cult that has survived the death of that charismatic leader by at least two generations.