Do you belong to a cult? (Mormons, religion, history)

[MomtoFour]

The reason I've posted this is to point out that all religions start off as "Cults". There are good cults and bad cults. I see a "Cult" as a small religion.

I'm really not sure this is true. Do you have any evidence to support it?

Most of your original questions have nothing to do with size.

[kaykay]

"cult" is one of those words which has become very inflammatory. In my mind, the earmark of a cult lies in the mindset. IMO, how much control does the cult try to exert over its members?

However, when discussing whether a particular religion or denomination is a cult or not, maybe the more important question is not whether the group can be lumped under the word "cult" or whether the particular group teaches error as defined biblically or not.

[Bellinghamite]

Originally Posted by Throx

The reason I've posted this is to point out that all religions start off as "Cults". There are good cults and bad cults. I see a "Cult" as a small religion. I get offended when people dismiss the LDS religion as a "Cult" meaning something bad.

To a sociologist, the word "cult" refers to any religion that's new in a society. But for the average Joe, it invariably has sinister connotations.

[magellan]

Merriam Webster defines "cult" as the following (never use wikipedia as a source FYI, anyone can be a wikipedia editor):

Etymology: French & Latin; French culte, from Latin cultus care, adoration, from colere to cultivate -- more at WHEEL
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

So where do these mysterious 15 questions come from? And how do they relate to the formal definition of cult? And do you have a scale as to "cultishness"? 1 - 5: mildly cultish; 5-10: moderately cultish, get out now; 10 - 15: David Koreshish, it's too late for you

Just wonderin.

[_redbird_]

Originally Posted by magellan

And do you have a scale as to "cultishness"? 1 - 5: mildly cultish; 5-10: moderately cultish, get out now; 10 - 15: David Koreshish, it's too late for you

Just wonderin.

(Redbird raises hand from back of the room) x-Blue Oyster Cult follower here.

Confession: I was YOUNG!! I wanted to be accepted by my peers! It was the alcohol and the drugs!! They made us grow our hair long and wear funny shoes! Instead of a comet, we had to smoke out of a bong!!!! I am soo ashaAAMED!! waahaahaaa.

[tennesseedreamin]

Do you belong to a cult. Answer each question to get you score....truthfully now, baby Jesus is watching you!! (Jesus is not a baby, he's a king)

Do you belong to an organisation that.

Has lots of meetings? Yep, and imhp churches should

Keeps you so busy? Yep, like preaching the good news, like any Christian should be doing.

Has an infallible leader? Yep, God is pretty infallable

Expects purity? Bible says we must be holy as God is holy so, yep again.

Has rigid principles? I think God is pretty cut and dry about His requirements, yep again.

Expects confessions? Only in prayer

Speaks a cliché-ridden language? Any religion would sound so to an nonchristian

Has simple answers to most of life's questions? Nothing is simple about life but when one understands the big issues it's simple

Makes you feel secure? Heaven forbid!

Makes you feel more special than non-members? No

Frowns on expressions of doubts? Not frowns, just helps with Biblical counsel. Faith must be sure.

Claims absolute truth? If we didn't believe the Bible was absolute truth we wouldn't follow it.

Is reluctant to allow you to leave? What church who loves it's members wants them to leave?

Controls information about its own history? History always bears itself out.

Always says you are free to choose? If God gave free will to man, who is man to say anyone is NOt free to choose?

How did you score out of 15? Guess I'm in a cult

[Miss Blue]

Tennesseedreamin......About your above post....Priceless

[kawgpz550]

Originally Posted by tennesseedreamin

Do you belong to a cult. Answer each question to get you score....truthfully now, baby Jesus is watching you!! (Jesus is not a baby, he's a king)

Do you belong to an organisation that.

Has lots of meetings? Yep, and imhp churches should

Keeps you so busy? Yep, like preaching the good news, like any Christian should be doing.

Has an infallible leader? Yep, God is pretty infallable

Expects purity? Bible says we must be holy as God is holy so, yep again.

Has rigid principles? I think God is pretty cut and dry about His requirements, yep again.

Expects confessions? Only in prayer

Speaks a cliché-ridden language? Any religion would sound so to an nonchristian

Has simple answers to most of life's questions? Nothing is simple about life but when one understands the big issues it's simple

Makes you feel secure? Heaven forbid!

Makes you feel more special than non-members? No

Frowns on expressions of doubts? Not frowns, just helps with Biblical counsel. Faith must be sure.

Claims absolute truth? If we didn't believe the Bible was absolute truth we wouldn't follow it.

Is reluctant to allow you to leave? What church who loves it's members wants them to leave?

Controls information about its own history? History always bears itself out.

Always says you are free to choose? If God gave free will to man, who is man to say anyone is NOt free to choose?

How did you score out of 15? Guess I'm in a cult

I second Blue...simply PRICELESS!!!!

[Throx]

Christianity, Islam, and many other religions started out as cults.

Good answer Tennessee.

[Teach07]

My mom is in one: She is a Jehovah's Witness