Does 'Christian' Fundamentalism fall within the defined parameters of "cult"?
2006-07-09 08:23:59 · 41 answers · asked by Specious λ Neurotica 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Ever met my Mother-In-Law...yes it does! She is a fanatic to the point we feel she is brainwashed. Seriously...in her eyes we are all going to hell for one reason or another. The other day she heard me say I did not have time to fart around when I saw a neighbor approaching. She grabbed my hand and prayed for me for cursing!! Yes, cursing!!! I'm glad she has never been around when I've laid into her son!
Her and her friends judge people all of the time...it's sick. I confronted her, I told her we have one judge and it's not her! I also told her I felt it was not CHRISTIAN to gossip about others. She explained that it was not gossiping if her group were talking to pray about the sins of others. GAG! GAG! GAG! This after they condemned them all to hell!
I believe in God! However, it's people like this and many claim to be Christian that turn me away from picking a specific religion. Some of these groups follow what a human being says...in a beautiful building...in front of a stand ...every Sunday! They hang to his every word...that is cult like behavior!
2006-07-09 08:33:03 · answer #1 · answered by ? 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I grew up in a fundamentalist Christian church/school, though I don't consider myself a fundamentalist now. I wouldn't say it was a cult - I see a cult as a group with an excessive or misplaced devotion to a person or object. The place I was in was focused on Christ.
I think that fundamentalism is a cultural phenomenon. I have seen examples of it in many religions. I think it is a cultural reaction of a belief system to remain relevant in the face of a rapidly changing society by trying to reinstate the customs of the past. All fundamentalists, no matter what religion, always look to the past for the way people should live today. Whether living as people did in the past is possible or not is of course debatable, but fundamentalists usually seek force society to go backwards - to restructure society to look like a past that they perceive to have been better.
Jesus didn't try to force society to change by passing laws, etc. He connected with people and spoke to their hearts. Christian fundamentalists seem to lose sight of that fundamental point sometimes. I think it is better to focus on serving people like Jesus did rather than just telling them how to act. Maybe that would be a better place from which to impact society.
2006-07-09 09:09:38 · answer #2 · answered by forgiven 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sociological definition of cult revolves around a group with set beliefs. Dictionary.com: n 1: adherents of an exclusive system of religious beliefs and practices
There are more varieties of Christian Fundamentalism than Baskin-Robbin's ice cream flavors. One by one, some will fit, but not as this broad category. Catholics, Mormons, etc. fit, but 1001 various Baptist Churches would not--except for those who ban together and have the same beliefs.
2006-07-09 08:30:09 · answer #3 · answered by whozethere 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cult (klt) n.
1a. A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.
1b. The followers of such a religion or sect.
2. A system or community of religious worship and ritual.
3. The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual.
4. A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease.
5a. Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing.
5b. The object of such devotion.
6. An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest.
Under definitions 2 and 3, I'd say yes, Christianity is a cult.
2006-07-09 08:32:47 · answer #4 · answered by Rogue Scrapbooker 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definition of Cult(s) 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.
Only religions that distort the bible or cause salvation to be unattainable are considered cults.
2006-07-09 08:28:35 · answer #5 · answered by Johnny 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Although Christian fundamentalists use many of the same techniques used by cults, it really doesn't fit the definition of "cult" in it's typical usage. A cult is a small, and recently founded religious movement. There are lots of fundamentalists and they have been around for too many years.
2006-07-09 08:29:35 · answer #6 · answered by poecile 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This term is thrown around a lot these days - mostly in an insulting way. If you take the various definitions then almost every person who has religion is part of a cult.
to wit -
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
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
2006-07-09 08:28:15 · answer #7 · answered by Spud55 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO it does not.
If you attend services or even get really involved, you are always free to walk away.
By definition, you cannot just walk away from a cult.
THere are of course other defining traits of cults, but this one is a biggie, and not found in fundamentalist Christianity.
Of course a cult could use Christian in their name and still be a cult.
2006-07-09 08:29:27 · answer #8 · answered by cindy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Within the parameters, yeah lol. But legally its just a orthodox version of christianity. This makes sure some laws can't not be circumvented with them. Christianity is sort of high up on the list of institutes to protect.
2006-07-09 08:25:36 · answer #9 · answered by BP 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nah, a cult has to be a spin-off by definition, the word's just used too lightly these days. Seriously, the technical definition of a 'cult' is a spin-off of Judeo-Christianity, the word wasn't supposed to have anything to do with other religions, it's just been adopted.
2006-07-09 08:27:05 · answer #10 · answered by C_Bass 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Does 'Christian' Fundamentalism fall within the defined parameters of "cult"?"
No it falls within undefined parameters.
2006-07-09 08:33:10 · answer #11 · answered by hudef 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋