Who considers Christianity to be a cult, and Christ to be the equivalent of David Koresh or Jim Jones?
Why or why not??
2006-08-31 13:15:53 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Mosikia....what about the practice by some of self flagellation?? Doesn't that count as self harm?
2006-08-31 13:21:27 · update #1
All religions are cults.
2006-08-31 13:18:15 · answer #1 · answered by Ajax Spade 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋
there are alot of christian cults like Examples :
» The Body (Attleboro cult)
» Christian Identity (the entire movement)
» Concerned Christians
» International Churches of Christ
» Jehovah's Witnesses
» Mormon Church
» Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
» Strong City (Michael Travesser)
» Unification Church
» United Pentecostal Church
» The Way International
We need to understand the big differences between biblical Christianity and every other religion (including apparently 'Christian' cults):
Other religions do not believe that Jesus Christ is both God and man.
They believe that the way to salvation (whatever they understand that to mean) is in trying to do good things and avoiding bad actions. So they see it as earned, not free.
'God', as they understand him, is distant and usually angry rather than loving. No personal relationship is offered. In some religions (including 'New Age') 'god' is seen as a sort of force within the physical universe, instead of being the creator and life-giver beyond space and time.
They have no firm promise of forgiveness and eternal life.
They have no understanding that God offers people a new and changed life by placing his own power inside them through his Spirit.
2006-08-31 14:56:01 · answer #2 · answered by Christine S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A "cult" has a false prophet leader who teaches his followers to believe in ideas that are harmful to themselves or against public law. Jesus was a Savior. He taught love and compassion. He gave up His life so we could enjoy eternal life. He taught people to believe in the Lord and live good lives. He was the Word of God. Nothing that He did fits into the definition of a cult.
2006-08-31 13:21:31 · answer #3 · answered by TJMiler 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. Because over half of Americans claim to be Christians.
(a little big to be called a cult)
You must live in a very isolated nest of liberalism. I'm guessing a New England state. Am I right?
2006-08-31 13:24:41 · answer #4 · answered by Ha! Invisible! 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to read Josephus, a famous historian from Jesus era, he was not a religous man, just an unbiased historian, he wrote 'this man they call Christ, if it be fit to call him a man, for he performs many wonderful miracles and signs'
None of these cult leaders did anything but convince gullible people and then take from them so they could live like kings, jesus lived a humble, simple life of giving, no compound, no guns, no nike shoes.
2006-08-31 13:21:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
not a cult because usually seperate you from loved ones and some infliction of self harm.
2006-08-31 13:19:41 · answer #6 · answered by JaSam 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Christ led His followers into better life, non-violent protest, acceptance and forgiveness, spiritual power to heal, while the ones you listed led their groups to early death and violence.
Not a cult.
http://judgeright.blogspot.com
2006-08-31 13:21:04 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not me, a cult requires one to give up goods, christianity only requires one to give up sins. A sin is not a good, even tho a lot of sins seem good, they really aren't.
2006-08-31 13:19:29 · answer #8 · answered by Marcus R. 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
no
no
Read Romans 10
2006-08-31 13:19:00 · answer #9 · answered by robert p 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
That's like saying Churchill and Hitler were the same because they both led countries
2006-08-31 13:19:29 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
no, because it is a religion not a cult, but what truly is a cult? what do you define that as?
2006-08-31 13:19:39 · answer #11 · answered by jessicake 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋