Define Cult?

Question

What gives man the right to call another Religion a cult? Just because they don't agree on religious doctrine. Judge not, lest ye be judged!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

The level of ignorance on Yahoo Answers is sometimes staggering. Several previous Born-Again "Christian" posters lumped the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints into the cult category. Let's look at this:

--The LDS base their beliefs in Jesus Christ--no one else.
--The LDS are NOT closed to outsiders, in fact the LDS church offers humanitarian aid (food, blankets, water, diapers, medical supplies, etc...) to millions and millions of individuals that have NEVER even heard of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints--therefore the ridiculous claim maid previously that we only talk and associate among ourselves is of course the opinion of someone who simply doesn't know.
--LDS social services such as employment help is available to ALL invididuals regardless of religious affiliation. Anyone can come in off the streets into an LDS Stake Center and get help finding a job in the area.
--The LDS church promotes values that help strengthen society and build an individual's faith in Jesus Christ
--The LDS church NEVER, EVER fights back when false charges or ridiculous allegations are leveled against the church. If you walk into an LDS bookstore you will NEVER find books directed at degrading or criticizing other faiths. We simply are too busy trying to help others to worry about what other faiths believe. However, walk into ANY so-called "Christian" bookstore and you will find literally dozens and dozens of hate-filled books labeling every other faith a sect or a cult or devilish.

That fact alone should reveal volumes about which faith actually is doing the Lord's work.

Answer 2

Very good question, here's a definition from dictionary.com

cult  /kʌlt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[kuhlt] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

–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.
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.


According to this definition either all religions are cults (because each religion would all the others a cult), or only the smaller, "unorthodox, or extremist", churches with charismatic leaders could be considered a cult. What each church believes (trinity, original sin, second coming, etc) is actually irrelevant. We have no right to judge or rebuke. We can inform about what we believe but everyone must make their decision on their own.

Answer 3

I got this straight from Wickipedia:

In religion and sociology, a cult is a cohesive group of people (often a relatively small and recently founded religious movement) devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding culture or society considers to be far outside the mainstream. Its separate status may come about either due to its novel belief system, because of its idiosyncratic practices or because it opposes the interests of the mainstream culture. Other non-religious groups may also display cult-like characteristics.

Answer 4

A cult is a cohesive group of people devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding culture or society considers to be far outside the mainstream.

In other words any group of people that meet and preach the same thing is a cult, can be as big as Christianity or small like new mother's meetings.

Answer 5

Cult means " a cohesive group of people devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding culture or society considers to be far outside the mainstream." That would sum your beliefs up. As for your last sentence, here's a good example of your "impartiality":
"all the Anti Mormons come out at night, are they related to Vampires?" You're nothing more than a hypocritical fanatic.

Answer 6

Cult generally refers to a group that won't accept any behavior that is outside what they expect. In other words, you must cut yourself off from society in general, you can only talk to other members of the same group. You have to believe exactly the same as the group does, etc. You see this occasionally amongst Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons and Radical Christians. But just because someone doesn't agree doesn't make the group a cult. Who is worthy to judge? Not me or anyone else! It really gets me going when people have the nerve to judge God Himself!!

Answer 7

Any group that keeps you captive in faith and will not (by force) allow you to socialize outside of your religious group. Most cults huddle around a central figure and shun those who do not believe as they do, sometimes by using force to keep the "Unclean" away. Anyone who does not worship as they do is evil and should either be brainwashed or shunned.

Before anyone says something about Christianity, you can leave christianity, talk to those outside of christiantiy and not follow the rules without fear of physical harm. Cults rule by fear and do serve harsh punishment for breaking the rules.

Answer 8

Personaly I feel all religions are cult, but 90% of the world would disagree w/ me.

In a cult I look for the standard mob mentality, and members who generally distance themselves from family and friends.

see also Scientology.

Answer 9

BOOK Kingdom of the Cults by Walter Martin
HE HAS FOUR degrees in Religion Knows more than any of us
True church preaches the trinity

Answer 10

Let us not confuse judging with rebuking. For we are commanded not to judge, but we are commanded to rebuke and correct...

Eph 5:11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

Luke 17:3 So watch yourselves. "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.

James 5:20 Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.