Is religion a cult, and what is the difference between church, and a cult?

Answer 1

Hi! Good morning to you! If you look at it objectively, any spiritual group with a strong leader could be labeled a cult. I hate it when people accuse others of being in a cult but their belief is the true religion.

This definition shows most all religion is cultish.

cult

NOUN:


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.
The followers of such a religion or sect.
A system or community of religious worship and ritual.
The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual.
A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease.

Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing.
The object of such devotion.
An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Latin cultus, worship, from past participle of colere, to cultivate; see kwel- 1 in Indo-European roots

Answer 2

Cults are very different from accepted organized religions - they usually have the following characteristics:
1 - a required financial tithe or contribution - different from a request for funding, this is a demand
2 - a figurehead who is the only link to salvation or god or whatever the cult purports to be true
3 - a theme that the only help you will ever need will come from the other members of the cult - in essence having you renounce family, friends etc for the sole belief in the cult

Some cults are based in religion, some are based in other areas of life - finance, law etc

People who join cults see nothing wrong, they are indoctrinated into a belief and way of life in which they have NO free will (a basic tenet of most judeo-christian religions) and NO outside contacts except those approved by the cult, and have NO idea that they are being controlled. To even voice a thought that is in contradiction to the cult and/or its leaders will bring about punishment etc

Cults are a scary thing.

Answer 3

A cult brainwashes you and gets you to do things they want you to do, conformity.

Under that definition, the U.S. Army is a cult.

Now, as is OBVIOUS by Haggard, not everyone is brainwashed nor do they conform. Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggert and others prove this to be true, as do Christians who get abortions, partake of "no fault" divorce and get married four months pregnant and you can document these kinds of Christains and even Jews and Muslims.

So, if people use free will to do as they please, they are not brain washed or converted.

Most people in churches just follow the rituals and go home and watch the ball game on HDTV.

Cults are different. They often live at the place, work for the place and don't venture off into the world alone for long periods of time and partake in non-cult things.

Amish would be a cult, except they kick 18 year olds out and make them go to the big city and learn about US and then decided if they want to come back and join the Amish cult!

So LONG as something like that happens.

So LONG as an ALTERNATIVE is freely available to you, it is not a cult.

Hence, as I said, the U.S. Army is a cult. Once in you can't just ask to be let out. You're in for a period of time and you follow the party line while you are there and you are not to think.

YOu follow orders.

Answer 4

A cult is centered on a human person, like Mary or Elvis.

A church is centered on Jesus.

Most religions are not cults, but there can be cults within religions.

Answer 5

there isn't a precise definition

usually a group that broke off of a Christian group that has a new way of salvation (a different gospel) or a different nature of the Father or Son (a different Jesus) might be labeled a cult if the changes a very essential thing and Galations 1 would speak agaisnt it. The definition might be broadened past splinter groups to other groups competing with the gospel to some

there is also sociologically cultic churches... this would be where the doctrine may presserve othodox truth but they may be overcontrolling or violate reasonable personal boundaries somehow

Answer 6

Cults fade away and die shortly after the cult leader passes on to the next world. Religions, being founded by Manifestations of God Himself, live on for thousands of years after the Messenger has ascended.


www.bahai.org

Answer 7

All religions are cults and all cults are evil. This applies to you silly Christians who think your "personal relationship" crap is not a cult too.

Answer 8

A good church will preach directly from the Bible: God's word. A cult will twist the truth to have the followers believe his word and not God's word. The way to know, is to get into the Bible yourself so you know you're not being snowed. And to stay in constant communication with God by praying.

Answer 9

A cult is a word used by a group of people who believe their way is correct and the "cult" is not.Cult is the new word for Pagans or Heretics.

May GOD richly bless you.

Answer 10

"Cult" is a word used to patronize a faith or a belief - usually a smallish one. The word is used with films and books to mean it had a dedicated following of oddballs. It's probable that early Christianity was a cult to start with - until they attracted a richer clientele and built cathedrals and could afford elaborate vestments and palaces for their Cardinals and Bishops.