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2006-11-13 08:10:29 · 10 answers · asked by Jan_91 1 in Society & Culture Cultures & Groups Other - Cultures & Groups

10 answers

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.

2006-11-13 08:13:50 · answer #1 · answered by Radagast97 6 · 0 0

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.

In common usage, "cult" has a negative connotation, and is generally applied to a group by its opponents, for a variety of reasons. Understandably, most, if not all, groups that are called "cults" deny this label. Some anthropologists and sociologists studying cults have argued that no one yet has been able to define “cult” in a way that enables the term to identify only groups that have been claimed as problematic[citation needed].

The literal and traditional meanings of the word cult is derived from the Latin cultus, meaning "care" or "adoration", as "a system of religious belief or ritual; or: the body of adherents to same"32. In English, it remains neutral and a technical term within this context to refer to the "cult of Artemis at Ephesus" and the "cult figures" that accompanied it, or to "the importance of the Ave Maria in the cult of the Virgin." This usage is more fully explored in the entry Cult (religious practice).

In non-English European terms, the cognates of the English word "cult" are neutral, and refer mainly to divisions within a single faith, a case where English speakers might use the word "sect", as in "Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism are sects (or denominations) within Christianity". In French or Spanish, culte or culto simply means "worship" or "religious attendance"; thus an association cultuelle is an association whose goal is to organize religious worship and practices.

The word for "cult" in the popular English meaning is secte (French) or secta (Spanish). In German the usual word used for the English cult is Sekte, which also has other definitions. A similar case is the Russian word sekta.

2006-11-13 16:15:18 · answer #2 · answered by essentiallysolo 7 · 1 0

If something is "cult" it's not mainstream and has a small audience of loyal followers. Many times it will be known by some people in popular culture, but they usually think it's odd or strange.

2006-11-13 16:14:59 · answer #3 · answered by colorguy 4 · 0 0

Cult is like religion.

2006-11-13 16:12:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

A santantic ritual practice that enslaves people to do evil things as opposed to the nature of God. They form groups churches and other affliations and gets you hooked to follow the leader and bad things sometimes happens when you want out.

2006-11-13 16:15:08 · answer #5 · answered by JoJoBa 6 · 0 0

Church of SubGenius. It's the one true "end of the world" cult.

2006-11-13 16:13:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Blue Oyster?

2006-11-13 16:11:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

A group of fantatics that believe in something very deeply and can be considered strange and crazy.

2006-11-13 16:11:42 · answer #8 · answered by whenrainbowscry 2 · 0 0

generally a group whose beliefs are different enough to not overlook in everyday transactions.

2006-11-13 16:12:11 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

yahoo answers

2006-11-13 16:12:11 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

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