Here is the definition of a cult. Does it really describe Christianity??

Question

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.

Is Christianity small? recently founded? outside the mainstream?

No. Therefore it is not a cult by definition. Perhaps think of another word to use with which to radically insult this religion, so as not to look assinine.

Remember, the athiests best friend is "mr. logic". Logic dictates that if one part of this definition does not fit, it is therefore not the right definition. Is Christianity "small" with over a billion followers? No. (Gavel hits the bench) Boom. Case dismissed.

Agree?? Disagree??

Acknowlege this, or just turn a deaf ear and cry "cult" ??

Blessings,
David

I agree it was in 35 AD...i am talking about today.

Answer 1

The "Church " is a body of believers gathered together to praise and worship the Lord Jesus Christ. The Church not a building, nor is Christianity a Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, a Mormon, etc.
So all the religions in the world ARE CULTS. Show me in the Bible where there is a Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, a Mormon, and etc. It simply doesn't exist. Man created these "Cults". Simply read their Church doctrines and silly bylaws, etc. All the ones I listed for example will disagree with each other on alot of issues. That simply isn't Christianity. There is only one Living God, period, the Lord Jesus Christ. There is only ONE church, and that is the body of believers who praise and worship the Lord Jesus Christ. Where God is there is liberty. Church membership? Another great joke of mankind. Only the Lord Jesus Christ knows the condition of any mans heart. Only God knows who his people are, not mankind. Being on a church membership roster or board of directors won't get you into heaven. The local church is so deceived, and laughable. All the silly and stupid things they do and believe and think its God. Jesus died for our sins, was buried and went to hell for 3 days, and rose again. That is the GOSPEL, there is no other. If your local church preaches and teaches any other gospel I highly suggest you get out of there at once. The lies from the pulpit are truly killing you, that being spiritual death, which will lead to physical death from the devil. Where do you think all the sickness in the world comes from? Simple.
So I fully disagree with your definition. May God open your Blind Eyes and any others that can learn to read 5th grade, the Holy Bible. Laugh at me, say whatever, the real joke is being played ON YOU by the local mainstream churches in the world. God forbid. God IS raising up a people that WILL BELIEVE HIM. Are you one of them?

Answer 2

The term "cult" has different meanings. To the general public, it is a ridiculing word for any religion. But your right in the sense mentioned above. Religions can be divided into three types
(NOTE: I am not trying to insult anyone's religion with this, this is what sociologists use, including the examples):

1. Churches - established religions which have relative little conflict with the general population. The Catholics, Baptists, and Methodists (among others) belong here.

2. Sects - religions, relatively older, with have a moderate (though not a lot) of difference with the general population. Generally, Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons belong here. For example, Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe in saluting the flag, accepting blood transfusions, etc.

3. Cults - religions, usually newer, with a fair amount of difference with the general population Groups like Jim Jone's groups, David Koresh's group, etc. belong here.

The definition of time also is for the area, not everywhere. So Hare Krishna is usually described as a "cult" in the US, though the group has been around for a long time in India. In Utah, the Mormons would be considered a church, since they are a fairly large religion there.

Answer 3

Your own definition includes the word, "often". This would lead one to believe that what follows is not an absolute, but merely the norm. Therefore, your definition has left open the possibility that a larger, more well established group (Christians for example) could have this definition applied to them. I would just like to point out that I am not claiming that Christians are a member of a cult. I'm just stating that your definition doesn't follow such an exact line of logic as you have claimed.

Answer 4

I like how you convieniantly use 'small' and 'recently founded' as easily dismissed statements, even though the definition says they are *OFTEN*. Often does not mean ALWAYS.

Christianity is mainstream. Stick to just that reason for contesting the cult definition.

Fundamentalist evangelical christianity, however, *IS* small, recently founded (post 1800's), and far outside the mainstream. So fundamentalist evangelical christianity DOES meet the requirements and options of the definition of a cult.

Fundamentalist & Evangelical Christianity is a cult, by your own definition.

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Contrary to Rainfog's claim, atheism would not meet the definition either because it is not cohesive, there is no organization or membership. In fact, atheism is literally nothing more than one thing: "There are no gods."

Anything else is outside the scope of atheism.

Answer 5

Obviously, by that definition, there would have been a time that it would have been considered a cult, however, now, it's so mainstream, it is the mainstream, so, no and yes. Good Question.

Answer 6

Christianity in and of itself is a definition. religions? there are hundreds of them small, new, and out side of the mainstream more gravel case closed!

Answer 7

I this was the year say 35 AD then the small group running about telling people of a person that was resurrected from the dead might fit your description.

Answer 8

Here is what my dictionary says about cults: n. a particular ritual or system of worship; a subject of special study; devoted or extravagant homage or adoration.


To me that sounds like most if not all religions.

Answer 9

Your little cult gained strength because a Roman emporer deemed it worthy in an effort to suit the needs of the fledgling Roman Catholic church. Your claims at divinty, on the other hand, are indeed total assinine abstractions.....

Answer 10

I've never said Christianity is a cult. I've said it's wrong. There's a difference.