Do Christians get mad when i say Christianity is a Cult?

Question

Because all religions by definition are cults.

cult /kʌlt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[kuhlt]
–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.

Answer 1

It depends on which part of the definition that you are applying to Christianity. Most people zero in on #6 and forget the rest of the definitions.

The concept of "cultus" as it relates to the shrine and devotions of a particular saint has been a part of the Catholic vocabulary for centuries. In that sense, it doesn't bother me at all.

Neither do most of the other clauses. Christianity is a "system of religious worship," and there is no negative connotation implied.

But if you are implying that Christianity is "false, unorthodox, or extremist," then yes, I do have a problem with that. Christianity and the larger part of its leaders are definitely a part of "conventional society." We are neither unorthodox nor false.

Answer 2

I suppose that there can be many definitions of many words, but I don't see your point. Anyway, here's another.

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

This is what is generally understood to be a cult, and if you didn't know that, I'm not sure what planet you're from.

Answer 3

Your definition misses the mark. I know what a cult is because I used to be associated with one: the Jehovah's Witnesses. A cult keeps its members in line through control and fear. With the JW's, it's fear of losing your family/loved ones if you quit being a JW. Legitimate religion does not do this. Since my family left the JW's, we found the Catholic Church and have found home. The Church keeps its members because She teaches love. We do not remain because we are forced, but because we have the freedom to choose. This is the mark of true religion, of God.

Please make sure you know what you are talking about next time before making these kinds of comments, because there are a lot of people out there who've been through serious trials. What you make fun of, they bear the scars.

God bless.

Answer 4

Christianity could be considered a Jewish cult, because it has similar roots but does not adhere to mainstream Jewish beliefs (i.e. the Law of Israel).

A cult is typically defined as a specific denomination or sect of a religious philosophy that does not adhere to mainstream beliefs or has a very small number of members.

Answer 5

6 and 7 certainly do not apply to Christianity so no Christianity is not a cult. Many behavoirs of cults do not fit in with us either. You are entitled to call it what you want, but you are wrong.

Would you get mad if people called you a Satan worshipper because after all, you are either for Christianity or against it.. and we all know what opposite of God is. I won't make hasty judgement though as you do.

Answer 6

exactly. I agree. but still yes we do. only because most retarded christians don't bother themselves with trivial books like the dictionary, and because when we're called a cult, the accusers aren't talking about a dictionary definition of cult either.

Answer 7

Christianity, Judaism and Islam are the three most successful cults in human history. Why that should bother any of them is beyond me. The truth is the truth.

Answer 8

The thing that I like about christians is that they can accept criticism very well, so yeah they probably get a little offended but they wouldnt let it bother em too much

Christianity is based on forgiveness

Answer 9

Not as mad as the cults do with being called Christians...

Answer 10

thank you for posting Truth!

in fact all "religious systems" are but the product of mankind's "imag"ination and mankind's "imag"ination is destroying Creation(earth, air, water, creatures, Truth, Love, Peace,,,etc,,,) ;-(

theo'ry'ology is but the promised "strong delusion" that those who "received not a love of The Truth" would fall victim to".

and sadly the victims are but serving "time" in the prison that is this world.

yet, while there is breath(spirit) there is hope!

for Miracles do happen!

hope is there would be those who experience The Miracle that is "receiving a love of The Truth" for they will flee the "cults" that are of this world(babylon).

"a simple and spiritual life is the only life that will survive"......

peace, in spite of the dis-ease(no-peace) that is of this world.......