Aren't all religions, basically, cults ?

Answer 1

Yes.

Answer 2

Once upon a time the term "cult" referred to any religion outside the mainstream. Now it usually refers to "cults of personality" like the Moonies or Branch Davidians which believe the leader to be the next Christ. It has recently been proposed that the only difference between a cult and an accepted religion is 50-100 years (which is why former cults like Scientology and the Mormons have almost been accepted).
All religions (including cults) belive without proof, and therefore are equally as valid.

Answer 3

It depends on the definition of a cult so there are two ways to answer the question, 1 from a particular religious perspective, 2. from a definition of cult that means the same thing as religion, with whatever added connotations.

Every cult is infatuated with one or more "things" or "ideas". If there is a religion which is purely infatuated with a kind of Judeo Christian ethical system then it may not be a cult.

I am infatuated with the Bible.

Answer 4

Major religions and cults have major differences but both are interrelated. Major religions have staying power, strong historical following, politically recognized and possess major monetary influence, established scripture and rules, etc. Cults don't lack some of the stuff I mentioned but they lack the wide and strong historical following or have not stood up to the rigorous standards of time. The interesting thing is that all of the major religions may have started out as a cult but evolved into something greater. In a way, its sorta like saying humans are monkeys, but we all know that there are just as many similarities as there are differences.

Answer 5

No, a cult is a religious group that persuades people to join against their will. They can use social pressure, drugs, trickery and decpetion in general to gain members. But if you think this includes the notion that the religion they teach is wrong, that cant be proven so therefore it doesnt count. Chalres Manson is a great example of a cult, brainwashing techniques and murder.

Answer 6

by definition a cult is a religion with a small following.


once a religion gets a lot of people following it, it no longer is a cult.

Answer 7

All the other religions are cults, Ones own religion is never a cult.

Definition: "Cult" --- n. Someone else's religion.

Answer 8

It is only a cult if it is someone elses religion.
If it is your religion it is mainstream and everyone should go there.
But all other religions is a cult.

Answer 9

What's your definition of cult?

Answer 10

Cults—What Are They?

FEBRUARY 28, 1993—more than a hundred law-enforcement agents raided a compound of buildings housing dozens of men, women, and children. The object was to search for illegal weapons and to arrest a suspected criminal. The agents, however, were caught by surprise when a hail of bullets came flying toward them from inside the buildings. They returned the fire.

This confrontation left ten dead and several wounded. During the following 50 days, hundreds of government agents laid siege to the compound with enough guns to wage a small war. The standoff ended in a showdown that left 86 dead, including at least 17 children.

But who was the enemy? An army of drug-dealing mobsters? A guerrilla faction? No. As you may know, the “enemy” was a group of religious devotees, members of a cult. Their tragedy made an inconspicuous community on the plains of central Texas, U.S.A., the focus of international attention. The news media flooded the airwaves and the printed page with a barrage of reports, analyses, and comments on the dangers of fanatical cults.

The public was reminded of previous instances in which cult members were led to death by their leaders: the 1969 Manson murders in California; the 1978 mass suicide of cult members in Jonestown, Guyana; the 1987 murder-suicide pact engineered by cult leader Park Soon-ja of Korea, which resulted in the death of 32 members. Significantly, most of these people claimed to be Christians and professed belief in the Bible.

Understandably, many who respect the Bible as the Word of God are appalled at the brazen misuse of the Scriptures by these cults. As a result, over the years hundreds of organizations have been established for the purpose of monitoring cults and exposing their dangerous practices. Experts on cult behavior predict that the coming of a new millennium in a few years may trigger the proliferation of cults. One news magazine noted that according to anticult groups, there are thousands of cults “out there poised to snatch your body, control your mind, corrupt your soul. . . . Few are armed but most are considered dangerous. They’ll seduce you and fleece you, marry and bury you.”

What Is a Cult?

The term “cult” is used loosely by many who may not be fully aware of its connotations. To prevent confusion, some theologians actually avoid using the term.

The World Book Encyclopedia explains that “traditionally, the term cult referred to any form of worship or ritual observance.” By that criterion, all religious organizations could be classified as cults. However, in general usage today, the word “cult” has a different meaning. The same encyclopedia notes that “since the mid-1900’s, publicity about cults has altered the meaning of the term. Today, the term is applied to groups that follow a living leader who promotes new and unorthodox doctrines and practices.”

Endorsing the popular usage of the term, Newsweek magazine explains that cults “are normally small, fringe groups whose members derive their identity and purpose from a single, charismatic individual.” Similarly, Asiaweek magazine notes that “the term [cult] itself is vague, but it usually denotes a new religious creed built around a charismatic leader, who often proclaims himself to be the personification of God.”

The language used in a joint resolution of the 100th Congress of the State of Maryland, U.S.A., also conveys the derogatory connotation of the term cult. The resolution states that “a cult is a group or movement exhibiting excessive devotion to a person or idea and employing unethically manipulative techniques of persuasion and control to advance the goals of its leaders.”

Clearly, cults are generally understood to be religious groups with radical views and practices that clash with what is accepted today as normal social behavior. Usually they conduct their religious activities in secrecy. Many of these cultic groups actually isolate themselves in communes. Their devotion to a self-proclaimed human leader is likely to be unconditional and exclusive. Often these leaders boast of having been divinely chosen or even of being themselves divine in nature.

Answer 11

No.
Been there answered this about 100 times now.