If Scientology is a cult , why isn't Christianity?

Question

Or any other religion for that matter?

Answer 1

What is a cult?


In accordance with dictionary.com a Cult is:

1. a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies.

Under this definition all religions are cults!
But the definition that is used the most is:

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.
Any religion that you consider false is a cult (but Scientologist don't live outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader).
So any religion can be a cult depending of the point of view of the observer.

For example: Jesus Christ was persecuted, captured and killed because he was considered to be a cult leader. Christians were persecuted and killed for centuries because they were considered to be cult members. To this day Christians in China have to worship in hiding (members often living outside of conventional society) . And in some Muslim countries the punishment for spreading the cult Christianity is death.

I'm not trying to put down Christianity or any other religion. I'm just trying to explain that any religion can be considered a cult depending on your point of view.

Answer 2

There is no difference whatsoever except that you should think of Scientology like a religious university, and so needs more money to run like a normal church has maybe like three guys: a priest and like a couple other people whereas a Scientology place will be full staffed with up to 200 people and open 7 days a week 9-10

Answer 3

All religions started as cults. Those that grew to dominate a culture, or at least a significant part of that culture, lost their "cult" status. In essence, it's the majority that decides a minor sect is false, unorthodox, or extremist - and therefor a cult. But when the majority comes to believe these teachings are no longer false, etc., then we have a mainstream religion.

That doesn't mean the religion is no longer based on superstition and general weirdness (such as is Scientology) - it just means the adherents have come to ignore the idiotic aspects in return for a belief in the magical solutions each of these sects have offered.

Answer 4

It comes down to the redifinition of the word "cult" as used
on this forum.
If you check it out in a proper dictionary , there really is nothing wrong with the word. Infact it comes from the root word To CULTIVATE.

It's just been deliberately redefined by some to give it a negative spin. (A great tool for religion "bashers" and "alarmists" ). This happens to lots of words actually.

I wouldn't worry about it. It certainly doesn't bother me as a Scientologist..... I don't take it personally, I know enough about my religion to know it isn't a "cult". I also understand why these false negative lables and definitions get created.

Answer 5

You need to understand the differences between cults and other orthodox demoninations.

The term, 'cult’, is used of a group, church or organization whose central teachings and/or practices are claimed to be biblical, but which are in fact unbiblical.

The term can also be applied to groups, organizations or churches whose statement of faith may sound orthodox, but who add aberrant, heterodox, sub-orthodox and/or heretical teachings to such an extend that the essential doctrines of the Christian faith are negatively affected.

It should be noted that in addition to aberrant, unorthodox, and/or heretical doctrines, many - but not all - religious cults also have excessive or abusive sociological characteristics (e.g. authoritarian leadership patterns, strict conformity requirements, manipulative controls, etc.)

"Central doctrines" of the Christian faith are those doctrines that make the Christian faith Christian and not something else.

The Christian faith is a definite system of beliefs with definite content (Jude 3). Certain Christian doctrines constitute the core of the faith.

Central doctrines include the Trinity (One God, three Persons), the deity of Christ as the second person of the Trinity, the bodily resurrection, the atoning work of Christ on the cross, and salvation by grace through faith. These doctrines so comprise the essence of the Christian faith that to remove any of them is to make the belief system non-Christian.

Scripture teaches that the beliefs mentioned above are of central importance (e.g., Matt. 28:19; John 8:24; 1 Cor. 15; Eph. 2:8-10).

Because these central doctrines define the character of Christianity, one cannot be saved and deny these.

Central doctrines should not be confused with peripheral issues, about which Christians may legitimately disagree. Peripheral (i.e. non-essential) doctrines include such issues as the timing of the tribulation, the method of baptism, or the structure of church government. For example, one can be wrong about the identity of "the spirits in prison" 1 Peter 3:19) or about the timing of the rapture and still go to heaven, but one cannot deny salvation by grace or the deity of Christ (John 8:24) and be saved.

All Christian denominations — whether Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, or Protestant — agree on the essential core. The relatively minor disagreements between genuinely Christian denominations, then, cannot be used to argue that there is no objectively recognized core of fundamental doctrine which constitutes the Christian faith.

Answer 6

Anything that follows after self or out of selfish needs becomes a cult. Unfortantly, many denominations like the Southern Baptists no longer look to God but to their selves. They seek out enemies in places where they should be looking for friends. They bring out hate instead of love. They become contrary to God and they become a cult. It's actually that simple. It's too bad Christianity is becoming what it is today. I for one don't like the actions of the church today and refuse to be apart of it. Christians today no longer care about mankind as a whole but only for people of their religion. They no longer help the needy, they are no longer compassionate and understanding, they are no longer giving of themselves and that is truly sad. I haven't heard recently one good thing a church has done. All you hear about is how they show up to protest a gay rally or how they are running down one person or another religion. Whatever happen to the good that the church used to do? The decline of the churches are the fault of the teaching of the church that has departed from the "love one another as I have loved you and the teaching that Christ asks us to sacrifice for others. The Church like many religions before sought God and just got lost along the way. It's failed in it's mission to find God and Bring him to others through its teaching of hate, intolerance and arrogance.Instead of letting mankind decide they try to force you to make the decision. God gives freewill and Christians take it away. So when a religion is contrary to God like Christianity is than it is a cult.

Answer 7

Because God tells us in scripture what a cult is, and what Christianity is. Christianity is the teachings of Jesus, knowing that God is real , that Jesus is His son, came to save, that He lived on earth as a man, and will come again to take us home. And that the Bible is Gods word to us, because He loves us. That we cant go to heaven without jesus. and God tells us that any religion that doesnt bring you all the teachings of Jesus is false religion. an abomination. Christianity follows all of what GOd said, so thats why we know it is true . anything else, God called false.
Go said we arent to add to His word or take anything away, not even a little bit. do you see the teachings of scientology in the Holy Bible? No. If they need other books to prove doctrine, they are false. maybe a religion, but not a Christin religion.
Jesus saves, and its only His doctrines we are to teach.. and believe and OBEY.

Answer 8

Christianity is a cult. Do you know what a cult is? A cult is any religion or should I say "Group" that says join us or die/go to hell. That is what Jesus said.

Buddhism is not a cult nor is Judaism a cult but any religion that believes in Jesus is(Mormonism, Jehova Witnesses...).

and possibly there are some other cults...

Answer 9

In fact, they all are!! Cult is defined as "veneration" and " a religious belief". Currently, the word is used in relation to organizations who allegedly practice "mind control", but, is not that exactly what any religion attempts to do: to control its congregation through the endeavor to instill into their brains the tenets of the religion, often also resorting to fear tactics, such as threatening the prospect of eternal damnation, to cause those who would stray to return to the fold? The terminology commonly used by Christians -- pastor, lamb of god, sheep, fold -- indicates that the followers of the religion require leading and corralling by the shepherd/pastor, assumedly because they are incapable of self-determination. Thus, any religion will conform to the definition of a cult, whether mainstream or bizarre, since they all establish mores, taboos, litanies, courses of prescribed study, and rules/laws which the practitioners must follow in order to reap the promised rewards of the sect (or to evade retribution for their sins)! They all also demand or request monetary tributes, tithes, or dues from their subjects...

Answer 10

Scientology was founded for the express purpose of making money; L. Ron Hubbard was quoted as saying "I’d like to start a religion. That’s where the money is." In addition, there have been many allegations of forced money extraction, brainwashing of its members, and so forth. Despite its size, the institution is even suspected of having been directly related to a number of deaths.