How is it that your religion is NOT a cult....?

Question

I recently stumbled into telling my xtian friend that Christianity is a cult. It will come as no surprise to most, that this offended my friend. After a brief moment of reflection, I stood by my statement, but we decided to move on to other topics…

So, I’m really curious, what is it – in your opinion – that prevents your religion from being labeled a cult? I know that religious folk, even xtians, admit that religious cults exist, so what makes your sect of Christianity any different from those you would call a “cult”? (I choose Christianity as an example because of their high level of self-righteousness, but this question goes out to all organized religions, not just xtians).

If you would be so kind, please enlighten me as to why your religion or religious sect should not be looked upon in the same way as what most Americans (or people in the world), xtian or otherwise, would collectively agree upon is a true “cult”.

Thanks to those who provide actual answers.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cult

pretty good answers...I love the comparison between The Cricket and LordEdwards...
Cricket's lame rebuttals actually make more of a case that xtianity IS a cult.... While LordEdwards seems to argue its only a matter of degree. There's a lot of space between "Christmas Carolers" and "cool-aid drinkers", so I wonder where the line is drawn? Between xtian and muslim extremists, between Catholics and Protestants, between Greek Orthodox and Polish Catholic? Seems rather arbitrary...who gets to choose where to draw the line? The Pope? "Society"?

Answer 1

They are completely 100% the same, my dear. I have informed my xtian friends of this for a while and yeah--it's best not to mention it.

Here is the difference b/t a cult and a religion. A cult is what you call it if you aren't included in the group. A religion is what you call it if you belong to a cult.

See with your definition the rub is this
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.

Well see, everyone believes their religion to be true. Be silly to belief in something if you thought it wasn't true. So a cult is what other people believe (and thereby false) and a religion is what I believe (and thereby the way, the light and the truth)

Hope this clears it up!

Answer 2

Counterfeit Christianity is probably the best description I can give for a cult. Counterfeit Christianity is an imitation of real Christianity. Bible terms like "Jesus Christ, Resurrection, Salvation, and Atonement" are used by the Cult, but the various cult groups have assigned entirely different meanings to these terms.
Like counterfeit money which is sometimes difficult to detect, so it is difficult to detect counterfeit Christianity, since it looks like the real thing. Experts examining counterfeit money often hold it up to a strong light and look for identifying marks. Counterfeit Christianity also has identifying marks, which can be seen when, held up to an even stronger light, the light of God's word, the bible.
We are at an advantage if we know what to expect from a cult. Cultists are very well trained to appear "Christian", and indeed believe they are the true churches, and you need the deliverance! Therefore, be bold and ask the question, "do you believe the group you represent is the only true church on the face of the earth?"
If they reply that they are, or if they are evasive, making remarks like "Well, every church has a measure of truth but...", you have made an early detection of a Cultist.
Every true Christian, if asked the same question, regardless of his denomination, would reply that the true church is comprised of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, and HE (not some organization) is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE, (John 14:6). No legitimate denomination would claim that they alone and their members have salvation exclusively, but the cults (the counterfeits) do.

Answer 3

The major mainstream religions are not cults because they are..well...mainstream. A cult has beliefs outside of what is considered mainstream. Christianity is the most popular and worlds largest religion, so it is far from a cult(by definition).

What Christians follow today though is a watered down version of the words of the past. The bible has been re-written over and over again. Most historical documents(books, maps, pamphlets) were destroyed because they didn't reflect the high religious standards at the time.

Who knows what are actual history is, or how many cults Christians killed off to sculpt the world the way they would like it to be.

Answer 4

I once read in a book called "What the cults believe", which of course was written by a christian, that a cult is a religious sect that either doesn't believe in Jesus or believe in Jesus but does not believe in the trinity.

Did anyone else read Lord Edwards answer and notice that way more than half of the list applies to Christians also. Is he really joking or serious when he says they are not a cult?

Answer 5

According to the dictionary, yes every religion is a cult. However, society's definition of a cult differs. The word "cult" is used negatively in most instances. I believe that is why those in a non-extremist faith prefer not to be labeled as a cult because of its negative connotation.

Answer 6

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


OK according to THIS all religions could be a cult :)

Answer 7

It's not right to say that the whole idea of Christianity is a cult. My belief is that all organized religions are cults. Organized religions follow the rules of men in charge of the gathering. They tell people how to live their lives and what is right and wrong, and that in my opinion is a cult. If someone wants to be Christian with their own ideas and beliefs and to why, that certainly isn't cultist. I believe in freedom of religion, which is why I condemn organized religions as cults for trying to brainwash people to think like they do.

Answer 8

This is a good question worthy of a thorough answer. I do not believe Christianity is a cult. Cults are defined by extreme behavior. Generally speaking, Cults demand that their followers earn their way into salvation through various works and deeds; often ending in suicide or murder/suicide. This is fundamentally different from Christianity, which only demands "Faith in Christ" to get into heaven. Of course, the truly faithful will be known by their works, but without that crucial faith component, all their good deeds will be seen as dirty rags in the eyes of God. Personally, I am not a religious person, but I recognize the drastic difference between the behaviors of various religions and their adherents. For instance, going to Church, giving to the poor, and singing Christmas Carols is dramatically different than flying planes into buildings, immolating yourself, drinking poisoned Kool-Aid, or unleashing poison gas in the Japanese Subway System. A tree can be judged by its fruit.

Here are a few signs of a cult. I'm not sure how many have to be met before it can actually be deemed a Cult, but it's probably more than half:

1. A cult is a religious group with extreme beliefs and practices—beliefs that are often contrary to science and logic but they are seen as “obvious” truth by the cult members.

2. Use manipulative methods to control the minds of followers.

3. Venerate a human leader or and rationalize their otherwise violent actions as justifiable or self-defense to the cult.

4. Members are not allowed to criticize the leader, the doctrine, or the organization, or read information that is critical of the cult.

5. Members are trained to reject and disbelieve criticism of the cult as lies from Satan.

6. Members spy on one another and report improper activities or comments to leaders.

7. Members are taught to suppress anything which might reflect negatively to outsiders about the cult.

8. The doctrine is absolutist and the ideology is internalized as “the Truth.”

9. Members are told to avoid contact with ex-members or critics, even their relatives.

10. Members are instilled with a deep fear about ever leaving the organization, and anyone who does depart will go to hell.

11. Members are emotionally controlled and made to feel guilty by other members, especially by family members in the cult.

I hope this answers your question. Assuming that you're too intellectually honest to use the Crusades of 800 years ago as evidence of the morally reprehensible actions of Christians, you should now have a thorough understanding for why it is not a cult. If you're paying attention closely, you might be asking yourself, "Is Islam a Cult?"

Answer 9

Christianity is a relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ God Almighty. Im not sure what an "xtian" is so I can not elaborate on that. Religions are Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist that all fall under the Christianity heading. And each are different but then each are the same because they all believe in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Answer 10

I'll use the definition you provided, and show that Christianity is NOT a cult.

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

Response: There are MANY denominations of Christianity. While we all follow the same basic rules, there are also many variances.

2. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult.

Response: The person that we "venerate" wasn't actually human, but God in the flesh. There is a difference between religion and cult.

3. the object of such devotion.

N/A

4. a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.

Response: We Christians aren't as "bound together" as we should be. There is much disagreement amongst us.

5. Sociology. a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.

Response: Just about any ideology can be considered sacred. A person who adores Quentin Tarantino movies, and gathers with others who love the movies could be construed as a cult according to this definition. Also, Star Wars and "Trekkie" conventions fall under this. I don't agree with that. Besides, my denomination doesn't have "rites" centered around "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.

Response: Christians live within conventional society, and we are not under direction of any living leader. We have the right to leave any time we want. Besides, Christianity is too widespread to fall under this definition of cult.

7. the members of such a religion or sect.

N/A

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.

Response: No, we don't have anyone like that.

Out of the eight, Christianity can only fall under ONE, and that one, as I demonstrated, is so general that just about ANY group could fall under it.

Really though, it's all in the eyes of the beholder. Personally though, *I* believe that there's too much evidence for Christianity for it to be considered a cult.