Protestants say that Mormonism is a cult...
But, fundamentalists promote hate, superiority, prejudice and try to "recruit" others. They will not have dialogue with any who believes differently than they.
2007-05-01 04:21:24 · 25 answers · asked by G.C. 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Interestingly most people consider "cults" to be anything that promotes a belief system different than their own.
In otherwords, to label something a "cult" is to express one's own bigotry.
2007-05-01 04:31:40 · answer #1 · answered by Open Heart Searchery 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Most people define a cult as a religion that they don't belong to. :-) Of course fundamentalism is a cult. You could make the case that most religions have cult-like aspects. Take Catholicism (please!). Just think about it--birth control is forbidden. Their clergy must remain celebate, and they also can't be women. You put ashes on your forehead on Ash Wednesday and they bless palm fronds for Palm Sunday. They believe that a priest transforms bread and wine into literal flesh and blood, which they then consume. Doesn't this sound like a cult to you? (I was raised Catholic until I started to think for myself and became an atheist, and I have no more against that religion than I would against any other.)
What a minute, Eartha--who made these "guidelines" for cults? And atheism isn't a cult because we don't get together and have meetings and rituals. We're all just out there thinking for ourselves.
Here is the first entry in the definition of "cult" in dictionary.com:
"a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies."
Excuse me, but doesn't that sound like just about any organized religion you've ever heard of?
2007-05-01 04:34:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Where do you draw the line? what about fundamentalist Islam or militant Atheism . The term cult is just a term of offense against those who hold to certain beliefs and values its a term of abuse. That doesn't mean i agree with all they stand for and if they break the law they should serve there penalty.
2007-05-01 04:38:57 · answer #3 · answered by jack lewis 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If that is your base why not say all churches are cults. Most churches send out missionaries to bring new people into their fold. As for the "Mormon" church. Our full name is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Notice the name Jesus Christ is in there, we believe in God the Eternal Father, and in his son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. We are definitely not a cult but trying to practice our religion in a manner pleasing to God it is the rest of the world who is finding fault and still to this day persecuting the saints.
2007-05-01 04:36:35 · answer #4 · answered by Hawaiiflower 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, first fundementalism is a fuzzy term, but so is cult. Cult is a religious group that uses deception to covert people, Fundementalists do decieve in a way, but ususally by hate, not drugs, peer pressure etc. like cults. So I would say that MOST fundementalist religions are cults, but a small percent aren't
2007-05-01 04:31:43 · answer #5 · answered by YouCannotKnowUnlessUAsk 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You are, frankly, using it just like Fundamentalists do: "I don't like these guys, what they believe, and how they live, so they're a cult." This word is just about meaningless because of that very practice.
2007-05-01 04:30:16 · answer #6 · answered by Innokent 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I've never seen a satisfactory definition of the differences between a church and a cult. It seems to be mostly down to how many followers.
2007-05-01 04:29:55 · answer #7 · answered by Dharma Nature 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Cults are those who reject the fundamental foundation of Christ.
That He is born of a virgin. He lived a life as a human anointed with the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. He is the Lamb of God. He raised from the dead. Salvation is a gift of God, through faith (acting out on that faith by voicing Jesus Christ Lord & Savior.) & believing in ones heart He raised from the dead.
The cults are the religions that turn back to rituals & works to attain salvation & deny the power of His redeeming blood. When people refuse to come to God and His Love & Truth when presented correctly, and they willfully purposely rebel against God, God at some point in time turn them over to a deceiving spirit. One that rejects the power of the Cross, or rejects the Trinity, or rejects the gifts of the Holy Spirit, etc. Or rejects the Father & the Son. Or rejects Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. etc...
One example is the purple triangle gateway where people killed themself to catch a ride on comet hail bop heading toward the sun. Their leader looked like he was in a trance. And in their document I read on line, it writes that the work done on the cross was foolishness. Mormon leaders have said the same thing (Brigham Young for instance) that the Christians think they are saved by His Blood. They are not saved by that alone... saying Christians were/are foolish.
2007-05-01 04:34:19 · answer #8 · answered by t_a_m_i_l 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Any large group or body of people who subscribe to the same thoughts and ideals are cults, in the classic sense of the word.
2007-05-01 04:26:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
There are very specific guidelines for calling something a "cult".
Some cult characteristics:
1 Rejection of christianity
2. use a "new truth"
3.teach salvation apart from Christ
4.Teach another Jesus
Maybe Athiesm is a cult.?
2007-05-01 04:35:37 · answer #10 · answered by Eartha Q 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋