Why is a small organization less valid? Why is a large organization more valid?
2007-05-15 17:42:07 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It is somewhat arbitrary for a cult to be viewed as a religion based on the number of members.
Take Falun Gong for instance, there are more than 10 million members and yet media still call it a cult.
2007-05-15 18:30:47 · answer #1 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Religion is first to be formed and then it becomes cult when it start to embrace its teaching as final and definite like a dogma that no one is allowed to contradict or else will be excommunicated or suffer the consequence. Even the biggest religious organization at present can be evaluated as a cult.
2007-05-16 00:53:52 · answer #2 · answered by Rallie Florencio C 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A cult will never turn into a "religion" because it's a cult,irregardless of how many members it has.That is,it will never be accepted as a Christian religious body.Christian religions are those who believe in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ and His bodily resurrection from the dead.Anything else is a cult and will always be a cult.
2007-05-16 00:53:37 · answer #3 · answered by old_ge.ezer 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you go by the strict dictionary definition (the "denotation") of the word "cult", then ALL religions are "cults".
If you go by the commonly accepted meaning (the "connotation") of the word "cult", then a cult differs from a religion because cults use techniques such as brainwashing, abuse, lying and deception, violence, controlling members' money and possessions, and distancing from general society, as well as having usually one or a few humans who are acknowledged either as god(s) or as some form of prophet(s) that is/are so close to the cult's god that the person speaks for god and might as well be god.
A good example of a cult is the Jim Jones cult which is well known, where Jim Jones spoke for god, and even declared himself god eventually, and used brainwashing, force, violence, abuse, and took over ownership of peoples' money and possessions.
The Mormon cult did much of this in the past, and today are not so much like that, but they still have elements of deception, brainwashing, control, abuse, and violence as well as men they uphold as being so close to god that these men are like gods to them, and they will listen to any "revelation" these men hand down to them, even if it is contradicting what previous "revelations" told them. (For example, polygamy was "revealed" to be mandatory by both Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, and later another one of their "prophets" revealed that polygamy was no longer allowed, conveniently at the time that Utah was seeking statehood in the USA.)
2007-05-16 00:51:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
A good number of really large organizations are all whacked out. And no one is supposed to say anything because they are large groups.
I still call 'em cults.
If it was started by a con man who wants all your money, it's a cult. If they want to separate you from all family, friends, and all emotional support in order to brainwash you, then it's a cult.
Mormonism. JWs. Scientology. All cults.
2007-05-16 00:48:35 · answer #5 · answered by Hawk 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
All religions are cults...it's just a matter of degree (that includes Christianity). Also, non-religious organizations can be cults.
2007-05-16 00:50:10 · answer #6 · answered by Avery 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think a cult becomes a cult when they worship the leader as a God, and follow his lead,,I don't think size matters really. I believe the government is aware of all cult activities..regardless of the size..
2007-05-16 00:46:06 · answer #7 · answered by done 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no definite number. And validity has nothing to do with it: a small group can be just as screwy as a large one.
2007-05-16 00:51:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are basically the same thing, the difference is that religions have public acceptance, until then it is just a cult.
2007-05-16 08:32:35 · answer #9 · answered by Morg 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Randall Flag? that's the evil dude from The Stand.
Must be 25 years since I read that book. Still one of the best.
oh- great question. you weren't really looking for an answer, were you?
2007-05-16 00:51:45 · answer #10 · answered by Morey000 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋