Wasn't Christianity a cult?

Question

When Christianity first came out, wasnt it a cult? Becuase a cult is supposed to contain a self proclaimed messiah, often saying to have divine revelations, it kept its religious practice secret, because of fear of persecution, and they are told that if they follow the teaching they will eventually be "saved". So basically why are some Christain groups so judgemntal on calling other religions cults, that should be ignored.

My friend asked me this, and I couldnt answer back so whats your opinion?

Answer 1

This is the answer I chose as best when I asked this several months ago...

According to the generally accepted definition of what a cult is a cult must have the following traits:

A charismatic leader whose word can not be questionsed and must be followed without question.
The use of threats of punishment and pormoses of reward after death for behaviour while alive to keep members in line.
The use of repetitive ideas to alter the thinking process of new members.
The use of guilt and intimidation to make members adhere to sometimes unrealistic moral or ehtical teachings.
A sense of separation and superiority to anyone that doesn't belong.
Teaching that this group is the only way to knowledge, happiness and salvation.
Teaching that anyone that is NOT part of the group cannot be trusted and will attempt to make them leave the group.
Teaching that to be a part of the group one must give up things from their everyday life.
A requirement of money in some form in exchange for favor within the group.
Teaching that the groupd is everythng and the rest of the world is nothing.

These are the criteria that are used in the legal system to define a cult...so by that definition...it absolutely falls into that category.

Answer 2

Christianity was originally a sect within Judaism. Jesus actually never proclaimed himself to be a Messiah. And, although they had to go underground at times because of fear of persecution, Christianity continued to spread throughout the world. Christianity, unlike a cult, has a 2000 year history, as well as the legitimacy of beliefs and traditions that have been examined and studied by great minds through the centuries.

Answer 3

There is overwhelming evidence that Christianity was and still is a cult.

The evidence to support this statement is overwhelming across Yahoo answers
- a refusal to recognize viewable, measurable facts;
- a refusal to acknowledge the existence of other wisdom and divine revelation;
- a refusal to believe that the very God they worship has spoken for 2,000 years;
- a complete faith and belief in the leaders of their church being divinely inspired, even though history continues to shows these people as less than honorable.

Yes, all these are real signs that christians are sadly gripped in a cult, unable to break away and see the world and even their own faith for what it is.

What would Jesus Do?
=================
+ Jesus founded the Nazarenes.
http://one-faith-of-god.org/new_testament/apocrypha/nazarenes/nazarenes_0010.htm

+ Paul of Tarsus founded christianity to counter the message of Jesus and distort its meaning.
http://one-faith-of-god.org/new_testament/apocrypha/founders_christianity/founders_christianity_0010.htm

+ So Jesus no doubt rejoices everytime a christian is freed from the grips of christianity and can separate God, him and truth from the church.

Answer 4

Cult it a lot of folk introduced mutually to verify human beings have a good type of money. no person desires it. it would be extra valuable if all Christians purely thought for themselves. Too many are so smitten through issues that different Christians do no longer accept as true with so how can all of them be Christians & disagree? they might besides drop all the BS. for occasion some human beings opt to maintain gays from marrying. life balances itself out. So if people who have self assurance in Christ do no longer comprehend that they are one with others then why might desire to they call themselves Christians. so they tell others they are able to't have freedom & they do no longer sense they have freedom. They lose companion and toddlers out of a karma/stability through having a grandchild they love pass away & they comprehend what that's opt to love somebody & have others get in the way of them being with that individual. My factor is that the story of Jesus Christ is super yet extra people who're no longer christians certainly stay it than people who're talked approximately as Christians. So the lable is going frequently with churchs who're a corporation.

Answer 5

Yeah, probably in the first 100 years, the major religions probably considered Christianity as a cult.

Answer 6

You are misinformed in some of your statements. Christians did not keep their beliefs secret to avoid persecution. Jesus told them that they would be persecuted and that they must stand up for what they believed...not to hide it.

Many of the followers of Christ were killed for their beliefs.

Non believers today will do everything in their power to dissuade you or anyone else from coming to a personal relationship with God and Jesus so you need to be prepared to answer them. Know your Bible.

Also, keep in mind that what others think is not important. Jesus warning to us that we would be persecuted for our faith is as true today as it was nearly two thousand years ago.

Answer 7

Til we know the truth we assume/disagree things. The only way to know the truth is when we love our God with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind, He who loves us back, will reveal to us.

We have a website which we share about the knowledge which God has given us,
www.protectinghands.com

If it had been a cult, then it would have been destroyed, but since it was true and God's hand was there, it grew.

Answer 8

1. a cult is contray to the word of God
2. Jesus fulfilled the OT, no other prophet or religious leader has ever to date done this, except Jesus,cult... No fullfillment of scripture ...YES

Answer 9

all religions are wrong except the one i believe.

religion is a cult with more members.

Answer 10

see this site
churchofreality.com
it argues that there existed no man in histrory named Jesus Christ and the legend of Jesus had been around even in B.C.s. I totally agree with them. i believe in no religion.