2007-06-04 05:56:32 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
In the perjorative?
A religious organization with exceedingly high control of the lives of its members, or one that attempts to control NON-members.
Anthropologically?
The direct worship of a singular deity (rarely a pair) by dedicated followers, more clergy than laity.
2007-06-04 06:01:09 · answer #1 · answered by LabGrrl 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A religious cult is a religion that is not yet popular.
For example, the Mithra cults in ancient Rome were in many ways similar to Christianity, but they are considered cults and Christianity is considered a religion because Christianity caught on, while Mithraism's main audience was just Roman soldiers.
2007-06-04 06:00:13 · answer #2 · answered by Minh 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
by definition, every religion is a cult
cult
–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.
–adjective 9. of or pertaining to a cult.
10. of, for, or attracting a small group of devotees: a cult movie.
2007-06-04 05:59:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think its funny how many of the definitions given here seem to fit most or all religions. Why, then, do we focus on just a few and label them as cults?
When talking of ancient religions, religious practice in general is referred to as cultic.
2007-06-04 06:13:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think "cult" has developed a negative connotation. Like someone else said, every religion is a cult. Ultimately, people have made their choice to believe in something and that is their choice to make. Some of my family were Davidians, and it sickens me how misunderstood they were and how they had to die just because everyone got panicked when they weren't hurting anyone, just believing in what they felt was true.
2007-06-04 06:04:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Christianity
2007-06-04 05:59:09 · answer #6 · answered by Elmer R 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I consider all religions to be "cults" some being more popular than others. Scientology is no more believable than any other religion, nor unbelievable either.
2007-06-04 06:05:56 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
one that is made by man and not God. man made there is excepting of a person with alot of if's. there is a racists issues where they refuse people for the color of their skin. there is problems of who you may be what kind of life you have led..one that does not have the doors open to everyone, Gods door is open to all, Jesus says I stand at the door knocking..there are many more I can say but this is enough for today..Of course that is my opinion and think I am gonna stick to it too..Am sure I will have many thumbs down but again oh well..
2007-06-04 06:44:34 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Any religion less than 100 years old.
2007-06-04 06:33:25 · answer #9 · answered by S K 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People who enjoy kool Ade laced with arsenic. Kisses BB
2007-06-04 06:02:00 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋