From the answers offered here, would you agree that Atheism is the largest Cult?

Question

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cult
5 a : great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book); especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b : the object of such devotion c : a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion

Answer 1

The line between cult and some other sort of group (usually religion) is a hazy one. You make the point, however, that atheism does function much like a religion for a lot of people. Sort of like materialism as a philosophy, but with the addition of a certain faddish popularity among the "intelligentsia."

Don't be too hard on them. They don't get nearly as much pleasure out of their devotion as do people who have symbols and rituals and pretty songs to sing together and all that. And they don't even allow themselves a good moon dance once in awhile!

On the other hand, they do practice being witty together, don't they? I'm reminded of a bar in San Francisco named Bacchus Kirk. I went there expecting they would take it seriously, and have a statue of Bacchus and maybe even priestesses, and found it was just a bar.

Answer 2

Why are Christians so addicted to quote mining. Don't you realize that it is a blatantly dishonest practice and destroys whatever little credibility you might have.

Here is the full definition from there.

1 : formal religious veneration : WORSHIP
2 : a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents
3 : a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents
4 : a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator
5 a : great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book); especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b : the object of such devotion c : a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion
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Sorry, atheism does not qualify as a cult under any of those terms.

Answer 3

They are not a cult. Occult or cult means hidden knowledge, or dark secret. Most cults do not allow you to tell anyone anything about the group. We as Christians cannot get them to shut up about what the believe.

And no, the largest cult is the catholic church. Hands down.

I think it ironic that a Christian is defending them. Also, there is truly no such thing as an atheist. Athieism KNOWS there is no God(or supreme being).

There is so much in the universe that no one earth will ever know, that there is no way it can be said that they know a negative comment. This makes them an agnostic, as agnostics do not BELIEVE there is a God. So they should really label themselves correctly.

Whereas, I as a Christian, God has been proven t me to be real. Problem being there is no way for me to explain this to a non believer because there has to be similarity markers for comparison. It would like explaining to an alien who doesn't know what a shoe is and trying to explain how to tie a shoe.

Soometimes alliances are found in strange places.

Answer 4

Even Christians often express a "great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work" beyond the bible. I'm sure all the people packed into a Maroon 5 concert aren't all Atheists. Nice try; I know they say reach for the stars, but you're just being a grab-a.s.s.

Answer 5

To be fair here, every belief system known to man is cult according to these definitions. Pay special attention to the number 1 meaning. Which one are you?

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.

Mostly people use the term cult to refer to anything that is not their particular set of beliefs.

Answer 6

Nope. Christianity gets that crown.

BTW...cults are of a religious nature. Atheism has no religious doctrine. You conviently ignored the part of the definition containing that part. Instead, you've chosen the part that describes such phenomena as The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Answer 7

Of course not. Atheists aren't devoted towards any one particular idea or movement, and we have no universal object of devotion. The word atheism refers only to a disbelief in the existence gods. It doesn't describe anything else about us.

Why did you leave out the other definitions of the word "cult"?

Answer 8

Maybe but... but i am not sure Athiesm is a cult. A cult is diverged from another main stream religion. (Well that is what I was taught) Christianity is still the largest of any religion. (Last I heard) You will probally hate me for saying this but I learned that Most athiest are satanist its just they don't really know themselves. Santanism is a cult that has many diverse ways of thinking. A majority large number in the cult don't believe in anything. Regardless, it does not necessarly mean you believe in supernatural things. In general there are 5 different types of the belief. One in that there is no God or anything supernatural. Of course in some of the other 5 they do believe. So yes there is a branch where they don't believe in God nor evil just themselves. I don't know but your definition of a cult might be different from mine. I took a class on cults. I might be wrong though so don't fully assume. Also I'm not sure if athiesm is a religion. It might be a classification of a religion. I'm not sure. Classification like thiesm, diesm, etc. I'm sorry if I have offended anyone, I did not try to. I just tried to explain. It might be confusing because people don't know what some cult or religion believes in. I know I said alot of uncessary information. Also my definition of a cult is different I think. Not sure. I am Christain btw. Also to some of the people who posted. Catholism is Christainity. Christainity is the group which includes Catholic and Protestant (Baptist, Lutheran, etc) Christianity is any religion that believes Jesus Died for our sins and people must believe in him to enter heaven. As in he died for everyones sins not just Adam's. (Which eliminates most cults that believe he died for adams)

Answer 9

1) If you characterize Atheism this way, then to be frank, any religion could be called a cult.
2) Atheism is not a "great devotion" to any of the above. It's merely a lack of belief.

Answer 10

A cult has leaders, guidelines and rules. Athesism doesn't. Its about freedom, diversity and invoking your right to believe what you have researched or concluded to be true.

Stop fanantically twisting things to fit you way of thinking! Saying the rest of the description doesnt apply is like me picking ONE VERSE out of the Bible and defining Chritianity by that and saying that the rest of the Bible does not need to be taken into account.

Hmmm...ok then, I'll play by YOUR rules...I pick Judges 5:30 (LOOK IT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...that is the definition of Christianity!

No so nice to get your own twisted logic thrown back at you is it now!