Why do Christians get so upset when people refer to them as Cult members?

Question

Definition of 'cult' according to secular opposition
Secular cult opponents tend to define a "cult" as a religious or non-religious group that tends to manipulate, exploit, and control its members. Specific factors in cult behavior are said to include manipulative and authoritarian mind control over members, communal and totalistic organisation, aggressive proselytizing, systematic programs of indoctrination, and perpetuation in middle-class communities.[23]

While acknowledging the issue of multiple definitions of "cult",[24] Michael Langone states that "Cults are groups that often exploit members psychologically and/or financially, typically by making members comply with leadership's demands through certain types of psychological manipulation, popularly called mind control, and through the inculcation of deep-seated anxious dependency on the group and its leaders."[25] A similar definition is given by Louis Jolyon.

Its a cult no matter how you look at it.

Answer 1

They think that their population and the fact that they are sanctioned by the government as an official religion, excludes them from the definition of Cult...

Answer 2

The way the word is used in popular culture, "cult" has a negative connotation, and "religion" or "belief" or "way of life" have good connotations.

Religions instruct while cults indoctrinate.
Religions teach devotion while cults demand obedience.
Religions instruct through faith while cults train through brainwashing

That's the only difference...just in the words used to describe.

Now, I understand the sources you referenced, but people (in general) don't get upset over a academic technicalities that they never read; they get upset over what they perceive to have been said, and the connotations are packaged with the definitions. To be specific, the connotations are exactly what's written in the specific sources you chose to cite.

Answer 3

Cult inexactly refers to a cohesive social group devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding culture considers outside the mainstream, with a notably positive or negative popular perception. In common or populist usage, "cult" has a positive connotation for groups of artistic and fashion devotees, but a negative connotation for new religious and extreme political movements. For this reason, most, if not all, religious and political groups that are called cults reject this label.

Christianity is a mainstream religion in the world today so would not be considered a cult by this definition. Oh and BTW, it doesn't upset me. Say what you want.

Answer 4

Belonging to a true Christian church does not fit into your definition. One of the basics truths of Christianity is freewill. As a Christian the only person that you answer to is God. Christianity in and of itself is a relationship between a person and God. Religion is man made, and yes there have been some cults that claim to be Christian but if you look at their doctrine versus the Bibles teachings they are not (Jim Jones, Waco, etc...). Perhaps Christians get upset when you call them cult members because they know that they are not and they do not like being judged anymore than you do for what they believe.

Answer 5

I don't hear of Christians in general being called Cults. Sometimes certain religions are labeled as such, because they are odder that the general ones. Or if they are real bad even the news will call them a cult.

Answer 6

Because they are ignorant of Christian history. They were officially considered a cult by the Roman Empire, and the rest of the "civilized" world, in the beginning.

Answer 7

because the term "cult" carries with it a negative meaning in the present-day. some christians tend to throw it against other christian faiths (mormons and JW's, and even catholics) just to make themselves feel better.

it's just meant to scare other people, i think. the word cult has a different definition according to everyone.

but technically, you are right. every religion is a "cult", according to the original meaning

Answer 8

And you wonder why a person would be upset if their religion is called a cult? Personally, I think a cult is anything that doesn't line up with the word of God.

Answer 9

Religions are cults by definition. Not all cults are bad.

Answer 10

because its a pejorative term.
almost any member of a cult would resent the term.