Why do Christians deny that Christianity is a cult, are dictionaries now the work of satan?

Question

In a recent question many answerers objected to the Christian religion being called a cult and wanted to know on what basis one would call it a cult.


Below are definitions of cult on the Web:

Adherents of an exclusive system of religious beliefs and practices
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

In traditional usage, the cult of a religion, quite apart from its sacred writings ("scriptures"), its theology or myths, or the personal faith of its believers, is the totality of external religious practice and observance, the neglect of which is the definition of impiety. Cult is literally the "care" owed to the god and the shrine. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult_(religion)

(noun) often attributive. French & Latin; French culte, from Latin cultus care, adoration, from colere to cultivate; First appeared 1617
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 ...
www.contecult.com/glossary.htm

Answer 1

People tend to deny things that rub them the wrong way, especially if it a tangible truth.

Rub, rub.

Answer 2

That's one of the best questions I've read in a long time. You have a lot of good answers too. There can only be one real religion- everything else is counterfeit. Our God is not confused about what He wants. Many of the religions of the world copied their morals and code of ethics from Christianity. Considering that missionaries were sent all over Europe, and into Asia, it is not surprising that they would pick up 'stories' that sound similar to Christianity. Thus you get a lot of the copycat stories of creation, extra-biblical writings that supposedly make Christianity 'false' as so many of the non-believers claim. (Kind of like the game of telephone- those that heard the early teachings of Christianity and didn't wholeheartedly buy into it would have adopted some of it and formed their own beliefs and teachings- thus changing it.) Those that have started since Christianity have obviously adapted the commandments and teachings of Christ, without accepting all of the truth of the gospel. Our pastor calls it 'pick and choose' theology. You pick the parts of the teachings you like, and discard the rest. Then you fill in the blanks with what YOU want to believe. If we believe that Christianity is the true religion, then any religion that copies it in any way - in its moral teachings and ethics- is a cult of Christianity. They have discarded Christ and replaced Him with some other deity. Though I'm not an expert, religions that existed before Christianity tend to have multiple deities. We see that in some of the oriental religions, like Hinduism, and in the pagan rituals of tribesmen who believe every created thing is a god. These religions, though not really 'cults' of Christianity, are still cults in their own way, because they do not acknowledge the supremacy of Christ. Another one of your answers mentioned that every religion has its sects- and I would agree. But if all the other religions are false, then how can you have a false sect of something that's already false? Great question.It'll give me something to talk about with our pastor.

Answer 3

All organized religions and branches of those religions are cults.
Examples:
They have a designated place of worship
They have an alter
They do rituals
Those of other faiths are not the true believers
They are willing to go to war over their beliefs.
They meet at designated times
They try to convert those that are of different beliefs
They collect money and/or personal belongings for offerings to their "God".
There is one set of rules for the piety of the religious group and another for the followers.
This goes for all Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus ect.
Now, see the difference for those of the above religions call those of the Pagan faiths cultists............
They have an alter.
Their place of worship is their home and anywhere on earth.
They have rituals
They respect those of other faiths
They are willing to stand aside for their beliefs
They meet at designated times
They do not convert others but welcome those of any faith
They offer personal items to their deity of their own free will - no money or donations.
There is only one set of rules for everyone.
And they call those of Pagan beliefs / occultists or cults and wonder why they are loosing members.
And I do not need to hear comments from those faiths from the first list. Thank you.
Blessed be

Answer 4

Religion is often very much about denial. In contrast to honest open-minded enquiry, cult-followers are required to denounce anything at odds with their doctrine, no matter what the evidence. If all else fails, call it 'Satan'.

There is no reasoning with that mindset.

Person 1: "Is that a cake in your hand?"
Person 2: "No."
Person 1: "It looks like a cake, and (*sniffs*) smells like a cake?"
Person 2: "No".
Person 1: "Does it taste like a cake too? I bet it does..."
Person 2: "That's SO typical of you anti-Bakespecial-ists, but I see you Satan, I see YOU Satan!!!! You are so arrogant but it makes my faith STRONGER do you hear??!! This is NOT a cake, this is THE Bakespecial.!!! Other cakes are false and you are doing the work of Satan. It was prophesied that you would ridicule my Bakespecial, HA! Ha!? See, I am right! RIGHT I tell you, Satan has a hold of your heart!


(PS To the whiner below, Islam is a cult too. And I tell them. To their faces)

Answer 5

Probably because its not a cult. A cult denies the the divinity Of God. It refuses to accept that Jesus is either the Son of God or is God. It denounces that Jesus is the King of King and Lord of Lords. It refuses to believe that Jesus was raised from the dead.
How do I know this? Its probably because I have studied what cults really are. I think I might know don't you?
I wouldn't say that the dictionary was of the devil...just the people that write some of it.

Answer 6

jc actually made sense, and jed can't read.

most christians tend to think the word "cult" means devil worshipping and don't want to be associated with anything that even implies that, which is why they say they aren't one. but by definition, every religion is a cult

Answer 7

Dictionaries are in fact the work of Satan. They do not allow me, a Christian, to make up words in order to win Scrabble.

Christianity may very well be a "cult' in its denotative meaning. Most Christians are against claiming that Christianity is a cult in the more widely associated connotative meaning.

Answer 8

Christianity is, by definition, a cult. No question or doubt.

Answer 9

I have heard it said that those who worship the dead belong to a death cult. Jim Jones, David Koresh...the list goes on...

Answer 10

I think they are concentrating on definition #3 and objecting to that catagorization.....

I personally understand it differently as a Hellenic Polytheist, but that's just me