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what's the difference between a cult and a religion?
- Thread starter waitasec
- Start date
A cult, as I understand it, is a group/community of people who share the same religious beliefs, ideals and practices. So you might follow the religion of Christianity, but as soon as you become a member of a particular church or denomination you become part of a cult. So most religious people are cult members, but not all.
People use the term in different ways, however. We often refer to a religion as a cult under the following circumstance:
"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." (dictionary.com, definition #6)
(ie/ small and exclusive)
However, that is not the original meaning.
People use the term in different ways, however. We often refer to a religion as a cult under the following circumstance:
"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." (dictionary.com, definition #6)
(ie/ small and exclusive)
However, that is not the original meaning.
Katzpur
Not your average Mormon
Sure. A cult is a religion you don't like. It's probably newer and smaller than yours.
waitasec
Veteran Member
Katzpur
Not your average Mormon
I wasn't referring to you specifically. I was speaking in general terms. When a person labels someone else's religion as a "cult," it's generally a very subjective assessment.
waitasec
Veteran Member
i know you didn't mean me
so it's subjective...
I would say yes, as well as agreeing with Katzpur's original statement.
Midnight Pete
Well-Known Member
The "Movementarians" episode of The Simpsons covered this topic rather well.
BruceDLimber
Well-Known Member
The definition I use is that a cult is any religion that still has a living founder.
Please note that I thus don't use it as a disparagement, simply as a definition or clarification.
Regards,
Bruce
Please note that I thus don't use it as a disparagement, simply as a definition or clarification.
Regards,
Bruce
logician
Well-Known Member
DeitySlayer
President of Chindia
A religion has more money.
Those and size, too. If Christianity right now only had 1000 members, it would be a cult.
Cult as some bizarre group is really an extremist view of the meaning of the word "cult". At least I learned that in my Philosophy class.
If I had to come up with a defintion, I'd say that I personally consider a cult to be a religious group that keeps itself separate from society (though not necessarily physically) and is harmful for its members.
I know that other people use the term differently, and that it's been used in different ways in the past. For instance, before I got married (in a Catholic church), because I'm unbaptized, we had to file a "petition for difference of cult" with the local diocese... apparently, the Catholic Church considers itself to meet some definition of the word.
It does for me... because that's how the word is typically used.
just wondering if the word cult has a negative connotation for some here and why that would be?
I've pondered this, & based upon usage I see in the media, it is this:
Cult: It's a derogatory term for a smaller (& usually newer) religion with a revered leader, but no significant real estate holdings.
Religion: It's an established faith with churches, temples or other brick & mortar places of worship & bureaucracy.
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waitasec
Veteran Member
Those and size, too. If Christianity right now only had 1000 members, it would be a cult.
Cult as some bizarre group is really an extremist view of the meaning of the word "cult". At least I learned that in my Philosophy class.
so in this case the majority rules
waitasec
Veteran Member
so the difference is $$ basically,
i agree...
time + majority = acceptance
acceptance = $$
$$ = religion
Money hasn't fully cured Moonies being seen as a cult, but as you point out, time will fix that.