I think it is a cult - Here are 5 basic points why I think so:
1. A belief in the core cult dogma that is independent of facts, logic, or even one’s own intuition. In other words an absolute and blind acceptance of any information provided by cult leaders and literature as undeniable fact.
2. Tendency to isolate from the rest of society, often justified by the suggestion that those outside of the faith are wicked, lost, etc.
3. A compulsive need to recruit others into the cult.
4. The deriving of most or all of one’s self esteem from the cult collective and the cult dogma. Often cult members will see themselves as worthless (because this is what they are taught) and will insist that only through the practice of the cult’s teachings can they serve the world in any worthwhile manner.
5. The complete loss of individuality, logic, and objectivity. The only reasons for continued existence becomes the serving of the cult’s agenda.
Now if you take a step back, and look at the principles of Christianity, or any other religion for that matter in short:
Irrational Belief In Core Cult Dogma
Christians, like everyone, have their own beliefs about the origins of the universe, the meaning of life, and the nature of right and wrong. However in almost every case, followers of Christianity adopt what they are taught by their pastors and priests, and what they read in their biblical texts, as their own truths.
Justified Isolation From Society
The core Christian teaching insists that the world is EVIL, and only those who accept the Christian faith will be saved from eternity in hell. Therefore many Christians are afraid of anything and everything that is not directly condoned by leaders within their organization.
Compulsive Tendency To Recruit Others
Anyone who has spent much time with strictly RELIGIOUS Christian friends knows very well the policy of conversion this organization practices. In fact they believe god has charged them with the task of turning everyone in the world into a Christian.
Deriving One’s Self Esteem From The Cult Collective
All humans are born evil and unworthy is one of the most basic teachings of the faith. And a primary reason for this belief is the assumed fact that Eve, the first woman ever created, collaborated with a talking serpent to steal and eat a piece of fruit from a tree god specifically told her not to bother.
Complete Loss Of Logic, Individuality, And Objectivity
How people choose to think, believe, and even act is completely up to them. But I become concerned when a group - any group - has a clear and aggressive mission of subverting and disrupting the rights of other people in an effort to impose its edicts upon the masses. Creationism is a good example, another good example are catholic school camps, where they brainwash children - - Get them while they are young, as when they become older, they can resist the brainwashing.
To conclude, I would like to emphasize, that I do not have anything against people with faith. But there is a difference between people who have faith, but still think with their heads, and religious people who act, and live their lives according to 5 points stated above.
One more thing - - - I think all main religions on the world, are operating by 5 basic above stated points.
54xmax: I think it is a cult - Here are 5 basic points why I think so:
1. A belief in the core cult dogma that is independent of facts, logic, or even one’s own intuition. In other words an absolute and blind acceptance of any information provided by cult leaders and literature as undeniable fact.
2. Tendency to isolate from the rest of society, often justified by the suggestion that those outside of the faith are wicked, lost, etc.
3. A compulsive need to recruit others into the cult.
4. The deriving of most or all of one’s self esteem from the cult collective and the cult dogma. Often cult members will see themselves as worthless (because this is what they are taught) and will insist that only through the practice of the cult’s teachings can they serve the world in any worthwhile manner.
5. The complete loss of individuality, logic, and objectivity. The only reasons for continued existence becomes the serving of the cult’s agenda.Now if you take a step back, and look at the principles of Christianity, or any other religion for that matter in short:
Irrational Belief In Core Cult Dogma
Can I use these 5 steps and exchange the word Christianity with democracy ...
AlbertaghostCultural Wasteland, Alberta Canada5,914 posts
54xmax: I think it is a cult - Here are 5 basic points why I think so:
1. A belief in the core cult dogma that is independent of facts, logic, or even one’s own intuition. In other words an absolute and blind acceptance of any information provided by cult leaders and literature as undeniable fact.
2. Tendency to isolate from the rest of society, often justified by the suggestion that those outside of the faith are wicked, lost, etc.
3. A compulsive need to recruit others into the cult.
4. The deriving of most or all of one’s self esteem from the cult collective and the cult dogma. Often cult members will see themselves as worthless (because this is what they are taught) and will insist that only through the practice of the cult’s teachings can they serve the world in any worthwhile manner.
5. The complete loss of individuality, logic, and objectivity. The only reasons for continued existence becomes the serving of the cult’s agenda.Now if you take a step back, and look at the principles of Christianity, or any other religion for that matter in short:
Irrational Belief In Core Cult Dogma
Christians, like everyone, have their own beliefs about the origins of the universe, the meaning of life, and the nature of right and wrong. However in almost every case, followers of Christianity adopt what they are taught by their pastors and priests, and what they read in their biblical texts, as their own truths.
Justified Isolation From Society
The core Christian teaching insists that the world is EVIL, and only those who accept the Christian faith will be saved from eternity in hell. Therefore many Christians are afraid of anything and everything that is not directly condoned by leaders within their organization.
Compulsive Tendency To Recruit Others
Anyone who has spent much time with strictly RELIGIOUS Christian friends knows very well the policy of conversion this organization practices. In fact they believe god has charged them with the task of turning everyone in the world into a Christian.
Deriving One’s Self Esteem From The Cult Collective
All humans are born evil and unworthy is one of the most basic teachings of the faith. And a primary reason for this belief is the assumed fact that Eve, the first woman ever created, collaborated with a talking serpent to steal and eat a piece of fruit from a tree god specifically told her not to bother.
Complete Loss Of Logic, Individuality, And Objectivity
How people choose to think, believe, and even act is completely up to them. But I become concerned when a group - any group - has a clear and aggressive mission of subverting and disrupting the rights of other people in an effort to impose its edicts upon the masses. Creationism is a good example, another good example are catholic school camps, where they brainwash children - - Get them while they are young, as when they become older, they can resist the brainwashing.To conclude, I would like to emphasize, that I do not have anything against people with faith. But there is a difference between people who have faith, but still think with their heads, and religious people who act, and live their lives according to 5 points stated above.
One more thing - - - I think all main religions on the world, are operating by 5 basic above stated points.
What is your take on it?
Your points are not in line with what defines a cult though so guaranteed your conclusion will be faulty.
Please go to a dictionary and see what a cult is then turn to what defines a religion. Totally separate things.
IMO, every religion is a cult. They all start out as cults and depending on how successful they are over time, they become legit and call themselves a religion. It's kinda like criminal behavior ... if the criminals make enough money and grease the right people, sooner or later, what they do becomes legit. We see that today, don't we
Scubadiva: IMO, every religion is a cult. They all start out as cults and depending on how successful they are over time, they become legit and call themselves a religion. It's kinda like criminal behavior ... if the criminals make enough money and grease the right people, sooner or later, what they do becomes legit. We see that today, don't we
Yeah you are right and in Christianity's case in my view it is a death cult, as it is all about scaring people with fire and brimstone, it is all about dying and suffering in eternal flame. But god love's you
54xmax: I think it is a cult - Here are 5 basic points why I think so:
1. A belief in the core cult dogma that is independent of facts, logic, or even one’s own intuition. In other words an absolute and blind acceptance of any information provided by cult leaders and literature as undeniable fact.
2. Tendency to isolate from the rest of society, often justified by the suggestion that those outside of the faith are wicked, lost, etc.
3. A compulsive need to recruit others into the cult.
4. The deriving of most or all of one’s self esteem from the cult collective and the cult dogma. Often cult members will see themselves as worthless (because this is what they are taught) and will insist that only through the practice of the cult’s teachings can they serve the world in any worthwhile manner.
5. The complete loss of individuality, logic, and objectivity. The only reasons for continued existence becomes the serving of the cult’s agenda.Now if you take a step back, and look at the principles of Christianity, or any other religion for that matter in short:
Irrational Belief In Core Cult Dogma
Christians, like everyone, have their own beliefs about the origins of the universe, the meaning of life, and the nature of right and wrong. However in almost every case, followers of Christianity adopt what they are taught by their pastors and priests, and what they read in their biblical texts, as their own truths.
Justified Isolation From Society
The core Christian teaching insists that the world is EVIL, and only those who accept the Christian faith will be saved from eternity in hell. Therefore many Christians are afraid of anything and everything that is not directly condoned by leaders within their organization.
Compulsive Tendency To Recruit Others
Anyone who has spent much time with strictly RELIGIOUS Christian friends knows very well the policy of conversion this organization practices. In fact they believe god has charged them with the task of turning everyone in the world into a Christian.
Deriving One’s Self Esteem From The Cult Collective
All humans are born evil and unworthy is one of the most basic teachings of the faith. And a primary reason for this belief is the assumed fact that Eve, the first woman ever created, collaborated with a talking serpent to steal and eat a piece of fruit from a tree god specifically told her not to bother.
Complete Loss Of Logic, Individuality, And Objectivity
How people choose to think, believe, and even act is completely up to them. But I become concerned when a group - any group - has a clear and aggressive mission of subverting and disrupting the rights of other people in an effort to impose its edicts upon the masses. Creationism is a good example, another good example are catholic school camps, where they brainwash children - - Get them while they are young, as when they become older, they can resist the brainwashing.To conclude, I would like to emphasize, that I do not have anything against people with faith. But there is a difference between people who have faith, but still think with their heads, and religious people who act, and live their lives according to 5 points stated above.
One more thing - - - I think all main religions on the world, are operating by 5 basic above stated points.
The modern difference is that the expression 'cult' is ascribed to smaller groups and can therfore be described as a 'less successful religion or denomination'.
But the objectives are largely the same.
Of the five major religions, certainly Christianity, Islam and Judaism conform to your definitions very well. Hinduism a bit less so and the least, Buddhism which doesn't try as hard to recruit new believers.
The modern movement away from organised religions is a reflection of the widespread increase in formalised, science based education and the increased value that many modern societies place on individualism, self-reliance and self-guidance.
Rubicon76: The modern difference is that the expression 'cult' is ascribed to smaller groups and can therfore be described as a 'less successful religion or denomination'.
But the objectives are largely the same.
Of the five major religions, certainly Christianity, Islam and Judaism conform to your definitions very well. Hinduism a bit less so and the least, Buddhism which doesn't try as hard to recruit new believers.
The modern movement away from organised religions is a reflection of the widespread increase in formalised, science based education and the increased value that many modern societies place on individualism, self-reliance and self-guidance.
54xmax: Actually according to my pool, at the moment to most people it is a cult - - -
Then tell me, what is a cult according to your opinion?
your poll is not even 1% of the human race people who hate religion think its a cult because of there own view of their reality. they can't understand in time they might. sometimes its not there fault they just have not exprienced enough in there lifes.
pedro27: your poll is not even 1% of the human race people who hate religion think its a cult because of there own view of their reality. they can't understand in time they might. sometimes its not there fault they just have not exprienced enough in there lifes.
And where did you get your info about what most people think? It sounds like your personal opinion.
I asked you a simple question. What is for you a cult? How could you define it?
MerriweatherAdelaide, South Australia Australia11,403 posts
54xmax: And where did you get your info about what most people think? It sounds like your personal opinion.
I asked you a simple question. What is for you a cult? How could you define it?
Hey Hey... this is not fair... remember you young whipper snipper that some people have instinctual feelings about what they believe in, and its OK for them to say so... even though they may not be able to verbalise exactly what it means to them...at least not well enough to explain it to you... and would you open your mind if they tried...
im giving my view of this, i have a right too, just like anyone else on this site
Merriweather: Hey Hey... this is not fair... remember you young whipper snipper that some people have instinctual feelings about what they believe in, and its OK for them to say so... even though they may not be able to verbalise exactly what it means to them...at least not well enough to explain it to you... and would you open your mind if they tried...
Merriweather: Hey Hey... this is not fair... remember you young whipper snipper that some people have instinctual feelings about what they believe in, and its OK for them to say so... even though they may not be able to verbalise exactly what it means to them...at least not well enough to explain it to you... and would you open your mind if they tried...
In short... lay off Pedro...
In short - - - I asked him a simple question - - - - Abut the Cult what he thinks a cult is.
I did not ask him, why he feels about religion the way he does.
I also asked him where did he get his info about what most people think . . . . Again, I was not questioning his faith or why he feels about it the way he does. To say what most people think, this info has to come from some survey - - - And even if it does, nobody can really say what most people think. It would be arrogant and presumptuous. Thus why I have also created a pool. . . . .
pedro27: most people do believe in God fact. put all the religions together as 1, that most of the world.
2me cults are small gatherings of people who are full of s@@h
How can you say what most people believe in? I simply ask, where did you get your info Give me the link - - - if it is your personal opinion, then one can only take it as such, as your opinion . . . and by far, we can not take it as what most people think.
54xmax: How can you say what most people believe in? I simply ask, where did you get your info Give me the link - - - if it is your personal opinion, then one can only take it as such, as your opinion . . . and by far, we can not take it as what most people think.
well i came to this conclusion, when i put all the religious faiths together, as one and that would be most people on earth
pedro27: well i came to this conclusion, when i put all the religious faiths together, as one and that would be most people on earth
Yes on the surface it makes sense, but your theory is flawed. Simply cos of the nature of dominant religions. We are born in to them. We did not have a choice, to decide if to be Muslim, Christian ECTR. - - - - it is part of the society you are born in to. So on paper it looks like what you are saying - - - but how many people really believe / are religious is another story.
that is my point, you can not know what most people believe in . . . .
MerriweatherAdelaide, South Australia Australia11,403 posts
Most people do have an idea that there prolly is a higher being above us... and call that icon whatever you will... religions call the icon God or however you want to coin it - a higher than you being- and that is OK...
Cults are like Banks.. like real estate agents, nasty stuff..
Merriweather: Most people do have an idea that there prolly is a higher being above us... and call that icon whatever you will... religions call the icon God or however you want to coin it - a higher than you being- and that is OK...
Cults are like Banks.. like real estate agents, nasty stuff..
Same question, how do you know, what most people think? Was there any research done on the subject? If there was, show me the link - - - ( and I did not say it is not ok if people believe in something higher, my argument is with religion it self, the way it operates, and what it's really purpose is, and it has nothing to do with god, or what ever higher purpose. It just uses this notion, for it's own agenda ).
Then what are Religious organizations then? Just look at the history of all Religious organizations, how the operate . . .
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CHRISTIANITY – RELIGION OR A CULT?(Vote Below)
1. A belief in the core cult dogma that is independent of facts, logic, or even one’s own intuition. In other words an absolute and blind acceptance of any information provided by cult leaders and literature as undeniable fact.
2. Tendency to isolate from the rest of society, often justified by the suggestion that those outside of the faith are wicked, lost, etc.
3. A compulsive need to recruit others into the cult.
4. The deriving of most or all of one’s self esteem from the cult collective and the cult dogma. Often cult members will see themselves as worthless (because this is what they are taught) and will insist that only through the practice of the cult’s teachings can they serve the world in any worthwhile manner.
5. The complete loss of individuality, logic, and objectivity. The only reasons for continued existence becomes the serving of the cult’s agenda.
Now if you take a step back, and look at the principles of Christianity, or any other religion for that matter in short:
Irrational Belief In Core Cult Dogma
Christians, like everyone, have their own beliefs about the origins of the universe, the meaning of life, and the nature of right and wrong. However in almost every case, followers of Christianity adopt what they are taught by their pastors and priests, and what they read in their biblical texts, as their own truths.
Justified Isolation From Society
The core Christian teaching insists that the world is EVIL, and only those who accept the Christian faith will be saved from eternity in hell. Therefore many Christians are afraid of anything and everything that is not directly condoned by leaders within their organization.
Compulsive Tendency To Recruit Others
Anyone who has spent much time with strictly RELIGIOUS Christian friends knows very well the policy of conversion this organization practices. In fact they believe god has charged them with the task of turning everyone in the world into a Christian.
Deriving One’s Self Esteem From The Cult Collective
All humans are born evil and unworthy is one of the most basic teachings of the faith. And a primary reason for this belief is the assumed fact that Eve, the first woman ever created, collaborated with a talking serpent to steal and eat a piece of fruit from a tree god specifically told her not to bother.
Complete Loss Of Logic, Individuality, And Objectivity
How people choose to think, believe, and even act is completely up to them. But I become concerned when a group - any group - has a clear and aggressive mission of subverting and disrupting the rights of other people in an effort to impose its edicts upon the masses. Creationism is a good example, another good example are catholic school camps, where they brainwash children - - Get them while they are young, as when they become older, they can resist the brainwashing.
To conclude, I would like to emphasize, that I do not have anything against people with faith. But there is a difference between people who have faith, but still think with their heads, and religious people who act, and live their lives according to 5 points stated above.
One more thing - - - I think all main religions on the world, are operating by 5 basic above stated points.
What is your take on it?