Random Thought - How to tell if it is a Religion or a Cult ~ Vanity

02/13/2014 | GraceG

[GraceG]

So I was involved in a philosophical discussion with a friend and the subject came up where they wondered what is the difference between a Religion and a Cult.

Thinking about it I came up with a easy way to tell the difference between the two.

Here it is: A Religion that doesn't let a member of it become an apostate of that Religion without any sort of harassment, injury or death is by definition not a Religion but is indeed a Cult. Also if the Religion in question forces or coerces a member of the family to distance them selves from other member who are not believers, it is also a Cult.

So basically to be a Religion one must:

1. Be able to leave it without any sort of harassment. 2. Should not force you to leave or distance yourself from your non-believer family members

[GraceG]

Am I missing anything here? Wondering if any Freeper has any better feedback.

[SkyPilot]

What you cited is true. If it is a cult that claims to be Christian, they will say "Oh yes, of course you need Jesus........BUT you need Jesus AND {Fill In The blank}. Run away from these people.

[Fzob]

So if I claimed to be God, and found a bunch of nitwits that believed me and did not harass any of them when leaving or forced them to separate or distance themselves from their families I am not a cult leader?

I think you need to refine your definition.

[Mrs. Don-o]

for later

[Viennacon]

I have always heard it like this.

Cults are offshoots of a religion. While SECTS and DENOMINATIONS hold to core tenets of a religion, but may be very alien in terms of doctrine, CULTS are almost the opposite. Despite doctrinal similarities, they reject the core tenets of a religion.

Christian cults often have the rejection of the Trinity as their marker.

[ConorMacNessa]

Consider Islam - the penalty for apostasy is death.

America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi!

O stranger, tell the Lacedaemonians that we lie here, obedient to their command.

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[GraceG]

[ So if I claimed to be God, and found a bunch of nitwits that believed me and did not harass any of them when leaving or forced them to separate or distance themselves from their families I am not a cult leader?

I think you need to refine your definition. ]

Come up with #3 and add it to the list!

[MNDude]

If my daughter wanted to leave our faith to become a burqa wearing follower of another faith, I think she’d might get a bit of harassment from me.

[GraceG]

[ Consider Islam - the penalty for apostasy is death. ]

That is why it is a cult!

[GraceG]

[ If my daughter wanted to leave our faith to become a burqa wearing follower of another faith, I think she’d might get a bit of harassment from me. ]

It would be you as her father and not the church itself that would be harassing her, therefore you are not in a cult.

[Telepathic Intruder]

Cults are held together on more of a tribal or pack basis whereas religions contain more of a spiritual element. Tribal instincts are not spiritual at all, they’re crude and sort of animalistic in nature.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

A cult used to be a small group that was committed to one out of a pantheon of deities rather then spreading the worship around. The Cult of Isis, the Cult of Dionysus are examples.

Then it became a group that did not follow the "orthodox" beliefs of whatever religion was predominate in that area.

Now I would say your definition works pretty well for common usage.

[Salvavida]

We addressed this in an apologetics course. The number one red flag: openness and transparency. In everything, to include:

history theology leadership finances

Orthodox Christianity is an open book. Anyone can look at the data. Anyone can inquire and make a challenge. No one has "secret knowledge" or authority beyond checks and balances provided for in Scripture: no one can "Lord over the church".

[ConorMacNessa]

Indeed - yet there are many other of their core tenets that also qualify them for that classification.

America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi!

O stranger, tell the Lacedaemonians that we lie here, obedient to their command.

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[Craftmore]

So,,the Amish are a cult?

[Revolting cat!]

RULE OF THUMB: Whatever I no like is a cult!

[Farmer Dean]

If the members speak a different language or have a dress code that’s much different than the norm,it’s a cult.

If the belief system includes ideas that defy conventional logic,like a space ship is going to pick up all the true believers-it’s a cult.

[Dalberg-Acton]

http://machaut.uchicago.edu/?resource=Webster%27s&word=cult&use1913=on&use1828=on

[Arlis]

Simple and excellent criteria. I commend you - for years so many have struggled so much to define what is and what isn’t a cult.

BUT, at the same time, many groups and denominational churches have some of these characteristics......you are warmly welcomed when you come, but criticized and condemned when you leave.

Yes, true saints will love you and treat you the same coming or going - unless things were as in Romans 16:17, 18, and I Timothy 1:19, 20.

I know a man who recently told his investment advisors to who he had committed much of his fortune that he was leaving them. Instead of protesting, or trying to keep him, they were very gracious and understanding, wishing him the best and supporting him regardless. The CEO of the investment firm later mentioned to me that he had once attended a seminar on how important it was for an investment advisor to treat a client graciously when he/she left for another firm.

I immediately thought of how this should be applied in the local church.

If they bad-mouth and criticize those who leave - it has cultic tendencies at least........

[firebrand]

I would go a bit further and say that if the “religion” tells you that you will always be a follower of it, whether you like it or not, it is a cult.