Are all religions a cult?

[Postmaster]

I think the word cult should cover basically any kind of organization. After all isn't the word taken from the word culture itself. In this global age who is to say which religion is considered a cult and which isn’t and if it's to apply to religion it should apply to anything. It's up to people to see which cults are abusive and negative on people. And this has and does happen within all religions and organizations no matter how passive or ancient they are.

[arthra]

I think actually the word "cult" is most often thought of in religious terms but sometimes in other ways as ina "personality cult" which we don't associate anything religious with.

Here's a few descriptuions or definitions of "cult":

NOUN:


A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.

The followers of such a religion or sect.

A system or community of religious worship and ritual.
The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual.

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary lists five different meanings of the word "cult":

Formal religious veneration

A system of religious beliefs and ritual; also: its body of adherents;

A religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also: its body of adherents;

A system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator;

The Random House Unabridged Dictionary definitions are:

A particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies;

An instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers;
The object of such devotion;

A group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc;

Group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols;

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;

The members of such a religion or sect;

_____________________________

I don't think the word "cult" has always had a negative association.

- Art

[flowperson]

Art:

I've read in some scholarly works covering the early years of Christianity that the movement was commonly referred to as "the cultus of the man Jesus " Upon looking it up in my 10" Webster's I find that "cultus" is a rather archaic root of the word we're discussing, and generally means a religious movement, and nothing of a perjorarive nature is mentioned.

As I mentioned in another post, naming something that is "other" gives the "namer" a modicum of power and control over the destiny of the named. I believe that's a large part of the situation with "cult" in our times. I think of this practice as "subliminal demonization" when used with malice. Politicians are really good at this stuff, and perhaps military Drill Instructors also... but then, you'd know more about that than I do.


flow.... .

[jiii]

"Cult" is a pretty subjective word, really. Consider when one talks about films that have a "cult following". All this is really saying is that the whole nation didn't seem to love the film, and so those that do like it for one reason or another are said to be "cult-followers" of the film. This is meant to imply, I think, that they must be strangely hung up on the film...because the ordinary person decides that based on an ordinary viewpoint the movie is just too ordinary to impress ordinary people. By this strange logic, the "cult followers" are deemed to be "out of the ordinary", which I guess could mean many different things. Whether or not the term "cult" is used with a negative or positive connotation usually has to do with its juxtaposition to a set of standardized values. Who is to be the authority on those values remains unanswered.

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by arthra

I guess i was in the USMC "Bootcamp" cult and had first hand experience! They used to say they wanted to "brainwash" us before anyone else did.

- Art

didn't work now, did it...semper fi.

[RubySera_Martin]

Originally Posted by flowperson

Art:

I've read in some scholarly works covering the early years of Christianity that the movement was commonly referred to as "the cultus of the man Jesus " Upon looking it up in my 10" Webster's I find that "cultus" is a rather archaic root of the word we're discussing, and generally means a religious movement, and nothing of a perjorarive nature is mentioned.

This sounds like the most logical "official" definition to me. I realize that those of you who have a lot of emotional baggage around cults will want a definition with more "substance" or whatever. But for an objective definition I'll go with this one.

[arthra]

I agree Flow...and I liked your comment:

I think of this practice as "subliminal demonization" when used with malice.

Quahom1:

Yes sir... I wasn't really brainwashed but the experience matured me.

[wil]

I think it likely that the religion one is currently partaking in is never a cult, falsely accused often..but never a cult...tis always someone elses religion that is a cult.

One of my preacher friends does some self deprecating standup schtick, he says they answer their phone, "The cult that cares", and in these days of caller ID I would bet that for certain numbers...he actually does.

[China Cat Sunflower]

Originally Posted by jiii

"Cult" is a pretty subjective word, really. Consider when one talks about films that have a "cult following". All this is really saying is that the whole nation didn't seem to love the film, and so those that do like it for one reason or another are said to be "cult-followers" of the film. This is meant to imply, I think, that they must be strangely hung up on the film...because the ordinary person decides that based on an ordinary viewpoint the movie is just too ordinary to impress ordinary people. By this strange logic, the "cult followers" are deemed to be "out of the ordinary", which I guess could mean many different things. Whether or not the term "cult" is used with a negative or positive connotation usually has to do with its juxtaposition to a set of standardized values. Who is to be the authority on those values remains unanswered.

I like that explanation, and I hadn't thought of apply that sense of "cult" to religion...hmm...interesting stream of consciousness...

I could check my Webster's, but before I'll say that I've always thought of a "cult" as being a religion which venerates a human being, usually the founder, as God, a God, or God-like.

Chris

[Booko]

Cult: n. Any religion I don't like.

[arthra]

Hey welcome to the forum Booko!

- Art