Defining Cults


SpiritDragon
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No, no. A cult is 'A system of veneration and devotion directed towards a particular figure or object' or 'a relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or as imposing excessive control over members.'.

 

The word cult has been misappropriated. It's utterly meaningless now.

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No, no. A cult is 'A system of veneration and devotion directed towards a particular figure or object' or 'a relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or as imposing excessive control over members.'.

 

The word cult has been misappropriated. It's utterly meaningless now.

 

Would you say that both the relatively small size and control factor are equally important factors or would the control factor trump the size factor? Would cultish practice require brainwashing or at least highly manipulative strategies coupled with abusive encouragement, or can the cult exist peacefully with actual agency?

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Would you say that both the relatively small size and control factor are equally important factors or would the control factor trump the size factor? Would cultish practice require brainwashing or at least highly manipulative strategies coupled with abusive encouragement, or can the cult exist peacefully with actual agency?

 

That really depends, SpiritDragon. When you get beyond relative words like 'Manipulative' or 'Small', it's tough to say what a cult is.

 

the iCulture of Apple is a cult, for instance. Dawkins' Atheism would fit the bill as well. Literally any group which uses any type of social pressure to encourage a set of beliefs in their 'Followers' would qualify as a cult.

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How do you define what a cult is and how does it differ from organized religion?

 

I prefer not to use the term "cult" at all, because it has become such a loaded term with many confused definitions: it's kind of like using a confused stick of dynamite.  

 

There are such better terms for describing things.  

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I believe that the evolution of the term cult - and even occult is a shortened version of the term culture.  It identities a unique set of morals and behaviors based around a central theme.  Sort of from the same flavor that a fan in sports evolved from fanatic.  The scriptures indicate that the covenant people of G-d will be viewed as unique by the world.  I believe this world view is not always - and most often not going to be favorable.   But being seen and labeled unfavorably as a cult by the world - is in my mind a high honor to be so recognized.

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Thanks for the input so far guys. If I were to be operating on the premise that a cult is a bad thing, and it is controlling; How would you suggest one could tell before it is too late. Furthermore does anyone have any ideas to help return loved ones to the gospel from a religious sect that I deem to be cult-like in a bad sense?

 

This particular breed of religious sect seems to disregard scripture that doesn't suit their flavour of doctrine as it were, and relies heavily on supposed theophany experiences. It is kind of hard to explain a different view point when they will always go back to saying that God directly told them otherwise. One large concern is that they are working hard on my dad to join their cause and he is hours away from the support of the rest of the family, and married to one of the most hardcore recent converts. If this wasn't bad enough, they are planning to move to an undisclosed location in the mountains isolated from the rest of us and not allowed to tell us where they live, because we aren't "enlightened" enough to know. The worst part is children are involved who really have no say in this insanity.

 

I suppose at the end of the day whether or not it is labeled a cult is irrelevant, but I don't like it. I would be much happier to accept half the family joining some other normal seeming religion than a mysterious pseudo-fundamentalist group.

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That's a tough situation.  In my experience, brainwashed members of cults are often influenced most by the stories of people who bought into the cult and then left it.  (I'm not saying your dad or his wife are brainwashed, just that other people's real-life stories can be more persuasive than endless academic debates.)

 

Might be a good idea if you have a serious talk with your dad and get him to promise that he won't do anything without talking to his children first.  I think that's a reasonable thing, since the children have a stake in all this.  At least that might prevent his sudden conversion in a moment of weakness or extreme pressure.

 

Wishing you well...

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That's a tough situation.  In my experience, brainwashed members of cults are often influenced most by the stories of people who bought into the cult and then left it.  (I'm not saying your dad or his wife are brainwashed, just that other people's real-life stories can be more persuasive than endless academic debates.)

 

Might be a good idea if you have a serious talk with your dad and get him to promise that he won't do anything without talking to his children first.  I think that's a reasonable thing, since the children have a stake in all this.  At least that might prevent his sudden conversion in a moment of weakness or extreme pressure.

 

Wishing you well...

 

Thanks,

 

I have had several heart-felt conversations with him and he is holding out strong so far, but he is continually bombarded with feelings of guilt and other controlling and manipulative tactics. He has had emails get deleted if they speak out against this new foolishness and he gets the 5th degree for having conversations with me.

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Thanks,

 

I have had several heart-felt conversations with him and he is holding out strong so far, but he is continually bombarded with feelings of guilt and other controlling and manipulative tactics. He has had emails get deleted if they speak out against this new foolishness and he gets the 5th degree for having conversations with me.

 

Perhaps you should consider a different aproach?  Instead of focusing on your father consider focusing your acts of  kindness, support, efforts to understand, fellowship and prayers on your mother.  People in general, tend to find confort and security from those that they think love, understand and care for them - even if it is not actually the case.

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There is such a thing as "cult" in the common, negative, sense of the word.  It's a group that tends to isolate members (especially new converts), sowing distrust against former family and loved ones.  It fosters an us vs. them mentality.  It demands "blind faith" in leadership (often a single person), and it very much controls the lives of members.  Some would say that there is some of this in most religions.  However "cults" are rather pronounced, or extreme. 

 

The word has been misused and over-applied.  Nevertheless, as this string demonstrates, just because the little boy cries wolf too much does not mean there is no such thing.

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There is such a thing as "cult" in the common, negative, sense of the word.  It's a group that tends to isolate members (especially new converts), sowing distrust against former family and loved ones.  It fosters an us vs. them mentality.  It demands "blind faith" in leadership (often a single person), and it very much controls the lives of members.  Some would say that there is some of this in most religions.  However "cults" are rather pronounced, or extreme. 

 

The word has been misused and over-applied.  Nevertheless, as this string demonstrates, just because the little boy cries wolf too much does not mean there is no such thing.

 

I think this definition fits what I am seeing going on. Those family members who have a "non-believing" spouse are to remain with them until they are converted, but those who are together in the new ways are to go to an undisclosed place to live the law of consecration and prove themselves before relocating yet again even more secretively, presumably never to be heard from again.

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How do you define what a cult is and how does it differ from organized religion?

religions are cults technically. but so are many other things that people don't really think of as cults.

any group that revolves around some item or ideal- especially if there is a zeal or ferventness to it.

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