Title: Christianity, Religion or Cult?
Post by: ShimShamSam on March 22, 2008, 07:25:21 PM
Post by: ShimShamSam on March 22, 2008, 07:25:21 PM
So I was pondering the difference between a religion and a cult, they're surprisingly similar.
religion -noun, a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
cult -noun, 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.
(Compliments of Dictionary.com)
Christianity certainly fits the definition of a religion, but also, fits most of the definition of a cult. "A religion considered false and extremist", well I'm sure all of us here consider it false, and can anyone here tell me if there's anything extremist about Christianity, I don't know, maybe witch hunts, the crusades, and hangings for heresy? Granted they don't have the political power they used to.
"members often living outside of conventional society", I think we can all agree, in conventional society, very few go to church anymore, even those claiming to be Christians. Doesn't that mean they're considered the oddballs in society. When someone says they can't do something on Sunday because they have church, don't we look at them as if they're kind of weird because so few do it anymore? The only difference is they do their worshiping in the morning in a well lit building rather than at night in some deep dungeon
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"under the direction of a charismatic leader" How many churches let people sit around and have discussions, or is a standard church ceremony everyone sitting down all facing the one guy on a podium speaking and preaching, and if they're evangelical, probably very charismatic. Oh, and let's not forget the chanting from old tomes.
Christianity, Religion? Cult? Both?
religion -noun, a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
cult -noun, 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.
(Compliments of Dictionary.com)
Christianity certainly fits the definition of a religion, but also, fits most of the definition of a cult. "A religion considered false and extremist", well I'm sure all of us here consider it false, and can anyone here tell me if there's anything extremist about Christianity, I don't know, maybe witch hunts, the crusades, and hangings for heresy? Granted they don't have the political power they used to.
"members often living outside of conventional society", I think we can all agree, in conventional society, very few go to church anymore, even those claiming to be Christians. Doesn't that mean they're considered the oddballs in society. When someone says they can't do something on Sunday because they have church, don't we look at them as if they're kind of weird because so few do it anymore? The only difference is they do their worshiping in the morning in a well lit building rather than at night in some deep dungeon
."under the direction of a charismatic leader" How many churches let people sit around and have discussions, or is a standard church ceremony everyone sitting down all facing the one guy on a podium speaking and preaching, and if they're evangelical, probably very charismatic. Oh, and let's not forget the chanting from old tomes.
Christianity, Religion? Cult? Both?
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Post by: Will on March 22, 2008, 07:41:13 PM
Post by: Will on March 22, 2008, 07:41:13 PM
It's not a cult because it's too popular. While Christianity features being false and often under the charismatic leadership, it is not considered unorthodox or extremist by most.
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Post by: ShimShamSam on March 22, 2008, 07:42:08 PM
Post by: ShimShamSam on March 22, 2008, 07:42:08 PM
awww come on, maybe just a little bit cult?
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Post by: Will on March 22, 2008, 08:36:16 PM
Post by: Will on March 22, 2008, 08:36:16 PM
Well both cults and religion are patently false, so I don't really worry about it. To me calling something religious means ignorant, manipulative, dangerous, etc. Calling something a cult means ignorant, manipulative, dangerous etc. The distinction between the two only comes from one thing: perception to the common person. The average idiot think Christianity is a religion and the Branch Davidians are a cult. It's perception based semantics.
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Post by: ShimShamSam on March 22, 2008, 08:38:09 PM
Post by: ShimShamSam on March 22, 2008, 08:38:09 PM
Alrigth, then let me further my idea, do you think one day Christianity will come to the point where it is considered a cult?
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Post by: Will on March 22, 2008, 08:54:38 PM
Post by: Will on March 22, 2008, 08:54:38 PM
I've never seen atheism so widely accepted before as it is now, but I don't think we'll see Christianity shrink that much for a long time. Maybe in 300-400 years? I dunno. It will depend on how religion plays a part on economics and politics for a few generations. If we keep getting Dubbuyuhs, there's a decent chance that people will be given extra intensive to think of religion as dangerous.
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Post by: Ashe on March 22, 2008, 09:37:32 PM
Post by: Ashe on March 22, 2008, 09:37:32 PM
I thought Christianity started as a cult - a Jewish cult. In that sense, I don't see it "becoming" a cult, since it has been there already. It's a religion, IMO. The worst it'll become in the future is obsolete. By now it's beyond cult status.
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Post by: pjkeeley on March 24, 2008, 04:43:18 AM
Post by: pjkeeley on March 24, 2008, 04:43:18 AM
Christianity is boring. Cults on the other hand are fascinating, surrounded with secrets and violence and juicy intrigue and crazy personalities, steeped in psychology and mystery. Christianity used to have that in the middle ages but went soft.
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Post by: nummymuffin on March 31, 2008, 03:17:30 PM
Post by: nummymuffin on March 31, 2008, 03:17:30 PM
they feel the same to me-of course being in one causes it to loose all that mystery. it is ultimately a money making scheme using something so many hold in such high regaurd. Religion is supposed to be personal and these people take it from them. the worst kind of robbery IMO. That is why I keep some of my more serious thoughts and ideas where they belong-in my head!