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

[Louis Foxwell]

Good catch. A cult is centered on an individual. Its members look to the leader for all guidance. A cult is inward looking and centered on a single leader. Like Obama, cult leader. All truth comes from the leader. The cult exists to support the leader.

[KC_Lion]

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

Very Good Grace, Brevity is the Soul of Wit.

Which Means Islam is OUT!

[eclecticEel]

There is no difference. The question of whether an adherent of a particular faith is free to apostatize from their former beliefs changes with time and place.

[Blood of Tyrants]

If it requires you to try to be good enough for God, it is a cult.

[logitech]

ping

[rbbeachkid]

I think it is all about control. A cult demands full control over your behavior, your associations and even your thoughts.

[Nifster]

“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.”

The Amish would disagree with you. They would claim that shunning is an acceptable form of being cast out from the community.

Your other point is spot on

[.45 Long Colt]

“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.”

Based on that definition, Christianity is a cult because once you are born-again by an act of the Holy Spirit you are a Christian for eternity.

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
(Philippians 1:6)

[DannyTN]

The major Christian denominations consider a group a cult if they have changed the nature of God or the nature of salvation.

Thus Mormons are a cult because they think God is one of many Gods, and that God was a man who was promoted to Godhood in an infinite chain of men promoted to Gods, and they think Jesus is a different separate God from God the Father. They’ve also changed the message of salvation dramatically.

Likewise, Jehovah Witnesses are considered a cult because they believe Jesus was not God but just a man. And the salvation message they preach requires more than trust in Jesus.

[MHGinTN]

I sometimes wonder if Mormonism apologists even realize that in Hebrew it takes three for use of the plural ... in English two or more is a plural. In Genesis, when God is speaking with Himself, He must be a three as one, at least, in order to be named in the plural. Ol Joe’s Jewish teacher doesn’t seem to have explained that one to Joe! Talk about setting a fool up for a fall ...

[teppe]

The problem with your definition is that a cult is an offshoot of a religion, is that all religions therefore started as cults. Christianity could be thought of as a cult of Judiasm. Protestantism could be thought of as cult of Catholicism. Latter-Day Saints (Mormons, of which I am one) did not break off from another church, so it could not be considered a cult according to your definition.

Also, as a believer that Christ is the literal spiritual and physical Son of the Eternal Father (Almighty God) as opposed to Trinitarian view where Almighty God, Christ and the Holy are locked in a three-way personality disorder, I do not believe that Trinitarian acceptance is required for Christian belief.

Trinitarianism was coerced in 325 ((Nicea), and settled by state execution by Emperor Tehodosius (edict of thesolonica).

Since Christianity pre-dates trinitarisanism , by your definition, trinitarianism would be a cult of Christianity.

[jocon307]

You indicate that you do not take your own made-up religion seriously. I think your imaginary philosphy *could* be considered a religion.

I’ve thought about this myself and basically came to the same conclusion as GraceG did.

People use the word “cult” to insult groups that they don’t support, but I think it must have a much narrower meaning.

For example: people call AA a “cult” but that is silly. One can come or go as one pleases, clearly that is not a cult.

[trebb]

Cults generally have one “supreme leader” who is not to be questioned.

[Elsie]

How to tell if it is a Religion or a Cult ~

Well...

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Acts 17:18-19
 18.  A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
 19.  Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?

 

Acts 18:11
    So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

 

 

 

 

 

Romans 15:4
 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

 

 

Romans 16:17
   I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

 

 

1 Corinthians 4:17
   For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

 

 

1 Corinthians 11:2
 2.  I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings,  just as I passed them on to you.

 

 

Ephesians 4:14-15
 14.  Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
 15.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

 

 

2 Thessalonians 2:15
   So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings  we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

 

 

2 Thessalonians 3:6
  In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching  you received from us.

 

 

1 Timothy 1:3-4
 3.  As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer
 4.  nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work--which is by faith.

 

 

1 Timothy 1:7
  They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

 

 

1 Timothy 2:7
   And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle--I am telling the truth, I am not lying--and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.

 

 

1 Timothy 4:1-2
 1.  The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
 2.  Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.

 

 

1 Timothy 4:6
   If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.

 

 

1 Timothy 4:11
  Command and teach these things.

 

 

1 Timothy 6:3-5
 3.  If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,
 4.  he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 
 5.  and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

 

 

2 Timothy 1:13
  What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.

 

 

 2 Timothy 2:15-17
 15.  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
 16.  Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
 17.  Their teaching will spread like gangrene.

 

 

2 Timothy 3:16-17
 16.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
 17.  so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 

 

 2 Timothy 4:3-4
  3.  For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
  4.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

 

 

Titus 1:11
   They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach--and that for the sake of dishonest gain.

 

 

Titus 2:1
  You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.

 

 

Titus 2:15
  These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

 

 

 Hebrews 13:9
 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.

 

 

 2 Peter 2:1-3
 1.  But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves.
 2.  Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
 3.  In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

 

 

2 John 1:10
  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him.

[Elsie]

Am I missing anything here?

Yes...

Lots!!

HR>

This is only discussing the LEAVING part; and not the CONTROLLING part while you are trapped in it.

[Elsie]

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

Did you mean SHE?

[Elsie]

Nope

[Elsie]

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

Like German Nazarenes?

[Elsie]

A cult is centered on an individual. Its members look to the leader for all guidance.

HMMMmmm...

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In conclusion let us summarize this grand key, these “Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet”, for our salvation depends on them.

1. The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything.
2. The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.
3. The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.
4. The prophet will never lead the church astray.
5. The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time.
6. The prophet does not have to say “Thus Saith the Lord,” to give us scripture.
7. The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.
8. The prophet is not limited by men’s reasoning.
9. The prophet can receive revelation on any matter, temporal or spiritual.
10. The prophet may advise on civic matters.
11. The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich.
12. The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly.
13. The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency—the highest quorum in the Church.
14. The prophet and the presidency—the living prophet and the First Presidency—follow them and be blessed—reject them and suffer.

I testify that these fourteen fundamentals in following the living prophet are true. If we want to know how well we stand with the Lord then let us ask ourselves how well we stand with His mortal captain—how close do our lives harmonize with the Lord’s anointed—the living Prophet—President of the Church, and with the Quorum of the First Presidency.

Ezra Taft Benson

(Address given Tuesday, February 26, 1980 at Brigham Young University)     http://www.lds.org/liahona/1981/06/fourteen-fundamentals-in-following-the-prophet?lang=eng

[Elsie]

If it requires you to try to be good enough for God, it is a cult.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FucbvoFFy0

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(about 85% of all MORMONs are not worthy enough to enter one of the temples their money paid for.)