by Lunatic Faith 77 Replies latest jw experiences
I think this definition could apply to the Catholic Church. They just don't seem to exercise it much, but research the issue of nuns who agree with abortion. They have excommunicated members for that.
JWs just exercising disfellowshipping to the max in an effort to keep in those who don't really want to be in. THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE to me. They are the ones who are making a bad name for the group overall. (jmho)
When used to indict Jehovah's Witnesses, the word “cult” has no implicit meaning.
It's basically just a slang term for a religion someone doesn't like.....Spade/AliceinWonderLand
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World English Dictionary
cult (k?lt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| — n | |
| 1. | a specific system of religious worship, esp with reference to its rites and deity |
| 2. | a sect devoted to such a system |
| 3. | a quasi-religious organization using devious psychological techniques to gain and control adherents |
| 4. | sociol a group having an exclusive ideology and ritual practices centred on sacred symbols, esp one characterized by lack of organizational structure |
| 5. | intense interest in and devotion to a person, idea, or activity: the cult of yoga |
| 6. | the person, idea, etc, arousing such devotion |
| 7. | a. something regarded as fashionable or significant by a particular group |
| b. ( as modifier): a cult show | |
| 8 . | ( modifier) of, relating to, or characteristic of a cult or cults: a cult figure Alice.. Do you ever think before you post?.. Jehovah`s Witness`s are a Cult..Cult is a real word that can be found in a Dictionary.. ....................... |
If these criteria are used, Roman Catholicism and I believe Eastern Orthodox churches qualify. Certain large segments of the Catholic Church are highly controlled by the Pope. Bob Drinan, powerful and thoughtful Jesuit priest, was forced to resign his congressional seat in a move aimed mostly at him. I've been present at Catholic services where adult lay members spoke to the priest in little girl worshipful voices. In fairness, I've been exposed to activist Jesuits who would not recognize much authority, except for the office.
Cult is used carelessly. I emphatically Witnesses are a cult. There must be more descriptive, less common, language to use. The sign post for me is authority and control. Isolation is another major factor. But then nuns and monks are cloistered. Continuums are better, IMO.
I think how innocent the Witnesses look from the outside. Someone going through rough times can be dragged in quickly and deeply without awareness of how drastic their isolation and control will be.
How do you know if your in a cult?
1. If you claim others call your religion a cult because they dont like it.
2. You say that 1st century christians could be considered a cult.
3. You say anything can be a cult
4. You deny that your organized religion has leaders
5. You claim everyone who reads the Bible would come to the same conclusion as your religion
6. You lie about your organzations shunning policy
The definition of a cult is a religious organization that teaches doctrines of men, not God. If examined, the very same people that try and apply this label to Jehovah's Witnesses would have to apply it to all religions, because all other religions using simple examples can be renounced as false.
Spade,
Are you a bible study? I think you should tell the Witnesses you study with how great you are at defending WTBTS on this board! That would do them proud. Unless I misread you---and you are baptized. If you are, perhaps next time you have the mic, you could tell the "friends" how hard you work on this board, trying to convince unrepentant apostates of the error of their ways. Since they are not a cult, you don't have to worry about being marked. They will welcome the outside information. They will respect your rights and trust your decision making capabilities.
I would like to address this comment, since it is one of my favorite Watchtower fallacies:
"[Jehovah's Witnesses] do not have a particular leader, strong or otherwise."
1. Were The Bible Students a cult when they had charismatic Pastor Charles Taze Russell alive and leading the Watch Tower Society? If not, why?
2. Were The Bible Students a cult after Pastor Charles Taze Russell died and authoritarian "Judge" Joseph Franklin Rutherford took over as the leader of the Watch Tower Society? If not, why?
3. It was during the administration of "Judge" Rutherford that the concept of the "Faithful and Discreet Slave" CLASS emerged. This is a CLASS, or "group entity" supposedly made from some of the anointed. Beyond the fact that there is no scriptural basis for such a CLASS, this group entity is similar in form to a corporate entity - a composite "Leader" that exists only as a distrubuted thing.
4. Followers of the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society follow the strong leadership of this GROUP ENTITY, the charismatic and authoritarian "Faithful and Discreet Slave." Proof of this is seen in the fact that when a doctrine is modified by the WTB&TS, it is INSTANTLY accepted as "prsent truth" by JWs around the world. No discussion or debate is permitted. Anyone who disagrees is threatened with being labeled an "apostate" and being subjected to shunning.
The definition of a cult is a religious organization that teaches doctrines of men, not God.
Ummmm.....in case you missed it, Outlaw kindly posted the real definition of a "cult" for you.
ElderElite ...I like you.
Loz x
newchapter, sorry for being unclear about my 1-10 scale with Unitarian Universalists as a 1.
I was looking for a religion that is definitely NOT a cult. However, in retrospect, I probably shouldn't have used them since I really don't know that much about them personally. The fact that they are OK with atheists seemed pretty non-cultish to me. If I ever wanted to check out a church for social reasons, they'd be near the top of my list.
So, how about Methodists for a "1"?
As for accurately defining a cult, well, OUTLAW's post pretty well sums up why it's generally a waste of time. Even the dictionary is all over the map! So people just cherry-pick whatever definition suits their argument, talk past each other and waste precious electrons on the Interweb.
om
