Religion or Cult - How to Tell The Difference

by cofty 22 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  Mad Sweeney

  Using the broadest definition of 'cult' you are correct, Cofty. But most people don't mean that when they use the term. When a believer uses the term 'cult' he usually means something like Vanderhoven7 listed - doctrinal and theological stuff outside of mainstream Christianity is considered a cult. When a freethinker uses the term 'cult' he usually means any group (religious or not) that uses psychological thought reform on its members (Lifton's seven principles or Hassan's BITE model or one of the other models out there). When a sociologist uses the term 'cult' he merely means an offshoot religion that most of us would call a sect.

  We're all saying the same word and meaning different things.
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  JeffT

  I prefer the term "high control group" to cult. Cult is a loaded word and you end up arguing about what the word means, said agrument never reaching a conclusion. High control group describes what they do and how they live, not what they think. If one of our JW defenders tries to tell me that JW's aren't a high control group and going to ask them if I can come to their kingdom hall and say what I think. That should bring the conversation to a conclusion.
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  PSacramento

  Perceptionis the key really.

  Religion is basically a set of beleifs and almost anything can be a religion.

  Organized religions ( religions with a strong central structure and doctrines that are viewed as "non-negociable") tends to be far more cultish than religions that do NOT have a central organization/heirarchy.