The Witness Cult (page 5)

Qcmbr

wooohooo the Mormons aren't the worst ...(Qcmbr does a little dance..)

I understand the umbrella definition described at dictionary.com can be applied to all religions, the word culture is derived from cult, so can be applied by definition to any distinct society or movement. However, there is a deeper sense of what constitutes a religion and a cult.

Here a reasonable definition I found here: http://www.harpercollinsreligious.com.au/books/extracts/cults.html

There are cults formed within all formal religions. Although, I would say someone who professes to be either a Roman Catholic, Buddhist, Hindu, Jew, or Muslim is not a cultist. These formal religions are more than that. They are part of a social structure which encapsulates more than just a set of rules ordained by a leader or a hidden group. They are part of history, culture, and society. They are not exclusive in the strict sense, ostracizing all those who do not follow and condemning them. They do not hide there purpose or defer veneration to themselves as apposed to God. There aim is not to change your personality.

I've included a quote from the reference above, however, I would recommend reading the wikipedia definition and difficulty of defining what is a religion and a cult. It's quite long, but in my opinion, one of the best.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult#Problems_surrounding_the_definitions_of_a_cult

There are other differences between cults and religions. Religious groups support the family structure and can be credited with attempting to emphasise its importance in the face of the collapse of the nuclear family. They encourage family contact as well as the use of counselling services to heal relationships. Religious leaders do not assume the role of parents.
Religious orders will not disguise information about the true nature of the organisation, its beliefs and its structure. There are opportunities to question and to inquire. In the mainstream churches, the mission statements, the methods of appointments and the financial records are available to the public. All of these issues are an ?open book?. Cults, on the other hand, make a deliberate effort to conceal the true nature of the group by operating under a variety of names or withholding information from the potential recruit.
The restriction on inquiry or criticism of the organisation is a very disturbing feature of many cults. In his book, When God Becomes a Drug: Breaking the Chains of Religious Addiction and Abuse, L. Booth suggests that the discouragement of independent thinking is the primary identifying mark of a dysfunctional system. ?If you cannot question or examine what you are taught, if you cannot doubt or challenge authority, you are in danger of being victimised or abused.?

steve

DannyHaszard

Mainstream vs. the 'cults' Danny's 'quickie' definition,my personal take and opinion: Faith based systems fall in one of three categories. (1) 'Mainstream' mostly benevolent and least demanding you go to services once a week socialize,get spiritually recharged. (2) 'Sects' like mainstream only may be more demanding controlling and intense. (3) 'Cults' or more the more accurate high demand,high control destructive cults.How are they destructive? They 'destroy' (A) identity (B) sanity (C) bank account For the PhD version from Dr.Robert J. Lifton: Eight Marks of a deadly Mind Control Cult applied to Jehovah's Witnesses

undercover

Steve,

I was being about half flip about all religions being cults though deep down inside I think all religions are hooey. That's why I don't hold any religion in reverence enough to not make fun of it.

I usually don't like using the word "cult". As Americans we think Jim Jones, David Koresh, etc. Some people think Mormons and JWs are cults, some don't. The JW definition of cult would lead one to think they're not a cult. My definition would lead one to think they are.

I appreciate the info though. It is helpful to know different viewpoints and definitions so as to discuss it intelligently if need be.

Qcmbr

Jesus started a cult..

Charismatic leader
Required His followers to die for His name
Possessions to be given away or shared with the believers
Families to be broken up in pursuit of God..
Only He had the truth (no man cometh unto the Father..)
Introduced new revelations
Organised a structure that was male dominated
Was not a reformation of the existing system but a complete overthrow of it
Instituted behavioural controls on the believers (turn the other cheek)
Attracted the ire of normal, enlightened people so much so that they wanted to kill Him

...just because men and women spend all their time creating pale acceptable copies of the original and fight to fit religion into their cosy worldview (and then pat themselves on the back because that they are so truly loving ad accepting of everyone.) Blah - if anyones right about religion you'll find them on the fringe not in the masses.

stevenyc

undercover:

though deep down inside I think all religions are hooey

I'm with you on that one ~~brother~~ mate!

steve

kingdoman

Don?t let the hurt that has been caused by the WTS to blind you to what could be the truth. All I am saying is that you could be looking at religion as a whole as rubbish just because the JW use brainwash tactics to keep U with them does not mean that others do. God is real, you just have to truly seek him with all your heart and he will find you.

barry

Gday Kingdoman,

Im an SDA and I like comming here to visit my spiritual cousins the JWs. Im just wondering what reason would you give for SDAs being a cult?

stevenyc

kingdoman;

God is real, you just have to truly seek him with all your heart and he will find

Are you talking about a personal experience of spiritualty or a specific being? And, if so, which God are you reffering too?

steve

kingdoman

Check this out.

http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Cults/sda/adventi.htm

There may also be a possilbilty that the SDA are a breakaway from the JW's when CT Russells first end of the world did not come, but I am still looking into that.

The Witness Cult

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