cults ? (origionally posted by Lucid)

[GracieMae]

What do you personally consider a cult to be ? What are the warning signs in your opinion of a cult ? Do you think any establish religions are cult like in their practices ?

[Epicurus]

According to Encarta most organized religions could be called cults:)

Collette


http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761580494_1____2/Cult.html#endads
Cult or Alternative Religion, religious group whose practices and beliefs differ from those of the dominant or mainstream religions. Cults vary tremendously, and much disagreement surrounds the definition of a cult and which groups should be classified as cults. Today, scholars generally use the terms alternative religion, new religion, or new religious movement to describe groups that deviate from the religious mainstream.
Alternative religions have appeared throughout history. Although many of them soon disappeared, others persisted, and some eventually became established denominations. Religions once classed as cults include the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Theosophy, and Christian Science.
II What Is a Cult?
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Historically, the word cult referred to religious practices that emphasize ritual devotion to a god or gods or the idolization of a person or object. References continue today to the cult of the Virgin Mary or the cult of a particular saint. They allude to special worship of that person. But cult took on additional meanings as it began to be applied to unconventional religious movements or to breakaway groups.

People sometimes confuse cults with sects, but there are differences. Cults are similar to sects in that they both promote a new religion or a new interpretation of an established religion. Sects, however, are groups that have broken away from an established religion, often in protest against what they see as corruption or impure doctrine.

Cults, in contrast to sects, differ sharply from traditional religions in their doctrine. In addition, cults are typically smaller and more loosely organized than sects. And finally, cults generally form around a leader who claims to have special spiritual powers, such as healing or prophecy. Such leaders, sometimes called charismatics, emphasize the importance of personal religious experiences. Cult followers typically feel intense loyalty to the group and its leader.

Scholars who regard cults as first-generation religions note that several major religions could once have been viewed as cults. These religions began as small groups of people inspired by a charismatic leader with novel religious ideas. Christianity, for example, began with a small group of Jews who accepted the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth and regarded him as the Christ (Greek for “chosen one”). Similarly, Buddhism was founded by a single person, Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha), who rejected principles of Hinduism and found acceptance for his new ideas among a small group of disciples.

The meaning of the word cult shifted dramatically in the West in the 1960s and 1970s with the appearance of many alternative religious movements that had unconventional practices and sought to convert young adults. The public viewed these groups and their leaders as extremist and dangerous and felt they exercised mind control over their followers. Those who joined cults were viewed as emotionally disturbed or as victims of coercion or brainwashing. Cult, in popular usage, came to describe any group with a fanatical devotion to a person, movement, or common interest.

[kingclick]

Cults don't have to be religions....
Think of people who take ANYTHING too far....

[Epicurus]

Not according to Encarta. It relates to religion. I think the term when it does not relate to religion is fanatic :)

Collette

[Minnie_Beebe]

In HS (Catholic), I had to write a paper on the differences between cults and religions. I investigated and found that the only difference is religions have more people.