Do you think Religion is just another name for Cult?
398191
yes i do because of the fact that most people look at them in that way and because of the fact that i think of it like that they try to controll you and change you so yeah they kinda are
1059843
Yes...you are a crazy cult
1013777
Not all religions are, just a lot of them. And yes, it's a great way to control people, I'm sure that's partly why they were created.
1108625
I think its just like any other religion you can find fanatics in any of them. I keep and open mind. There is good and bad in all religions. My husband is a Desert Storm vet and during the war I was a member of a support group we invited the local Muslim leaders to come and explain the religion, they were very nice. I enjoyed it alot.
663496
Of course memes exist, the name was coined recently to describe something which has existed since the dawn of civilisation.  I do agree with Dawkins that religion seems to spread like a virus, preying on the young and weak-minded, I don't think it is _always_ a bad thing, but it does seem to do more harm than good.
841956
They call themselves Christian, but they deny the deity of Jesus.\n\nThat all by itself makes them a cult.\nAnd Jesus and Satan were not brothers, either.\n\n(Besides, I don't want a heaven that is merely another planet from which I will start another human race. That's just too creepy to me.)
795146
When a delusion is popular it is called religion.
988068
You are correct.   \n\nIsn't it funny that even without investigating a religion and just "saying" you are a part of it doesn't spawn even a little bit of knowledge about it.   Your examples of the Jehovah Witnesses and Mormons were right on target.  Both were created as off-shoots of Christianity with major rule changes and drastic Bible reinterpretations/rewrites.    The founders of each cult have been caught in lies/treachery/deceit, yet they are overlooked in lieu of the bigger picture.     L. Ron Hubbard is a completely different story.....just reading his materials should be enough to discredit him.\n\nYou haven't even touched on Kaballa and other such "stylish religions".
519524
A cult is a cohesive group of people (often a relatively small and recently founded religious movement) devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding culture or society considers to be far outside the mainstream. The difference is that a religion teaches you how to be in the world, while a cult tries to take you out of the world. He explained that a religion gives its members guidance and support in how to survive and get along out in the world. And then he pointed out that cults always try to isolate their members from the world. Cults want their members to live together, usually in isolation, and break off all contact with friends or family who aren't also members of the cult.
342545
no, it's a cult, a lifestyle
684100
Yes its a cult! If you are in it. Get out as soon as you can.
403329
I do not...all of this religion stuff to me could be considered a myth...all beliefs are opinions from ones upbringings,teachings,and faith.
319488
A cult is \n\n1. A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader. \n2. The followers of such a religion or sect. \n3. A system or community of religious worship and ritual. \n4. The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual. \n5. A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease. \n\nObsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing. \nThe object of such devotion. \nAn exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest. \n\n\n[Latin cultus, worship, from past participle of colere, to cultivate. See kwel-1 in Indo-European Roots.]\n\nreligion-\n\n1. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe. \n2. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship. \n3. The life or condition of a person in a religious order. \n4. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader. \n5. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion. \n\n\nhope this helps.
778376
Hi! Good morning to you! If you look at it objectively, any spiritual group with a strong leader could be labeled a cult. I hate it when people accuse others of being in a cult but their belief is the true religion.\n\nThis definition shows most all religion is cultish.\n\ncult     \n\nNOUN: \n\n\nA religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader. \nThe followers of such a religion or sect. \nA system or community of religious worship and ritual. \nThe formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual. \nA usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease. \n\nObsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing. \nThe object of such devotion. \nAn exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest. \n\n--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\nETYMOLOGY: \nLatin cultus, worship, from past participle of colere, to cultivate; see kwel- 1 in Indo-European roots
736500
The Definition Of A Cult \nAccording To The Mainstream Experts \nA cult, according to these Organized Mainstream Religious Experts, is a religion started by one man whose teachings are different from Organized Religion. \n\nDigressing here momentarily, I must call your attention to the fact that every religion throughout this world has been started by a man--except for the two Religions, which were started by women (one by Mary Baker Eddy: First Church of Christ Scientist; and the other by Ellen G. White: The Seventh Day Adventist Church)! \n\nAnother fact about these man-made and woman-made mainstream religions is the fact that each and every one of them are against one or more of Yahweh’s laws! In fact, they are against the majority of Yahweh’s Laws, and they take liberty in changing them to suit themselves, as society demands! If the word cult is evil, and if anyone can be classified as a cult, it should be those who reject, change, or otherwise do away with any of Yahweh’s Laws since this is what the Bible condemns. \n\n Deuteronomy 4:2-- \n\nYOU SHALL NOT ADD TO THE WORD WHICH I COMMAND YOU, NOR SHALL YOU TAKE ANYTHING FROM IT, so that you may keep the commandments of Yahweh your Father which I command you.\n Revelation 22:18-19-- \n\n18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this Book: IF ANY MAN WILL ADD TO THESE THINGS, YAHWEH WILL ADD TO HIM THE PLAGUES THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK: \n19 and IF ANY MAN WILL TAKE AWAY FROM THE WORDS OF THE BOOK OF THIS PROPHECY, YAHWEH WILL TAKE AWAY HIS PART OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this Book. \nThe Scriptures are filled with the testimonies of men who OBEYED YAHWEH’S EVERY WORD by following Yahweh’s Established Doctrines; not one of them added to, changed, or took away from any of Yahweh’s Words. \n\nAbel was one of these men, a Righteous Priest of Yahweh, and he was hated by his brother, Cain. \n\n Genesis 4:4-- \n\nAnd Abel, besides bringing his offering of the fruit of the ground, also brought a sacrifice of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat. And YAHWEH HONORED ABEL and his offerings.\n Hebrews 11:4-- \n\n\nBy the faith ABEL OFFERED TO YAHWEH A MORE EXCELLENT SACRIFICE than Cain, because of which it was testified of him that HE WAS RIGHTEOUS, Yahweh testifying of his gifts; and through it, he being dead, yet speaks.\nAbraham was another man, called the Father of the Faithful, whose teachings are still not accepted by Organized Mainstream Religions, large or small. Nevertheless, as the Scriptures show, Abraham lived his life in total obedience to Yahweh’s Every Word; the only way to Salvation. \n\n Genesis 26:4-5-- \n\n4 And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your Seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; \n5 Because ABRAHAM OBEYED MY VOICE, AND KEPT MY CHARGE, MY COMMANDMENTS, MY STATUTES, AND MY LAWS. \n\nFor a more in-depth information, visit this link.\n\nhttp://www.yahweh.com/booklets/WhatIsACult/WhatIsACult.htm
773082
I could have written this question myself, and I look forward to your answers received.  I too am of the mind that it is what we are taught, and in the worst cases what we are taught to fear the questioning of.\n\nI always thought it would be an interesting (although possibly psycologically cruel) experiment to take a child or two from each of the major religions and raise them with no mention or concept of "god" or religion.  Would the develop a belief of their own?  At least it would be interesting to see what an intelligent person would lean toward if they only learn of the concept of god after growing to an age where they can decide on their own.\n\nI feel that is what I did, but in reverse, and it sounds like what happened to you as well.  As I got older and learned more about our world, I found that I didn't really believe what I was taught all my life.  Frankly, I don't feel the need to believe in a god or religion.\n\nI believe in being a good person as much as I can be, and that is fundamentally based in not causing other creatures intentional harm and living a moral and decent life.  Very similar ideas to what most religions teach.\n\nI also think it is a fine line between a religion and a cult.  Religions just have broad acceptance.  Kind of like if in 3000 years, the Branch Davidians were the most popular religion and David Coresh is referred to as Jesus is today.  Obviously that won't happen, and I really only used that example because I think it is the one most people will know of whom I am speaking.
1170101
Well, i consider myself spiritual. Religion is basically a set of beliefs normally initiated by a certain orginisation or group of people. You normally don't have as much room to move in with a religion, but, it can also be seen as the sceleton or backbone in you spirituality. I normally try and look at religion in a symbolic manner rather than blindly believing every word of any sect.