Insanity/cult/religion
Posted on: March 26, 2007 - 10:48am
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Insanity/cult/religion
I remember hearing the quote if 1 person believes in a delusional thing it's insanity, if a few believe it it's a cult, and if many believe it it's a religion. Forget who said it, but I wonder how many people have to believe something before it crosses the line from mental illness to cult status, and how big a cult has to be to become a religion?
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According to Wikipedia, Christianity was technically a cult in the 1st and 2nd century Rome. I know there are certain dynamics necessary to be labeled a 'cult'. For example, the leader is usually very charismatic and there is always a major fear factor involved. I had a Sociology professor do a whole lecture on cults but that was about 10 years ago; I'm afraid I don't remember much.
How long do you think it will take for someone to post in this thread that RRS is a cult? I know it's been suggested before.
If god takes life he's an indian giver
I really don't trust wikipedia - there are some problems. Most people consider Hari Krishnas and Scientology a cult, but there's no leader. I think a cult in a way is kind of like how porno was once explained "I can't define it, but I know it when I see it."
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I always thought Hare Krishnas is a sect and that Scientology is well, it's just stupid. I used to be into hardcore music when I was younger and there were a lot of Krishna hardcore bands out there, like Shelter, for example. So these kids would go to the shoes all decked out like Krishnas and hand out pamphlets and what not. It was very interesting.
If god takes life he's an indian giver
“When one person suffers from a delusion, it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion, it is called Religion.”
~ Robert M. Pirsig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
"You are 'atheist' simply you are PSYCHO or IGNORANCE. That's why even youself feel like not EXIST on this world."
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Technically, a cult is considered to be any religious movement that has not yet gained popular acceptance. There does not have to be a leader.
The vast majority of cults are relatively benign. The term has sort of become synominous with the few groups that have crossed the line... the Branch Davidians, Heaven's Gate, Jonestown, etc. Such groups usually have some sort of charismatic leader that dehumanizes his followers and reshapes them to his own will. That is always a dangerous thing.
Essentially, all religions started as cults... and most cults were probably started by someone with insane ideas, so I think your point is pretty accurate.
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I generally think of a religion as a cult that has been passed to at least one generation... maybe it needs two. Basically if someone has grown up in the cult and is likely to pass it on to their kids, then it probably has enough momentum to continue.
Unless they preach celebacy even in married couples like the Shakers did. Nice furniture though.
Delusion: When someone believes something to be true that they have no evidence for. Religious Faith: When someone believes something to be true that they have no evidence for. Hmmm...
-Triften
Another informal observation: People in cults tend to know what their beliefs are.
I think a cult is when one person can give many people the same delusion he has. A religion is when each of those converted people can give the same delusion to even more people, and so on and so on; i.e. when the delusion starts to replicate on its own, independent of the cult leader, then it is a religion.
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Cults are like tumors. Religion is like when the cancer metastasizes, splits up and spreads around the body, forming new tumors in new places.
It looks like we need to develop the equivalent of an immune system which can out-evolve religion to keep it in permanent check. Benign tumors, like birthmarks, give us character. It's when the tumor attacks healthy tissue or when it metastasizes that it becomes dangerous.
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What requirements does a religion have to meet to be eligible for tax exemption?
The distinction between a cult and a religion is mostly artificial. As the term 'cult' has acquired a pejorative connotation, it is sometimes used by members of large religions to marginalize small competitors. Sometimes, there is a legal distinction drawn which affords certain legal rights to 'religions' and not always to 'cults'. Originally, 'cult' derives from the Latin verb 'colo' (participle 'cultus'), which just means 'worship' or 'cultivate', with no negative connotation.
It's only the fairy tales they believe.
I see all three terms as interchangeable, and no reason to debate the issue.
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I think just have a congregation (not sure what the lower limit of that is.) You might be able to find more info with the ULC (ulc.org), the Universal Life Church. They'll ordain anyone over the internet so anyone can persue their spirituality in a tax-free manner.
-Triften