cult characteristics

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I have never heard the word "cult" used, except in a pejorative or a derogatory sense. Rather than being a useful descriptor, it has devolved into being a mere epithet. I use the word infrequently at best, and I almost always reserve it's use to describe organizations that I have been a part of.

My wife's priest had to submit a Petition for Difference of Cult to the bishop to get permission for unbaptised heathen me to be married in a Catholic church. The wording stuck with me - it certainly seemed like the Church was applying it to both me AND my wife.

 

[Booko]

I have never heard the word "cult" used, except in a pejorative or a derogatory sense. Rather than being a useful descriptor, it has devolved into being a mere epithet. I use the word infrequently at best, and I almost always reserve it's use to describe organizations that I have been a part of.

I have, but it was always in a scholarly context, whether the subject was religious history or psychology.

 

[exit_and_how]

Because "cult" is just used to mean "false" and imply the followers are either "deluded" or "dangerous" and no, people tend not to appreciate being insulted.

the point was that if i start talking about cults, some people automatically get defensive as if they think you're talking about them - to which i say they aren't really sure about their religion or maybe there really is some bad stuff going on in their group.

Yes, rather like !^&%* and ^%*@^ are loaded terms. They are mostly used in rude ways and are terribly overused.

it all depends on how they are used - and some people seem to guard these words as if they were illegal.

In the way the term is (ab)used, it certainly does.

if you don't like the term "cult", then don't use it. People aren't dumb - they know what it means.

No one ever describes the dominant religion in their culture as a "cult."

"no one ever" is speaking for a lot of people - i say people really think it sometimes and just are afraid of offending someone or of being unpopular.

 

[exit_and_how]

found it interesting that
"Death is called "going to see Marx"" - didn't know that...

 

[exit_and_how]

(just wanted to post the announcement for the call for papers at the next Cultic Studies Association conference which is in June of 2008 in Philadelphia. The deadline for papers is October 15 of this year...)

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The International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) seeks paper and panel proposals for its 2008 Annual International Conference to be held at the University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania June 27-29, 2008.


Attendees and speakers at ICSA conferences are diverse, including academicians, helping professionals, former and current group members, families, clergy, educators, and others.


Individual presenters may have up to 45-minutes for paper delivery and discussion. Panel organizers have 90 minutes. It is recommended that no more than four people speak on a panel.


Papers and panel proposals will be considered in all areas of cultic studies, including religious fanaticism as it may manifest in terrorism.


If you are not familiar with ICSA conferences, we suggest that you go here for lists of topics and presenters from current and previous conferences. If the hyperlink does not work for you, copy and paste the following into your browser: Event Archive


ICSA is not able to offer financial assistance to speakers, although we do give speakers a substantial discount in the registration fee.
Panel organizers, send the following:

• panel title
• participants' names, e-mail addresses, affiliations
• paper titles
• audiovisual needs
• an abstract of 300-1000 words for each paper.

Individual presenters, send the following:

• your name, e-mail address, affiliation
• paper title
• audiovisual needs
• an abstract of 300-1000 words.

Deadline: October 15, 2007
Send to ICSA's Executive Director, Dr. Michael Langone , at the address or e-mail below.
ICSA
P.O. Box 2265
Bonita Springs , FL 34133
USA
Phone: 239-514-3081 (new area code)
Fax: 305-393-8193
E-mail: [email protected]

 

[nutshell]

(just wanted to post the announcement for the call for papers at the next Cultic Studies Association conference which is in June of 2008 in Philadelphia. The deadline for papers is October 15 of this year...)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) seeks paper and panel proposals for its 2008 Annual International Conference to be held at the University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania June 27-29, 2008.


Attendees and speakers at ICSA conferences are diverse, including academicians, helping professionals, former and current group members, families, clergy, educators, and others.


Individual presenters may have up to 45-minutes for paper delivery and discussion. Panel organizers have 90 minutes. It is recommended that no more than four people speak on a panel.


Papers and panel proposals will be considered in all areas of cultic studies, including religious fanaticism as it may manifest in terrorism.


If you are not familiar with ICSA conferences, we suggest that you go here for lists of topics and presenters from current and previous conferences. If the hyperlink does not work for you, copy and paste the following into your browser: Event Archive


ICSA is not able to offer financial assistance to speakers, although we do give speakers a substantial discount in the registration fee.
Panel organizers, send the following:

• panel title
• participants' names, e-mail addresses, affiliations
• paper titles
• audiovisual needs
• an abstract of 300-1000 words for each paper.

Individual presenters, send the following:

• your name, e-mail address, affiliation
• paper title
• audiovisual needs
• an abstract of 300-1000 words.

Deadline: October 15, 2007
Send to ICSA's Executive Director, Dr. Michael Langone , at the address or e-mail below.
ICSA
P.O. Box 2265
Bonita Springs , FL 34133
USA
Phone: 239-514-3081 (new area code)
Fax: 305-393-8193
E-mail: [email protected]

This organization looks like a cult. How ironic.

 

[logician]

Talk about overdefining a term.

From the dictionary:

Cult: noun

1.an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult.

Cults are not always harmful, nor are they always extreme, all religions begin as a cult of some sort.

 

[exit_and_how]

Call for Art Work for ICSA 2008 Conference

Phoenix Project Ex-member Art and Literary Works

​

If you are an ex-member of a cult or high demand organization, The Phoenix Project, presented in cooperation with the International Cultic Studies Association, is pleased to invite you to participate in our next annual exhibit, scheduled for the last weekend of June 2008, at the ICSA Conference in Philadelphia , PA. This call for work is for those works of art that are related to the cult, or high demand organization experience.
You are invited to submit proposals of your visual art, drama, dance, music, video, or literary works that illustrate the world of the cult survivor, including the previous (group) world, healing or recovery, or aspects of the time of transition from the cult or high-demand organization.
Creations may be in any art form, including but not limited to: literary (such as poetry, drama, short story, or other writings), music of any kind, dance, and the visual arts (such as paintings, drawings, collage, sculpture, fiber arts, photography, film, video, or multi-media).
If desired, this work may be presented anonymously, through another presenter.
We hope that not only will this exhibit illuminate the reality of life in a high-demand organization or cult, and of its effects on individuals, but that it will provide an empowering experience for participating artists, who will have the opportunity to tell their own stories in their own ways.
For more information, please e-mail Phoenix Project Director and Coordinator Diana Pletts at: [email protected]
We look forward to considering your artwork for this event, and hope that you will consider working with us in this presentation of ex-cult member artwork.
Please pass this announcement on. Thank you.

 

[Scuba Pete]

Them thar commynistas are sneaky bassirds! If you don't look out they will take over the world. They WANT us to think we won the cold war! They are sneaky, sneaky!

 

[yossarian22]

The Communist Party is essentially an evil cult that harms mankind. Although the Communist Party has never called itself a religion, it matches every single trait of a religion. At the beginning of its establishment, it regarded Marxism as the absolute truth in the world. It exhorted people to engage in a life-long struggle for the goal of building a communist heaven on earth

What you posted sums your knowledge of the quasi-Communist states which exist(ed).

You hopefully realize that not a single state has followed Marxism to date?
I will agree on its cult-like qualities though.