Katzpur
Not your average Mormon
I don't disagree with you at all about that, but I'm confused about what your response to my comment actually has to do with the comment itself. Do you agree with what I said or do you disagree?
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Cult Test
- Thread starter savagewind
- Start date
They do post on RF. I count at least five Jehovah's Witness regulars on RF.
Well, I think the right thing to do is to tell us the right definition. Don't you?
I do not know about people who overuse the word cult. People who overuse it without it being attached to reason have an agenda. Yes.
You say they perceive what they believe are cults to be a threat. A threat to what?
Me calling the Jehovah's Witnesses a cult, is a warning to people who might be interested in becoming one, it's about giving up their freedom. Jehovah's Witnesses will say people do not become Jehovah's Witnesses so that they might retain the freedom to sin. I do not agree. I believe everyone should be free to become children of God the free way, not man's way. No man is free. Is he?
I disagree that calling a group a cult is discouraging people from learning about them. It would please me if everyone knew about the Jehovah's Witnesses.
What is usually true about groups that distinguish themselves according to the cult rule is the worst side of the group gets hidden until the initiation is over. Another definition. Haha. Where's my friend? Oh no. I mean my nonfriend.
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Katzpur
Not your average Mormon
A threat to them. Let's take Mormonism, for instance. A lot of fundamentalist Christians call us a cult, but Catholics seldom do. Fundamentalists are losing numbers. They see Mormonism as "stealing their flock." What better way to convince people not to look into Mormonism than to call it a cult?
Savagewind, you are in much better a position to call the Jehovah's Witnesses a cult than I am to deny they're a cult. I honestly don't have a definite opinion on the subject. The one thing that would lead me to disagree with you is that, to me, most cults make it extremely difficult for their members to leave. You have emphasized how easy it was. When you decided you wanted out, you simply left. I don't think that's really typical of how a cult operates, but as I said before, you know the JW's far, far better than I do.
It was not physically difficult for me to leave. It was emotionally painful for me though. It is much more emotionally difficult for someone to leave who has family in it. I had no family in it. Some people who wish to leave discover they cannot. It is too painful for them to say good bye to family. It is in that way the Jehovah's Witnesses make it difficult for someone to leave. I was not raised a JW. I cannot imagine what it is like for those whose whole family is JW.
Another thing that they do is they claim a person is leaving Jehovah if they leave the organization. That is simply not true. But many people believe it. It is hard to know my friends think I do not love God anymore and that I do not believe in Jesus. I do.
Katzpur
Not your average Mormon
Thank you for the explanation. I agree that it would be much, much more difficult if you'd had family members in the organization. Now, to me, the shunning by family members definitely would constitute cult behavior.
And that, in my opinion, is positively unconscionable of them! There is simply no excuse for doing anything of the sort.
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yokomodoful
Member
How did you arrive at this conclusion?
oldbadger
Skanky Old Mongrel!
Hello Savage!
Enjoyed the posts on this.......
From what I read here the local model boat club is a cult!
Look at this definition:-
a. 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.
b. The followers of such a religion or sect.
2. A system or community of religious worship and ritual.
3. The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual.
4. A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease.
5.
a. Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing.
b. The object of such devotion.
6. An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest.
That covers everything from the 'Beatles appreciation society' to the 'Herne Bay Grannies' and Grandad's' Bingo Club'!!
What I want to know is, what religion is not a cult?
Hello Savage!
Enjoyed the posts on this.......
From what I read here the local model boat club is a cult!
Look at this definition:-
a. 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.
b. The followers of such a religion or sect.
2. A system or community of religious worship and ritual.
3. The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual.
4. A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease.
5.
a. Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing.
b. The object of such devotion.
6. An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest.
That covers everything from the 'Beatles appreciation society' to the 'Herne Bay Grannies' and Grandad's' Bingo Club'!!
What I want to know is, what religion is not a cult?
Is there a religion that exists that cannot be classified as cultish? Yes, I think so.
1a. The true Jesus is not authoritarian. Actually I am taught by him to obey The Father who is invisible and so cannot be assumed to be charismatic. I am taught by him to live a peaceful life. It is very true peace is unconventional but guess what? I don't care.
b. same as a
2. My faith is not a system. Jesus say "you imagine you will get a hearing for your many [systematic] words". Also he said the truth will set you free. Am I the only one who sees system is opposite of freedom?
3. same as 2
4. How is it you can say this is as most religions are please?
5a I do not know what this means
b. God is a Spirit. Spirits are not objects. If spirit had an opposite object would be it.
6. I know for a fact Jesus and I are artistic and intellectual but we are not an exclusive club. Far from it.
That post to Akivah is a request for the correct definition of Corban. I think it's not forthcoming. I'm waiting. Never give up, I say!
What religion isn't a cult? I believe the religion of Jesus was suppose to be something different. If it existed it would not be cultish.
I might as well go out on a limb and say the twisted versions of the Good News IS the antichrist. Sorry all you mercenaries. It won't be as fun as you imagine.
I might as well go out on a limb and say the twisted versions of the Good News IS the antichrist. Sorry all you mercenaries. It won't be as fun as you imagine.
No exiting WAR development for You*.
1 Corinthians 15:32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."
When he said "you will hear of reports of war" what he meant was you will hear there will be leaders taking over the Good News for their own whatever. And they did. I think the correct response is "that's life". War as in reports of war means power struggle. That is what has happened. We are it's result. Daniel was right. The WHOLE mankind crushed the Kingdom of God Daniel 2:44. The Kingdom of God is the message of peace. Is it working? How can you say it is working? Is it not working because God is weak or because God alone is TRUE?
*I hate whenever someone says "Me?" What did you do? Did you sell your imagination?
1 Corinthians 15:32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."
When he said "you will hear of reports of war" what he meant was you will hear there will be leaders taking over the Good News for their own whatever. And they did. I think the correct response is "that's life". War as in reports of war means power struggle. That is what has happened. We are it's result. Daniel was right. The WHOLE mankind crushed the Kingdom of God Daniel 2:44. The Kingdom of God is the message of peace. Is it working? How can you say it is working? Is it not working because God is weak or because God alone is TRUE?
*I hate whenever someone says "Me?" What did you do? Did you sell your imagination?
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There you go again. Jesus.
Why not try this? Please look and see if it is the message that is antichrist and NOT a person.
If Jesus is Earth's MESSAGE of peace and the message is lost, what has replaced it is ANTI message of peace. If the alternate message is believed is it possible to look fo the real Christ (the spirit)? NO! How would it be? Because of it, the meaning has been lost. If the meaning is lost, what have you? What you have is not Christ. What is not Christ is anti christ.
If Jesus is Earth's MESSAGE of peace and the message is lost, what has replaced it is ANTI message of peace. If the alternate message is believed is it possible to look fo the real Christ (the spirit)? NO! How would it be? Because of it, the meaning has been lost. If the meaning is lost, what have you? What you have is not Christ. What is not Christ is anti christ.
oldbadger
Skanky Old Mongrel!
Thanks for your replies...
Questions:-
Is your Christianity an individuality to you?
Are true Christians believers who tend not to congregate into named groups?
Ohh, yes.... important question:- Can you go into any, absolutely any.... church or christian 'house' and take part in a service with that congregation, extending your love to all about you but just privately, personally, seeing Yeshua in your own individual way?
A scripture perhaps? Daniel 9:26 the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.
You're welcome.
I know no one else who believes as I do.
I do not personally know another true Christian. (according to my estimation) So I do not know what they do.
I have not done that so I cannot say if it is possible for me to do. I am not aware that it should be forbidden somehow.
oldbadger
Skanky Old Mongrel!
You might consider doing that...... just wandering into all sorts of Christian services, regardless....... there are hundreds and hundreds of differing churches.... and just taking part with the congregation. It can do no harm to a Christian (you can go anywhere), and who knows...... you might bump into a similar heart and soul.
Question: Does it matter if a group of folks is a cult? Are all cults bad?
Question: Does it matter if a group of folks is a cult? Are all cults bad?