No such thing as a cult

[lukethethird]

The opposite. They are all cults.

That works. However, recognizing that all religions are cults cancels out in that there are no real distinctions to be made, so no cults.

 

[lukethethird]

Labeling certain religions as cults suggests that religions and religious practice is otherwise the norm and perfectly legitimate, and we ought to recognize religion as such. Any religion in any setting can go south and get the cult treatment, but that only allows so called cults, once labelled, to be demonized, treated brutally and perhaps killed in a most brutal fashion such as at Waco, Texas. Take away the cult label, and the Davidians were just another religion that was demonized by so called normal believers. Take away the cult label and we can no longer justify treating fellow believers such as the Davidians so brutally, nor justify killing them.

 

[vulcanlogician]

 

[Heyo]

Second, in the stigmatizing sense, but more narrowly defined by the BITE model. The BITE model is a helpful tool to evaluate organizations for structural abuse. Much of the material in psychology concerning abuse only focuses on direct, interpersonal abuse. The BITE model helps understand how this kind of abuse can exist institutionally or in larger, more organized ways.

There genuinely are abusive cults out there and I think it's fair to be weary of them.

This ^^^.

But I am wary of using it on RF as telling someone that they are a member of a cult can be seen as a violation of Rule #9.

 

[1213]

What say you?

I think cult means a group that is fanatic, control-freak/totalitarian and usually led by one person or doctrine that can't be questioned without punishment. I think it is a good word, when there is a such group.

 

[Audie]

That works. However, recognizing that all religions are cults cancels out in that there are no real distinctions to be made, so no cults.

Not really. From atheist pov none can be other than cults.
That's a point of clarity.
Some cults are wotse than others.
Theres no bright line distinction.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

Not really. From atheist pov none can be other than cults.
That's a point of clarity.
Some cults are wotse than others.
Theres no bright line distinction.

So what definition of cult do you use?

 

[lukethethird]

Not really. From atheist pov none can be other than cults.
That's a point of clarity.
Some cults are wotse than others.
Theres no bright line distinction.

Exactly, there is no distinction to be made between a cult and a religion. Suggesting that there is suggests that some religions are legitimate when in fact they all practice in believing without evidence.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

Not really. From atheist pov none can be other than cults.
That's a point of clarity.
Some cults are wotse than others.
Theres no bright line distinction.

Take #2: That is not atheism. Atheism is the lack of positive beliefs in gods.

 

[Heyo]

Exactly, there is no distinction to be made between a cult and a religion. Suggesting that there is suggests that some religions are legitimate when in fact they all practice in believing without evidence.

There is a (small) difference. According to one tongue-in-cheek definition a religion is a cult that survived the death of its founder.

 

[lukethethird]

Take #2: That is not atheism. Atheism is the lack of positive beliefs in gods.

And think of all that goes with that, everything but the OMG's, we'll keep those.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

And think of all that goes with that, everything but the OMG's, we'll keep those.

Can you rephrase that?