The cults

[Riders]

A lot of people use the word "cult" to refer to any group they personally disapprove of. I don't really think a religion can justifiably be called a "cult" unless there is an attempt to isolate its members from their families, friends and associates on the outside and threatens them (and it need not be a threat of physical harm) if they try to leave.

Right a threat of going to hell is what some churches do now.

 

[ManSinha]

Right a threat of going to hell is what some churches do now

But I was told that heaven and hell do not exist in the Bible?

 

[BilliardsBall]

Um... what? On what basis do you claim that a diverse forum full of theists and atheists both is part of a "cult of atheism?" Are you trying to make a joke?

Huh? The cult of atheism cited is bigger than RF, I mentioned Hitler and others who never used the Internet.

 

[GoodbyeDave]

The word "cult" in the sociological sense may be a badly chosen one (the word is still needed in its original sense in other scholarly contexts) but it has a clear meaning. It doesn't mean a belief you consider weird, but a (pseudo-)religious organisation which attempts to control the minds and lives of its members. Christian churches may tell their members what to think, but (most) of them do not prevent them from mixing socially with non-members, for example. Here's a good checklist for identifying cults:
The Advanced Bonewits' Cult Danger Evaluation Frame

 

[Quintessence]

Huh? The cult of atheism cited is bigger than RF, I mentioned Hitler and others who never used the Internet.

The "cult of atheism" (if it can be said to exist) doesn't even include RF, though. I don't understand why you would include this forum on such a list to begin with. RF isn't an atheist forum. The fact that I'm here, you're here, and a bunch of other theists are here should make that obvious. I mean, I guess if you believe something like "anyone who doesn't agree with my unique theism is an atheist" everything would be part of your "cult of atheism," but other than that? I'm not seeing it. As an admin, comments like that concern me because if there's something I need to be made aware of, please let me know (via PM is probably best).

 

[BilliardsBall]

The "cult of atheism" (if it can be said to exist) doesn't even include RF, though. I don't understand why you would include this forum on such a list to begin with. RF isn't an atheist forum. The fact that I'm here, you're here, and a bunch of other theists are here should make that obvious. I mean, I guess if you believe something like "anyone who doesn't agree with my unique theism is an atheist" everything would be part of your "cult of atheism," but other than that? I'm not seeing it. As an admin, comments like that concern me because if there's something I need to be made aware of, please let me know (via PM is probably best).

I'm still not tracking with you--not trying to be dense here, by the way. I'm a human and may have misused the word "cult" here, though.