In so far as it means that both the Christian and the cult member belong to a religious group, perhaps, but True Christianity is the path to salvation whereas cults are not so that would certainly be quite the difference.
Yes. It is just bigger than a lot of other cults and since it is "mainstream", it isn't call a cult. Under the definition: "A system or community of religious worship and ritual.", it clearly is a cult.
Christainity to me from research things to do in fact makes a Christan inhuman because for instant its says no sex be for marriage alto of people have sex, lie cheat without even knowing it ...its just human nature a cult is something entirely different
Some could say that it is, but to me it is not because i still have my own thoughts, and i still do what i want to do. Usually in a cult you are told what to do and how to do it, Being a Christian you have boundaries, but I have not been told that if I drink I will go to hell or if I smoke I will go to hell, get my drift?
I asked God into my life I was not brainwashed, nor was I forced onto it. It was my choice, so when I die I know where I will go, people in cults, well let's just say that it is between them and God.
Jesus died for everyone sins so that we could live. But you have to love Jesus and ask him for forgiveness. Someone in a cult, well I have no use for them, if they choose to idol someone else then so be it, I won't be around them anyways. Even after my body here on earth dies.
Thank Heaven.
We shall proceed now to see 'Christianity' in the Bible. This may sound somewhat strange, because one may ask: since the Bible is the Holy Book of Christians, what else except Christianity will we see in it? Our discussion on Christianity will be a little different. Christians know very well about Christianity, and have an emotional attachment to it. So, we shall not go into details. But we would make an attempt to Analise objectively certain puzzling and enigmatic points regarding Christianity. These points need our attention, as generally they are not clearly understood.
Muslims feel that the love for God and love for Jesus is as much their right as those of Christians. One must remember that no Muslim is a Muslim if he does not believe in Jesus. Both Muslims and Christians have a common heritage, and both should benefit from it. This is the reason why these points need special attention.
THE NAME:
(a) The name 'Christianity'- Is it really a valid name? If so, where is it recorded? In other words, where is its identity certificate?
(b) Who has given the name? Or, who is the certifying authority?
The name 'Christian' was used for the first time in Antioch, as we read in the Bible: Acts (11:25-26):
?Then departed Barnabas to seek Saul: and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And It came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.?
Who had given this name? Neither God nor Jesus.
We can mention the following points concerning the name 'Christianity':
1. The name does not bear the authority from God or from Jesus.
2. It was given by Jews and Pagans in Antioch (a city in the then Roman Empire), i.e., by foes rather than by friends.
3. The name was given after Jesus had left this world.
4. The name was used derogatorily, as determined by historians.
One may contend, What is there in a name? The name does not matter. This may not be a valid argument, but still for the sake of argument, let us then proceed to look for its meaning.
ITS MEANING:
The word 'Christianity' does not carry any meaning in it. It is a word for identification, derived after 'Christ' (like 'Buddhism' took its name from Buddha). Then the next question would be, 'What is the definition of Christianity?'
Now we have a problem.
- One may say that a Christian is one who believes in Jesus Christ. We Muslims also believe in him (it is an article of faith to believe in him). So, we can also be called Christians.
- One may say that a Christian is one who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ. We Muslims claim that we follow him more than those who call themselves Christians. Then we are rather better Christians.
- One may say that a Christian is one who worships Jesus Christ. But we do not agree to this definition. Why? Simply because Jesus never claimed: 'I am God and you worship me', or 'I am co-equal and co-eternal with God', or 'you will enter the Kingdom of heaven if you believe in my blood sacrifice'. Not once did he utter any such statement. Jesus certainly would not use vague language to explain this vital and highly important matter, or leave it to the people's own imagination and interpretation.
Then what was he teaching? What was the essence of his mission?
I definitely agree with Chimera. I suppose he took "cult" as : "A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false"
(Not to be confused with "sect". Christianity started as a sect, as most other religions did)
Well, as the dictionary defines cult as "a system of religious worship; a pursuit of, or devotion to, some object" then the answer to your question is yes.
A cult by definition is a religion or a religious sect. However, government recognizes all religions as cults until they have 1 million or more record members where then they are no longer a cult, but a mainstream religion.
Christianity is a broad term referring to many, MANY denominations (groups) that worships/follows Christ/Christ's teaching, Christ being Jesus of Nazareth.
So the answer is yes and no because of the many denominations.
For example:
The Catholic Church is not a Cult while Mormonism in the United States is.
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.
The followers of such a religion or sect.
A system or community of religious worship and ritual.
The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual.
A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease.
Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing.
The object of such devotion.
An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest.
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[Latin cult us, worship, from past participle of col ere, to cultivate. See keel-1 in Indo-European Roots.]
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Celtic or coltish adj.
cultism n.
cultist n.
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Source: The American Heritage? Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright ? 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Main Entry: cult
Function: abbreviation
culture
Source: Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, ? 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
cult
n 1: adherents of an exclusive system of religious beliefs and practices 2: an interest followed with exaggerated zeal; "he always follows the latest fads"; "it was all the rage that season" [syn: fad, craze, furor, furore, rage] 3: a system of religious beliefs and rituals; "devoted to the cultus of the Blessed Virgin" [syn: cultus, religious cult]
Source: WordNet ? 2.0, ? 2003 Princeton University
So Going by the definition I would have to say yes. BB Sdw
Yes, Christianity is a cult. All cults do exactly what Christianity did; glorify a leader then angrily oppose anyone that disagrees with their beliefs.
isn't Christianity just the same as being in a cult?
according to distantaRyy
