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What is a cult?

I hear Tarantino is cult but has far to many members,
I hear Christianity is a cult but has far to many memebers,
I hear Red Dwarf is a cult and sertainly started out this way but now has many members,
Is it a sect?
Is it a religion?
Is it a film?
Is it a fashion?
Is it a faze?
Is it a craze?

What is a cult?

(and i can read the dictionary)

@sometime sun,

sometime sun;144893 wrote:

What is a cult?

I hear Tarantino is cult but has far to many members,
I hear Christianity is a cult but has far to many memebers,
I hear Red Dwarf is a cult and sertainly started out this way but now has many members,
Is it a sect?
Is it a religion?
Is it a film?
Is it a fashion?
Is it a faze?
Is it a craze?

What is a cult?

(and i can read the dictionary)

I think cults involve esoteric knowledge.

@PappasNick,

PappasNick;144901 wrote:

I think cults involve esoteric knowledge.

I dont understand, please expand

@sometime sun,

sometime sun;144923 wrote:

I dont understand, please expand

Cults rely on the distinction between esoteric (closed, or inside) and exoteric (open, or outside) knowledge. Those on the outside only get the exoteric version of things. But the insiders get the esoteric view. They are in the know, as they say.

@sometime sun,

sometime sun;144893 wrote:

What is a cult?

I hear Tarantino is cult but has far to many members,
I hear Christianity is a cult but has far to many memebers,
I hear Red Dwarf is a cult and sertainly started out this way but now has many members,
Is it a sect?
Is it a religion?
Is it a film?
Is it a fashion?
Is it a faze?
Is it a craze?

What is a cult?

(and i can read the dictionary)

A Cult is mass Hy storia. Re-jects who can;t survive in public. Laughing

@Pepijn Sweep,

Pepijn Sweep;144950 wrote:

A Cult is mass Hy storia. Re-jects who can;t survive in public.

Then a cult can be one person? religion? art?

@sometime sun,

As far as I understand cults, I get more sense of the term from the etymological roots. "Cult" is essentially linked to the figurative sense of "education by training or education," which is in essence cultivation. I think in many respects, many choose to solely link the word "cult" to ritual or religious meanings, but even in that regard, I still think the former definition of "education" and so on applies.

So maybe you could say that anything which involved education or cultivation could itself be considered a cult of some kind. Would this apply to rationalism (for instance) as a cult? Maybe. Rationalism was not especially warmly accepted within the normative philosophical framework in the times of Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz for example. Even in the case of Spinoza, his views of God (and substantial metaphysics) caused a great deal of issue between himself and the Jewish community. Would he not have been considered in some respects an endorser of a rationalistic cult (ideological cultivation) in most respects then, both in a religious sense and in an educational sense?

@VideCorSpoon,

VideCorSpoon;145007 wrote:

As far as I understand cults, I get more sense of the term from the etymological roots. "Cult" is essentially linked to the figurative sense of "education by training or education," which is in essence cultivation. I think in many respects, many choose to solely link the word "cult" to ritual or religious meanings, but even in that regard, I still think the former definition of "education" and so on applies.

So maybe you could say that anything which involved education or cultivation could itself be considered a cult of some kind. Would this apply to rationalism (for instance) as a cult? Maybe. Rationalism was not especially warmly accepted within the normative philosophical framework in the times of Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz for example. Even in the case of Spinoza, his views of God (and substantial metaphysics) caused a great deal of issue between himself and the Jewish community. Would he not have been considered in some respects an endorser of a rationalistic cult (ideological cultivation) in most respects then, both in a religious sense and in an educational sense?

Whatis educational a'bout Rap-music ? Is it like modern Ras-ta ?
I love Bob Marley...

Do not care to remember modern Gangster rap.
Not for 51%

@sometime sun,

I very much like what Pappanick said.

If a membership takes you from what it considers outside of "it" and educates you to believe that only what is inside is important/has meaning, and then separates you as much as possible from what it considered outside of "it" -- it has cultivated you into "it"self.

I'm not sure if all organized religions could be considered cults or not. It appears that such organizations only get label "cults" when the end result is damaging. Gotta admit there have been periods in most religions when the cult title fit.

Geez...now I'll have to admit I don't know.

Lost1

@Lost1 phil,

[CENTER][/CENTER]

@sometime sun,

Could a multi-level marketing scheme, or a pyramid scheme, be considered a cult? Or do they just present themselves as having secret knowledge, but they really don't? But does any cult really have secret knowledge, or is the very definition of a cult make them crazy?

@bmcreider,

bmcreider;145841 wrote:

Could a multi-level marketing scheme, or a pyramid scheme, be considered a cult? Or do they just present themselves as having secret knowledge, but they really don't? But does any cult really have secret knowledge, or is the very definition of a cult make them crazy?

I like the question you are raising about whether a cult must have secret knowledge or whether it's enough to pretend to have it. I'm inclined to say pretending to have it is enough.

I do think certain business schemes can be cults.

@sometime sun,

So can a cult be too small to be a cult, or too big? Is cult just a useless word outside of media sensationalism? Surely Gandhi wasn't a member of a cult, or MLK, although what they started was, at first, thought of as strange or false by the majority.

Case by case basis, I suppose.

@bmcreider,

bmcreider;145841 wrote:

Could a multi-level marketing scheme, or a pyramid scheme, be considered a cult? Or do they just present themselves as having secret knowledge, but they really don't? But does any cult really have secret knowledge, or is the very definition of a cult make them crazy?

I was so mad, i made a Boeuff Maddoff.

Yes, when you value money it could become a religieus cult

Kindness,
Pepijn Sweep
lictor
:bigsmile:

@Pepijn Sweep,

What is the difference between a cult and a religion?
Why does a religion hate being called a cult?
Does a cult just not care?

What is Scientology?

@sometime sun,

sometime sun;145869 wrote:

What is the difference between a cult and a religion?
Why does a religion hate being called a cult?
Does a cult just not care?

What is Scientology?

Pyramids

Personally I would be a cult. No fixed buidings but that is impossible.

Religions enough I think

Count on travel & teach Summerschool, Springbreak etc.
Modern scolar

@sometime sun,

I think any belief system has some element of cult in it, or some potential for it, doesn't it?

But aren't some beliefs truly outrageous or xenophobic, like the KKK? Thus, there is a perception of "moderation" in consumerism, or a possible equilibrium, but is there one for the KKK? Is the absence of equilibrium in beliefs what really defines the difference of a cult as compared to other belief systems? But, like you asked, what about religion. Plenty of people, and other religions, accuse religion of being totally baseless...

@sometime sun,

sometime sun;145869 wrote:

What is the difference between a cult and a religion?

Religions typically are established or recognized in some official way. In the U.S., for example, there is debate over official status for certain organizations so that they can enjoy tax benefits.

@PappasNick,

PappasNick;145882 wrote:

Religions typically are established or recognized in some official way. In the U.S., for example, there is debate over official status for certain organizations so that they can enjoy tax benefits.

We also (in Amsterdam) have Freedom of Religion. That's why Satans Church was allowed in town. Even then they committed tax-fraud. Who would think a church/religion would do such a thing ?:bigsmile:

@sometime sun,

Imo Christianity is a cult. It just so happens to be a very popular one. It involves itself in child indoctrination and the spreading of false information. It tries in every turn to undermine scientific understanding and not only that but the scientific method itself. It insists the follower abandon reason and resort to a god did it stance. It sells a false hope that it can not be verified and relies heavily on the follower to accept it.

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