THE JESUS CHRIST CULTS

Cult
From SourceWatch
Dictionary Defintion of 'Cult' [from Merriam Webster dictionary www.m-w.com] Function: noun. Usage: often attributive. Etymology: French & Latin; French culte, from Latin cultus care, adoration, from colere to cultivate. 1) : formal religious veneration : WORSHIP. 2) : a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents. 3) : a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents. 4) : a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator. 5 a : great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book); especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b : a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion. [end dictionary definition]


I'd say it is, and now, they're going to get you good.

Your topic and definition are so very broad, the only answer can be yes.

Please note I am not implying all cults are necessarily a bad thing (in this particular thread).

I am just asking: Can the Christian Churches be rightfully classified as cults?

Lash, thank you for the definition above.

Do Christian Churches fit the above definitions of "Cult?"

I would say no. In fact, what some people refer to as cults would not be included. The following item, alone, would indicate this

Hmmm...the Early Christian churches were widely regarded as unorthodox and spurious for hundreds of years.

Its only because they eventually gained so many members that they re-defined "orthodox." If the Hare Krishna's for example, gained 2 billion or so members, they would no longer be the unorthodox...
so is it all simply a numbers game? Whoever has the most members is orthodox?

Also, wasn't Jesus Christ crucified in large part because his message was considered unorthodox and spurious?

hmmmm. Have to rethink the definition now. If this is so, what/who do you define as non-cult?

Good question.

There's a lot of cultish stuff out there.

Some go as far as to say a corporation you work for for many years, or your family, sports teams, or many other societal groups, have a lot of cult-like qualities.

But it seems pretty clear that the Churches fit cleanly into the definition.

Hmmmm...perhaps we're all just members of a series of cults...overlapping, like a Venn Diagram.

It appears that all religions would fall under item 1 and/or 2 in the definition on the thread.

There is a negative connotation that has rubbed off on the word for some reason. Cult is not necessarily a negative assignation.

Its a religion if it appeals to you, your family, and your freinds, its a cult if it appeals to that wierd guy down the street and those creepy folks he hangs out with.

What if that wiered guy down the street is with his creepy family and friends?

And what if you are that weird guy or one of the creepy folks?

All religions are cults until they become mainstream.