"First, cults tend to centralize power in the hands of a single individual or small group that is considered beyond questions. Second, they treat all questions about the group and its beliefs as intolerable challenges to the group's authority and authenticity. Third, they demean all those who do not share their beliefs and sow fear and mistrust amongst their believers about all such people. Fourth, they typically cut off all or most opportunities for members to interact freely with those outside the group. And finally, they take revenge upon those who choose to leave the group, in ways which include, cutting them off from all relationships with those who remain inside, confiscation of material goods and even physical harm."
Yeah, the difference is not huge at all, many religions have at least 4 out of 5.
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The Difference Between Cults and Religions
- April 07, 2009 17:39:16
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- +10 / -1 raves
- In exchange for her cooperation, Maryland prosecutors have offered Ria Ramkissoon a reduced charge in the case against Queen Antoinette who leads a West Baltimore cult known as One Mind Ministries. Ria, and other members of the group, starved Ria's son to death because he did not say 'Amen' when he was directed to do so. It's troubling, but probably no worse than similar deals made in courtrooms across the nation every day.
What's really troubling, at least initially, is the story of a woman willing to sacrifice her son because her faith demanded it. But is Ria Ramkissoon's story any worse than the story of a man who waits his whole life to have a child, and then, when he finally does, he carries that child to a mountain top where he prepares him as an offering to the god who tells him to do so? Is her story worse than that of another father who sends his only son into the world just so he can watch him suffer and die an agonizing death?... Read full article »
What's really troubling, at least initially, is the story of a woman willing to sacrifice her son because her faith demanded it. But is Ria Ramkissoon's story any worse than the story of a man who waits his whole life to have a child, and then, when he finally does, he carries that child to a mountain top where he prepares him as an offering to the god who tells him to do so? Is her story worse than that of another father who sends his only son into the world just so he can watch him suffer and die an agonizing death?... Read full article »
Top Comment
And hey, did you just call me evil? :-(
And you are implying that I haven't embraced my goodness, what do you mean by that?
Life is a gift - whether you believe in a Diety or not, you should life it as if you only get one chance to get it right.
A belief in a higher power shouldn't be the only reason to be an mensch.
Yeah, the difference is not huge at all, many religions have at least 4 out of 5.
Yes there is a differance!
And if you're going to bombard me with cliches, you might as well not talk to me at all.
This story didn't happen to mention the plea bargain made with Ria Ramkissoon includes a clause that says she'll be allowed to withdraw her guilty plea if her son is resurrected (but it has to be a Jesus style resurrection...not an ordinary resurrection -- whatever that means). As long as she testifies against her co-conspirators, she is to be released from prision with only time served.
I'm amazed at what people will do to their own children in the name of their religion...it's sick.
EDIT: Here's the news story in the Baltimore Sun.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/n...
Definition of a cult:
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: the object of such devotion c: a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion
De1 a: the state of a religious b (1): the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2): commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
2: a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
3archaic : scrupulous conformity : conscientiousness
4: a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith finition of religion:
These two definitions that I presented mean two opposite things. Notice the last part of the definition of a cult. "A great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work" If we were to analyze this we could come to term that all faiths are cults. Right? No. ...
Definition of a cult:
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: the object of such devotion c: a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion
De1 a: the state of a religious b (1): the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2): commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
2: a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
3archaic : scrupulous conformity : conscientiousness
4: a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith finition of religion:
These two definitions that I presented mean two opposite things. Notice the last part of the definition of a cult. "A great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work" If we were to analyze this we could come to term that all faiths are cults. Right? No. When Christians say they follow someone they do and that's true. We follow Jesus Christ. Those who would confuse cults and religion need to search out what it truly means to be a Christian or to be a pagan worshipper (Because a pagan worshipper could easily fit into being a cultist), because that's what the definition of a cultist boils down to.
We could further analyze that as Brad indicated in his article that religions tend to lead into cultist behavior. However this is not true unless you’re a "religious fanatic" that takes things out of context and does some extreme things.
I found this interesting, but whole heartily disagree with his assessment.
“A great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or [note: not ‘and’ — devotion to any one of these is enough to qualify as a cult!] work.” — your words.
Was Jesus Christ a person? Yes.
Do Christians have great devotion to Him? Yes.
Is Christianity an idea and/or movement? Yes.
Do Christians have great devotion to it? Yes.
Was Jesus’s Atonement a great work, by Christian beliefs? Yes.
Do Christians have great devotion to it? Yes.
Is the Cross on which He died an object? Yes.
Do Christians have great devotion to it? Yes.
You only had to meet one of those to qualify. You met all five!
However not only Christianity would be consider a cult by what you pointed out, but also Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and paganism just to name a few.