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Atheist Forums › Community › Religion v
Whats the difference between a cult and a religion?

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Whats the difference between a cult and a religion?
MJ the Skeptical Offline
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#41
RE: Whats the difference between a cult and a religion?
May 13, 2014 at 1:12 pm
Religions don't want to admit they're large cults and Cults don't want to admit they're Mini-religions.
If the hypothetical idea of an afterlife means more to you than the objectively true reality we all share, then you deserve no respect.
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Godlesspanther Offline
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#42
RE: Whats the difference between a cult and a religion?
May 13, 2014 at 6:09 pm
(May 13, 2014 at 1:12 pm)Godslayer Wrote: Religions don't want to admit they're large cults and Cults don't want to admit they're Mini-religions.

In my experience nobody wants to admit that the group that they belong to is a cult. In my experience the more adamantly they deny it, the more of a cult member they really are.

Scientologists are notorious for that childish stubborn denial that they belong to a cult. And if you want to see some really angry people -- find some ex-scientologists. Those folks are PISSED.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste -- don't pollute it with bullshit.
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Zidneya Offline
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#43
RE: Whats the difference between a cult and a religion?
May 13, 2014 at 6:21 pm (This post was last modified: May 13, 2014 at 6:23 pm by Zidneya.)
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Anomalocaris Offline
Stem arthropod
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#44
RE: Whats the difference between a cult and a religion?
May 13, 2014 at 6:24 pm
Broadly the same difference as between "microevolution" and "macroevolution".
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The Valkyrie Offline
The last smile some will see...
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#45
RE: Whats the difference between a cult and a religion?
May 13, 2014 at 6:35 pm
The spelling

Playing Cluedo with my mum while I was at Uni:

"You did WHAT?  With WHO?  WHERE???"
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Godlesspanther Offline
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#46
RE: Whats the difference between a cult and a religion?
May 13, 2014 at 7:21 pm
A mind is a terrible thing to waste -- don't pollute it with bullshit.
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Clueless Morgan Offline
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#47
RE: Whats the difference between a cult and a religion?
May 13, 2014 at 7:54 pm
(May 13, 2014 at 7:21 pm)Godlesspanther Wrote: Yes, if they would actually go through that list of 100 items and honestly determine which items apply to their group and to what extent -- they would have to admit that they are a member of a cult.

To be fair, though, how many matches to they have to hit on the 100 items list in order to fully qualify as a cult? 100%? 80%? 60%? Or merely >50%?
Teenaged X-Files obsession + Bermuda Triangle episode + Self-led school research project = Atheist.
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Chas Offline
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#48
RE: Whats the difference between a cult and a religion?
May 13, 2014 at 8:06 pm
(May 12, 2014 at 7:11 pm)psychoslice Wrote:
(May 12, 2014 at 9:04 am)Chas Wrote: Rational, skeptical people are always willing to rethink things.

Yep your right, and that is why I am sticking to what I have said.

Except what you said is factually incorrect.
Skepticism is not a position; it is an approach to claims.
Science is not a subject, but a method.
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Zidneya Offline
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#49
RE: Whats the difference between a cult and a religion?
May 13, 2014 at 8:34 pm
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Godlesspanther Offline
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#50
RE: Whats the difference between a cult and a religion?
May 13, 2014 at 9:27 pm
(May 13, 2014 at 7:54 pm)Clueless Morgan Wrote:
(May 13, 2014 at 7:21 pm)Godlesspanther Wrote: Yes, if they would actually go through that list of 100 items and honestly determine which items apply to their group and to what extent -- they would have to admit that they are a member of a cult.

To be fair, though, how many matches to they have to hit on the 100 items list in order to fully qualify as a cult? 100%? 80%? 60%? Or merely >50%?

I'd say over half would be good enough. If an organization meets more than half of those criteria then, it would be a really fucked up organization and I would call it a cult.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste -- don't pollute it with bullshit.
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Atheist Forums › Community › Religion v
Whats the difference between a cult and a religion?

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