In the wikipedia page it says cult is a subjective term and can be controversial because of that and the fact that it has derogatory connotations.
That probably best describes how I use the word, if I called a group a cult it wouldn't be a literal, scientific definition in the sense I can prove they are a cult or prove another group is not a cult.
It's a bit like calling someone weird, the person might be weird to me and my friends but then he comes from a town where he is normal.
I don't think religions like Islam or Christianity are cults because they're mainstream religions around me which I'm used to. It's not novel to me or deviant from the mainstream. All the definitions of cult that I've seen place emphasis on some deviation from the mainstream, a small group or just a group in general who are considered to novel beliefs and practices.
I don't use the term to describe fans of something, and I wouldn't say someone is in a cult if they are a fan of something, that's just not how I or anyone else I know would use the word unless it was jokingly.
I use phrases like "cult following" to describe something that has what I consider to be a small but loyal group of fans. Like for example Troma films, the toxic avenger and so on. I would say they aren't mainstream and they have a cult following. I wouldn't say someone is literally in a cult for being one of the fans who likes them though.
In relation to the last 3 questions.
I don't have a strict definition of cult. I just use the word pretty much in accordance to how I think most other people use it. A subjective term with possible derogatory connotations.
I do believe all religions began as small, non mainstream groups that were considered to be weird/deviant/novel.
As for cults I'm a part of, even when using the word "devoted fan" and "cult" interchangeably I can't think of anything. All TV shows, games, books, I dedicate time to them while they entertain me then forget about them when I'm done. And I'm an atheist so religion doesn't come into it.
That probably best describes how I use the word, if I called a group a cult it wouldn't be a literal, scientific definition in the sense I can prove they are a cult or prove another group is not a cult.
It's a bit like calling someone weird, the person might be weird to me and my friends but then he comes from a town where he is normal.
I don't think religions like Islam or Christianity are cults because they're mainstream religions around me which I'm used to. It's not novel to me or deviant from the mainstream. All the definitions of cult that I've seen place emphasis on some deviation from the mainstream, a small group or just a group in general who are considered to novel beliefs and practices.
I don't use the term to describe fans of something, and I wouldn't say someone is in a cult if they are a fan of something, that's just not how I or anyone else I know would use the word unless it was jokingly.
I use phrases like "cult following" to describe something that has what I consider to be a small but loyal group of fans. Like for example Troma films, the toxic avenger and so on. I would say they aren't mainstream and they have a cult following. I wouldn't say someone is literally in a cult for being one of the fans who likes them though.
In relation to the last 3 questions.
I don't have a strict definition of cult. I just use the word pretty much in accordance to how I think most other people use it. A subjective term with possible derogatory connotations.
I do believe all religions began as small, non mainstream groups that were considered to be weird/deviant/novel.
As for cults I'm a part of, even when using the word "devoted fan" and "cult" interchangeably I can't think of anything. All TV shows, games, books, I dedicate time to them while they entertain me then forget about them when I'm done. And I'm an atheist so religion doesn't come into it.
Are you ready for the fire? We are firemen. WE ARE FIREMEN! The heat doesn’t bother us. We live in the heat. We train in the heat. It tells us that we’re ready, we’re at home, we’re where we’re supposed to be. Flames don’t intimidate us. What do we do? We control the flame. We control them. We move the flames where we want to. And then we extinguish them.
Impersonation is treason.
