Are all religions cults?

[brewer]

It may depends on what you mean by the word cult. The problem becomes when you start to equivocate, and in many instances, if your context isn’t clear, people may think you are saying something else.

Like................... delusion?

[RoadRunner79]

It may depends on what you mean by the word cult. The problem becomes when you start to equivocate, and in many instances, if your context isn’t clear, people may think you are saying something else.

Like................... delusion?

I probably wouldn't use that word.

However since you brought it up.  If I remember correctly, you get a little uppity, when I make statements about atheists making claims, and then saying that they are not making any claims about reality.  I don't think that you can call someone delusional, without making a claim about reality (which would thus require support).   For what that is worth anyway.

[brewer]

Like................... delusion?

I probably wouldn't use that word.

However since you brought it up.  If I remember correctly, you get a little uppity, when I make statements about atheists making claims, and then saying that they are not making any claims about reality.  I don't think that you can call someone delusional, without making a claim about reality (which would thus require support).   For what that is worth anyway.

What's your point? As far as I'm concerned a belief in god(s) is delusional in any reality. If the religious/religions want to be butt hurt because I see cult traits in their actions, activities and behaviors, I don't care. If your reality includes a god and religion, I wouldn't care if it didn't impact my life or invade my space. Unfortunately, where I live, I'm confronted with it every day. Can you say the same about atheists/ism (excluding this forum)? On a daily basis do you hear "there is no god" when out in public minding your own business?

The believers problem is that they assume the worst connotation when they hear delusion or cult. There are some organizations that have cult traits that produce good results, AA for one, some christian religions for another. There are probably other religions that fit but I haven't been exposed to them enough to form an opinion, but assume my opinion would be the same.

If you need the belief to make it thru your day, fine, good, no skin off my teeth. Understand that your/their belief needs to stop where my nose starts. In my world that rarely happens. Can you really blame me for speaking out?

And I prefer "panies in a bunch".

[RoadRunner79]

I probably wouldn't use that word.

However since you brought it up.  If I remember correctly, you get a little uppity, when I make statements about atheists making claims, and then saying that they are not making any claims about reality.  I don't think that you can call someone delusional, without making a claim about reality (which would thus require support).   For what that is worth anyway.

What's your point? As far as I'm concerned a belief in god(s) is delusional in any reality. If the religious/religions want to be butt hurt because I see cult traits in their actions, activities and behaviors, I don't care. If your reality includes a god and religion, I wouldn't care if it didn't impact my life or invade my space. Unfortunately, where I live, I'm confronted with it every day. Can you say the same about atheists/ism (excluding this forum)? On a daily basis do you hear "there is no god" when out in public minding your own business?

The believers problem is that they assume the worst connotation when they hear delusion or cult. There are some organizations that have cult traits that produce good results, AA for one, some christian religions for another. There are probably other religions that fit but I haven't been exposed to them enough to form an opinion, but assume my opinion would be the same.

If you need the belief to make it thru your day, fine, good, no skin off my teeth. Understand that your/their belief needs to stop where my nose starts. In my world that rarely happens. Can you really blame me for speaking out?

And I prefer "panies in a bunch".

The point was that you seem to get your panties in a bunch when I talk about atheists making claims and denying that they do, and yet here you are making claims (when you usually deny doing so).

[Angrboda]

It's been said that we have such strong hatred of some of the traits of our parents because we recognize those same behaviors in ourselves and it's something we don't like about who we are ourselves. Perhaps the reason that the religious are so vehemently opposed to labels like cult and delusion is that they hit too close to home. If there were no way in which these labels were even close to accurate, the religious would have no difficulty shrugging them off and simply saying that it ain't so. But they don't. They get all butthurt if you even suggest such things. Familiarity breeds contempt in this case, I think.

[brewer]

The point was that you seem to get your panties in a bunch when I talk about atheists making claims and denying that they do, and yet here you are making claims (when you usually deny doing so).

Got an instance of mine that we can discuss, or is this selective memory covering all atheists?

[RoadRunner79]

The point was that you seem to get your panties in a bunch when I talk about atheists making claims and denying that they do, and yet here you are making claims (when you usually deny doing so).

Got an instance of mine that we can discuss, or is this selective memory covering all atheists?

Here... right now. Or are you not making a claim about reality, which you are saying that the religious are show a disconnect from? At the very minimum; you seem to be making some type of claim. Or baselessly calling people names with nothing backing it up.

---

It's been said that we have such strong hatred of some of the traits of our parents because we recognize those same behaviors in ourselves and it's something we don't like about who we are ourselves. Perhaps the reason that the religious are so vehemently opposed to labels like cult and delusion is that they hit too close to home. If there were no way in which these labels were even close to accurate, the religious would have no difficulty shrugging them off and simply saying that it ain't so. But they don't. They get all butthurt if you even suggest such things. Familiarity breeds contempt in this case, I think.

I just ask that you support your claim.

[brewer]

Got an instance of mine that we can discuss, or is this selective memory covering all atheists?

Here... right now.  Or are you not making a claim about reality, which you are saying that the religious are show a disconnect from?  At the very minimum; you seem to be making some type of claim. Or baselessly calling people names with nothing backing it up.

Apparently your claiming a reality that I don't believe in, so yes, the believers/you have a disconnect with reality. 

First definition that pops up:

Reality: the world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them, the state or quality of having existence or substance.

Your belief is a notional idea. If you can provide concrete evidence of existence at this time (not a story, not a book, .....) I'll consider changing what I consider reality. Until then, I'll have my reality, you'll have something else. 

I'm not calling names, I'm labeling.

[RoadRunner79]

Here... right now.  Or are you not making a claim about reality, which you are saying that the religious are show a disconnect from?  At the very minimum; you seem to be making some type of claim. Or baselessly calling people names with nothing backing it up.

Apparently your claiming a reality that I don't believe in, so yes, the believers/you have a disconnect with reality. 

First definition that pops up:

Reality: the world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them, the state or quality of having existence or substance.

Your belief is a notional idea. If you can provide concrete evidence of existence at this time (not a story, not a book, .....) I'll consider changing what I consider reality. Until then, I'll have my reality, you'll have something else. 

I'm not calling names, I'm labeling.

Yes, so you are making a claim about reality, and saying that my beliefs don't match that.   And I think that we can discuss those disagreements and the reasons behind them civilly.   However it seems delusional to make claims, and then claim that you are not.

Edit:   And you may note, that we live in the same reality.  It is objective, and if you are making a claim about reality, then we can examine the reasons and evidence in regards to those claims.   If you are still not making claims, then I'll just dismiss this as non-sense or unjustified speculation however.

[brewer]

Yes, so you are making a claim about reality, and saying that my beliefs don't match that.   And I think that we can discuss those disagreements and the reasons behind them civilly.   However it seems delusional to make claims, and then claim that you are not.

Edit:   And you may note, that we live in the same reality.  It is objective, and if you are making a claim about reality, then we can examine the reasons and evidence in regards to those claims.   If you are still not making claims, then I'll just dismiss this as non-sense or unjustified speculation however.

Exactly what claim am I not making?

My claim is that we apparently don't live in the same reality, your's includes a god, mine does not. I am not required to accept your reality. What other reason/evidence do you have?

Great, you'll dismiss what you can't defend to my satisfaction. If you're going to go on and on about how god is real or that supernatural is part of reality, don't bother.