People with experience with Cults please read

It depends on what you mean by cult.

The official definition of cult originated as a group of people with relgious intent who practice some type of sacrifice: usually animal sacrifice. In this definition, one could place Judaism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korban, Mithraism, and Christianity in some cases (Romans 12).

However, the definition of cult now seems to be what I heard on the History Channel as being: any religion we (the mainstream--whatever that is) don't like. In this regard, I have heard the following groups called cults: Amish, Mormons, Jehovah's Witness, and each time the accusation was meant in a derogatory, condemning manner--probably out of ignorance and insecurity.

But as I see the thread developing, I think the definition of cult refers not only to religions "we" don't like, but to eccentric, religiously inclined organizations that proseletyze toward the lost or confused employing mind-control or heavy indoctrination on applicants concerning "doctrines" developed by a "leader" who is supposed to have had a mystical experience of his own which he wants to share to the world for a price--a price which usually includes total alienation from non-believers of his doctrine, a giving up of oneself to his control along with whatever monetary donations applicants can give.

The problem with assigning the name cult to a religion is that the above definition can be designated to all religions--that is if one is of the nature to be so prejudiced against religion and misinformed in general.

This is one reason why I love my country. Our heritage grants us freedom of religion by law so that the individual can decide for him/herself whether a religion is a self-serving, harmful cult or an authentic path to God.
 
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When I was at university, the joke going around was that the definition of cult (an organization that separates you from your family and friends, takes your money and tries to change the way you think) applied to universities.
 
I don't mind the humorous quips, but I can't help but wonder why so many are replying who don't have experience with cults when that is what the title explicitly requests. I realize that nobody has an obligation NOT to post irrelevent or obnoxious replies, but there is so much activity on these forums, and so many threads that I would think those who have bothered posting irrelevent comments to this thread would be able to find other threads, with topics they actually know something about, to comment on. Obviously a lot of people have a lot of free time to spend on this forum, but why not post to threads you can actually contribute something useful to, rather than adding to the noise level? Something to think about.
 
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Stirner
I don't mind the humorous quips, but I can't help but wonder why so many are replying who don't have experience with cults when that is what the title explicitly requests.
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It’s an open forum so you’re going to get a lot of background noise.

Next point, you haven’t given us any info about either of the cults you mentioned so what exactly are you expecting to get from this thread?

Ossai
 
Yeah Sterner, don't get your panties in a twist!

I have experience with people (plural) close to me who were/are sucked into cults, but your question is so vague I don't know what you want to know.

You say that you doubt either friend will ever get out... Are you looking to stage an intervention? Are these people doing anything in any way criminal- neglecting their children, non-payment of taxes because the cult has taken over their finances? Or do you merely want a rehash of the crap I and others in my position have dealt with?

I genuinely believe if you tell us What you want to know in more detail, perhaps even why you wish to know- your intentions, and which cults you're talking about that would be helpful. The fact that you've not even told us WHO you're referring to makes smart-asses- myself included- want to chime in with jokes. Because hey- university is a cult! And so are Jehovah's Witnesses.
 
Stirner said:
I don't mind the humorous quips, but I can't help but wonder why so many are replying who don't have experience with cults when that is what the title explicitly requests. I realize that nobody has an obligation NOT to post irrelevent or obnoxious replies, but there is so much activity on these forums, and so many threads that I would think those who have bothered posting irrelevent comments to this thread would be able to find other threads, with topics they actually know something about, to comment on. Obviously a lot of people have a lot of free time to spend on this forum, but why not post to threads you can actually contribute something useful to, rather than adding to the noise level? Something to think about.
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posted by DD

But having a friend in a cult is a lot like having a friend who abuses substances, what are the behaviors you feel harm your friend and what are your behaviors?
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? :)
 
Stirner said:
I don't mind the humorous quips, but I can't help but wonder why so many are replying who don't have experience with cults when that is what the title explicitly requests. I realize that nobody has an obligation NOT to post irrelevent or obnoxious replies, but there is so much activity on these forums, and so many threads that I would think those who have bothered posting irrelevent comments to this thread would be able to find other threads, with topics they actually know something about, to comment on. Obviously a lot of people have a lot of free time to spend on this forum, but why not post to threads you can actually contribute something useful to, rather than adding to the noise level? Something to think about.
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Would you even recognize a response if you saw it?

What is the behavior you are concerned about?
 
Jon. said:
When I was at university, the joke going around was that the definition of cult (an organization that separates you from your family and friends, takes your money and tries to change the way you think) applied to universities.
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Don't forget the isolation and the weird food!
 
I was once a member of a cult called Catholicism. For years I was indoctinated to their beliefs which included such weird practices as drawing parallels between the body of a saviour and a hamburger (but only on Fridays during Lent - a dismal holiday when good Catholics give up chocolate, soft drinks or buggering altar boys), believing that a saviour was embodied in a little white disk that you ATE after the priest put it in your mouth, and drinking blood. To top it all off, I never even found out who Cathol was!

I weened myself from the cult (who has been known to apply such torturous devices as, "the religous mother") with generous applications of logic and observation. A famous cult-deprogrammer (George Carlin) once put the mystery of faith into plain words for me:

"There is an invisible man, who lives in the sky and he's given you ten rules to follow as you worship him. If you break any of these rules, he will send you to a place of fire and torment where you will suffer horribly throughout all eternity, but he loves you."

Certainly there are other cults that abound in these times of darkness. Many of them advocate NOT eating certain foods, killing people whose sexual preferences are different than those prescribed by the cult, getting angry that their invisible diety has been portrayed in a cartoon and treating others as you would have them treat you, unless you can label them terrorists, in which case you can bomb, burn or shoot them or settle on their land.

Helpful? ;)
 
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And, just to let you know, Mephisto's avatar is a self-portrait of what he looked like whilst in the clutches of this nepharious cult.

He got better.
 
kmortis said:
And, just to let you know, Mephisto's avatar is a self-portrait of what he looked like whilst in the clutches of this nepharious cult.

He got better.
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Hey, how are you doing?

You're right, but my mother still thinks I'm guilty of possession! ;)

. . . as they say, it's 9/10s of the law.
 
Stirner,

I was raised a Jehovah's Witness, but got out as a young adult. Being contrary by nature helped in that regard. My mom, and the rest of the organization consider me to be an apostate, a fancy way of saying I can think for myself. Comes in handy when the JW's come a knockin' on my door. They leave pretty quickly when I tell them 'been there, done that'.

As far as any helpful info for your situation, since you can't divulge any information, perhaps you can find some help on rickross.com. Sorry, still can't do links.
 
elaine said:
Stirner,

I was raised a Jehovah's Witness, but got out as a young adult. Being contrary by nature helped in that regard. My mom, and the rest of the organization consider me to be an apostate, a fancy way of saying I can think for myself.
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That IS handy, elaine.

How does one advertise their "apostate" status? Blood on the door? Demons on the front lawn? A secret handshake? I would love to know since I'm always pestered by the JWs. Usually answering the door looking like my avatar is enough, but there are always those who see "saving me" as a challenge. That is . . . until I start sprouting scripture in a deep, guttural voice! ;)
 
"Blood on the door? Demons on the front lawn? A secret handshake?"

Hmmm..... I wonder if that would work with Mormons.

I tell them. Works, except once they sent a couple of elders back to talk with me. Elders are the only JW's allowed to speak to me.
 
There is an odd Catholic word for it that has color, taste, weight and texture:
"anathema"
 
ruach1 said:
It depends on what you mean by cult.

give.

The problem with assigning the name cult to a religion is that the above definition can be designated to all religions--that is if one is of the nature to be so prejudiced against religion and misinformed in general.

This is one reason why I love my country. Our heritage grants us freedom of religion by law so that the individual can decide for him/herself whether a religion is a self-serving, harmful cult or an authentic path to God.
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I myself had to define this issue 16 months ago after being turned around from my paganism. I found Hanks definition very helpful...
http://www.equip.org/free/CP0900.htm
 
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