BrianWrote:
Well, my only answer here is from a button one of my friends wore a long time ago. It said, "a cult is a religion with no political power".



Aside from that, I have no problem with the word "cult". In religious classes it is merely the population size of a particular belief. Christianity was a cult at one time, as was Judaism, Buddhism, and every other popular religion.



Reading through their web site, I have to give them some kudos. They don't flat out damn us or ridicule the UU beliefs, just make comparison. My only complaint is that they don't mention our seven principles and belief in punishment of the here and now (as opposed to the hereafter).



Otherwise, to me, it's just more PR for us. Maybe some of their members will read their page about UUs and say to themselves, "hey, UUs sound much more compassionate than this church... maybe I'll check them out."



:=) I hope anyway.

BrianWrote:

[t]Steve-OWrote:
I don't believe that UU's are a cult (coming from an obvious Christian background). A cult can be defined in a few ways. It can be an offshoot of a religion that has deviated from fundamentals. It can also be a class of people that has a central leader that controls practically every aspect of their congregations lives.

Judaism was not a cult. It was started from the ground up and was not a deviation from anything. God called Abraham out of his environment and told Abraham that he would be a father to a great new nation and that Yahweh would be their God.

Christianity was also never a cult from Judaism it was a continuation of it, simply because it believes in what Judaism was supposed to believe. Judaism is still waiting for the Messiah. Christianity believes the Messiah has already come....
[/t]


Hmm, Cult:
1a. A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.

I would say the Jews & Romans thought the Jesus movement was a cult under this definition...

1b. The followers of such a religion or sect.

ibid


2. A system or community of religious worship and ritual.

ibid

3. The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual.


ibid

4. A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease.

ibid


5a. Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing.


okay, I'll give you this one... it may not have been "faddish".

5b. The object of such devotion.

I'll give you this one as well... just because it's refering to 5a.


6. An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest.

Since Judhism has many esoteric sects within it and they themselves pride themselves on being esoteric and especially intellectual (artistic is subjective), then I think the Jews would fall under this definition as well.

Judhism may have been started from the ground up... but so have many other religions and they are considered cults. As for Christianity... well, I would have agreed with you if the original Jewish sect still existed in its original form, but it doesn't. Christianity is so far from Judhism at this point, that one may as well say it's a different religion. Yes, it still has ties, but so do Buddhism and Hinduism.

Generalissimo Biatchalini(Ret) Of The DollsWrote:
I know others have said what I'm about to say but I just wanted to add my own 2 cents anyway.



By definition Christianity is a cult too. Just a very successful one.



cult Pronunciation Key (kult)

n.



1.

1. A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.

2. The followers of such a religion or sect.

2. A system or community of religious worship and ritual.

3. The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual.

4. A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease.



5.

1. Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing.

2. The object of such devotion.



6. An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest.





Christians fall under 2. Fundamentalist Christians fall under 5-1.

Democratic Drew wrote:

...UU is all about individualism, discovering your own path, and finding answers. That’s not "cultish"...

Well said!