Are there any differences between having a religion and going to church, to a cult?

Andy From Sligo

well?

I'm bored, and my mind always wanders when i'm bored....

what prompts me to write at this particular time - well the Cult storyline thats just been on Fair City lol

And people going on Lent starting yesterday -brainwashed into punishing themselves and giving up something for 6 weeks just for the sake of it - im fecked if i would do it, but each to their own I suppose ...

Mint Sauce

Am thinking off going off Boards with these threads!

LincolnHawk

A religion is a cult just with wider acceptance.
...having said that, giving something you like up for lent is still a worthy exercise in self discipline

LeinsterDub

Several trillion euro in assets?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

As a cult is "a social group defined by its religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs, or its common interest in a particular personality, object or goal" then the difference with a religion is purely semantics. The early Christian church was referred to as a cult. It's just terminology.

Guy:Incognito

There really is no point to religions. If you want to be a good person, be one. You don't need an out of date book or man is a special house to tell you to be.

All religions do is put restrictions on your life. Again, as above, do those things by choice if you want.

NIMAN

Of course the Catholic Church is a cult, it passes all the criteria.

But all its followers will never admit it is. Instead they call into Liveline and have a dig at different cults.

NIMAN

.

Oldtree

To answer your question - no.

Cults/religions/ belief systems are all there for one thing!

To harness your jedi mind power unbeknown to you, and use it to mine Bitcoin.

Seriously though, they are just synonymous mechanisms of arcane social control, whose sole function is to make money for themselves from their "flocks".

NIMAN

My God is more real than your God.

McMurphy

NIMAN wrote: »

My God is more real than your God.

There only is one God, and you shall not worship false ones, or by Christ you'll get the back of my hand across your arse.

Jehovah. Verse 1 line 4 on page 44 from the book of Jenny's sis.

riffmongous

Olivia Gifted Trout wrote: »

As a cult is "a social group defined by its religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs, or its common interest in a particular personality, object or goal" then the difference with a religion is purely semantics. The early Christian church was referred to as a cult. It's just terminology.

That's a pretty loose definition though isn't it? Atheist Ireland is a cult then, a football fan group is a cult..

Andy From Sligo

LincolnHawk wrote: »

A religion is a cult just with wider acceptance.
...having said that, giving something you like up for lent is still a worthy exercise in self discipline

id like to explore that further. i mean are you saying that without lent some people might not be good be good in self discipline? and giving up something especially something that people like/love why punish yourself or feel bad if you fail under pressure.

If its not a brain washing exercise what is it? - i am presuming you grow up going to church and its drummed into you to follow lent and give up something for your own good? - if i have it wrong please tell me

Andy From Sligo

we could though honestly all live without religion though couldnt we?

only obstacles I could see are what do you do about weddings/funerals and baptising babies/christening. but apart from all that...

I can see though people get solace from their faith though, and say like if someone's passed away they can feel like they can chat with their priest/vicar/imran or whatever.

The world wouldnt collapse though if people stopped believing and stopped going to church though would it?

McMurphy

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

we could though honestly all live without religion though couldnt we?

It's easy if you try.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

I've noticed one difference: people are more likely to be born into a religion, whereas with a cult they are more likely to join by choice.

Religions tend to be easier to leave too (with the exception of the Catholic Church, technically speaking)

Andy From Sligo

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

I've noticed one difference: people are more likely to be born into a religion, whereas with a cult they are more likely to join by choice.

Religions tend to be easier to leave too (with the exception of the Catholic Church, technically speaking)

yeah thats a very observant statement - true that i reckon too

Oldtree

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

I've noticed one difference: people are more likely to be born into a religion, whereas with a cult they are more likely to join by choice.

Religions tend to be easier to leave too (with the exception of the Catholic Church, technically speaking)

Isn't choosing to join a religion or cult the end result of brainwashing and not a choice per se.

falinn merking

Pretty sick of these kinds of subject coming up in media and internet.

Christians are the most peaceful hardworking and inclusive people on this Earth.

If there is a God and yes I do struggle with it Christianity it the only religion that does not reek of the satanic and it is the only one that is openly attacked without nasty repercussions.

I have no problem in saying I agree with every word of the New Testament.

Love thy enemy including deceived followers of Satanic death cults like Islam.
Treat others as you would like to be treated.

Be honest and truthful even if others do not want to hear it.

Murder
Lying
Adultery
Homosexual acts
Worshiping false Gods
Deception
Hypocrisy
Rage and evil thoughts

the list goes on but all will land you in eternal Hellfire unless you repent and accept the gift of Jesus Christ sacrifice on the cross.

I can see this post being attacked but those that do are guilty of the sin of Hypocrisy.:)

Edit far from hate Christians would love Homosexuals Muslims Jews Buddhists active homosexuals to repent and join us.:)

Afterall we believe God created every single one of us and gave us freewill.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

I've noticed one difference: people are more likely to be born into a religion, whereas with a cult they are more likely to join by choice.

Religions tend to be easier to leave too (with the exception of the Catholic Church, technically speaking)

I don't fully agree. I am a practicing member of a religion but I still consider it a cult by definition. People try to distinguish between established religions and new models or beliefs by using the word 'cult' but all religions are cults. Cult is not a term of derision but people insist on using it as one. Religion, cult, sect, church, fraction are all synonymous.

AllForIt

The difference is cults aren't integrated with the state or supported by the government.

Oldtree

Verpiss dich wrote: »

Pretty sick of these kinds of subject coming up in media and internet.

Christians are the most peaceful hardworking and inclusive people on this Earth.

If there is a God and yes I do struggle with it Christianity it the only religion that does not reek of the satanic and it is the only one that is openly attacked without nasty repercussions.

I have no problem is saying I agree with every word of the New Testament.

Love thy enemy including deceived followers of Satanic death cults like Islam.
Treat others as you would like to be treated.

Be honest and truthful even if others do not want to hear it.

Murder
Lying
Adultery
Homosexual acts
Worshiping false Gods
Deception
Hypocrisy
Rage and evil thoughts

the list goes on but all will land you in eternal Hellfire unless you repent and accept the gift of Jesus Christ sacrifice on the cross.

I can see this post being attacked but those that do are guilty of the sin of Hypocrisy.:)

Christians in high places condoned paedophilia, u need to watch out for that Satanic group.

falinn merking

Oldtree wrote: »

Christians in high places condoned paedophilia, u need to watch out for that group.

Saying one thing and doing another is hypocrisy these people can not be described as Christians.

This is what they have to look forward to.

Foweva Awone

I go to church services (usually Catholic) a few times a week, I find it relaxing, I don't really connect it to my spirituality.

I wouldn't really consider Catholicism to be a cult, it's an organised religion, there is a difference.

While I'm a baptised Catholic, I'd consider myself to be non-practising (while I go to mass a lot, I don't agree with many of the fundamental beliefs, e.g. transubstantiation, or the customs, such as Lent.) I wouldn't baptise my own children, unless it were necessarily for their education etc. I suppose I'd identify as being agnostic.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

AllForIt wrote: »

The difference is cults aren't integrated with the state or supported by the government.

All governments or just the Irish one? Judaism, Islam, Hindu, Buddhism, Shintoism etc are religions too and don't fit your definition.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Verpiss dich wrote: »

Saying one thing and doing another is hypocrisy these people can not be described as Christians.

This is what they have to look forward to.

You are no Christian if that is your interpretation of what Hell means to a believer.

Oldtree

Verpiss dich wrote: »

Saying one thing and doing another is hypocrisy these people can not be described as Christians.

This is what they have to look forward to.

But these people espouse Christianity from every pore and thus represent Christianity's values ie Hypocrisy.

A more modern version for you to contemplate.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Foweva Awone wrote: »

I wouldn't really consider Catholicism to be a cult, it's an organised religion, there is a difference.

This is the rub. I'm a practising catholic and would consider it a cult, by the very definition of cult. What is the defining difference other than perception?

falinn merking

Talking about cults and brainwashing.

Facebook
Twitter
Television
Movies
Cinema
Video Games

all of these suck up massive amounts of time and offer very little positive.

How many murders are shown on television and how many are enacted in video games.

We have a generation that has no respect no compassion and no morals.

And people attack the only book that teaches any of these.

Guy:Incognito

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

only obstacles I could see are what do you do about weddings/funerals and baptising babies/christening. but apart from all that...
.

What do you mean what do you do about baptising babies? The sole reason for it is to enter them in to the religion. Nothing happens if you don't do it. Same for the bit of the wedding that happens in the church. That bit is just for the religion bit. The legal stuff is what you do afterwards and what all the people who don't bother with the church part do. The church bit is just the dog and pony show for the churches sake.

falinn merking

Olivia Gifted Trout wrote: »

You are no Christian if that is your interpretation of what Hell means to a believer.

Hell is the absence of God and outer darkness it would be impossible for me to insert a catchy pic of that.:)

Guy:Incognito

Verpiss dich wrote: »

Talking about cults and brainwashing.

Facebook
Twitter
Television
Movies
Cinema
Video Games



We have a generation that has no respect no compassion and no morals.

And people attack the only book that teaches any of these.

None of those things tell you how to live your life or forbid you from doing things. They are entertainment. Those are things I do in the extra hours I have by not going to mass

You learn your morals from your parents.

The Bible is in its hole the only book that teaches morals btw.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Verpiss dich wrote: »

Talking about cults and brainwashing.

Facebook
Twitter
Television
Movies
Cinema
Video Games

all of these suck up massive amounts of time and offer very little positive.

How many murders are shown on television and how many are enacted in video games.

We have a generation that has no respect no compassion and no morals.

And people attack the only book that teaches any of these.

Oh come off it! I saw Mass on TV a few times. I've seen movies about Fatima and Lourdes. Facebook, much as I loathe it from a social and communicative front myself, has helped many peoples around the world.

Your type of pontification is enough to drive even practicing Christians away from the church.

I'm inclined to not believe you are in earnest.

falinn merking

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

None of those things tell you how to live your life or forbid you from doing things. They are entertainment. Those are things I do in the extra hours I have by not going to mass

You learn your morals from your parents.

Islamic terror attacks have resorted to using cars and trucks as weapons against pedestrians I wonder how they got the idea?

falinn merking

Olivia Gifted Trout wrote: »

Oh come off it! I saw Mass on TV a few times. I've seen movies about Fatima and Lourdes. Facebook, much as I loathe it from a social and communicative front myself, has helped many peoples around the world.

Your type of pontification is enough to drive even practicing Christians away from the church.

I'm inclined to not believe you are in earnest.

I am not hardcore If you read my opening post you can see I did say I struggle.

Come the day of Judgement I am guilty along with the rest of this World.
Being a Christian means I admit my guilt and ask for help from God.

Guy:Incognito

Verpiss dich wrote: »

Islamic terror attacks have resorted to using cars and trucks as weapons against pedestrians I wonder how they got the idea?

Death race 2000 came out in 1975. Gta didn't invent running people over. Suppose ww2 movies gave them the idea to shoot people?

What gave the leaders of Christian religions the ideas of how to torture and kill people hundreds of years before Islamic terrorists with cars, considering they didn't have the evils of movies and video games to give them the idea?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Verpiss dich wrote: »

I am not hardcore If you read my opening post you can see I did say I struggle.

Come the day of Judgement I am guilty along with the rest of this World.
Being a Christian means I admit my guilt and ask for help from God.

Well obviously you struggle, as you said elsewhere that the Savoy was your go to cinema yet now movies are the spawn of Lucifer.

falinn merking

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Death race 2000 came out in 1975. Gta didn't invent running people over. Suppose ww2 movies gave them the idea to shoot people?

What gave the leaders of Christian religions the ideas of how to torture and kill people hundreds of years before Islamic terrorists with cars, considering they didn't have the evils of movies and video games to give them the idea?

There has always been evil and you note EVIL is LIVE spelt backwards.

What is new is how accepted and widespread it has become.

falinn merking

Olivia Gifted Trout wrote: »

Well obviously you struggle, as you said elsewhere that the Savoy was your go to cinema yet now movies are the spawn of Lucifer.

I will admit I have been to the cinema far more times than I have been to church guilty as charged.

The Bible is what I believe to be correct and just because I have fallen way short does not make sin right.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Verpiss dich wrote: »

There has always been evil and you note EVIL is LIVE spelt backwards.

Only in English.

And Garden is an anagram of Danger. What's the point???

Guy:Incognito

Verpiss dich wrote: »

There has always been evil and you note EVIL is LIVE spelt backwards.

What is new is how accepted and widespread it has become.

OK. You're obviously taking the piss. With both points.

But ignoring the first bit of crop and focusing on the 2nd, the world is much more peaceful now than it was around the time of that book you like so much. At least in modern Ireland there's not much chance of your neighbour taking a shine to your land, murdering you and just having it.

Oldtree

Verpiss dich wrote: »

Hell is the absence of God and outer darkness it would be impossible for me to insert a catchy pic of that.:)

Isn't hell out of the sight if God? But how is this possible if God is omnipresent? Go figure

falinn merking

Ok I will admit it I was having a bit of fun on this thread.:D

It has become trendy to attack the Bible I just thought I would fight it's corner for once.;)

Guy:Incognito

Olivia Gifted Trout wrote: »

Only in English.

And Garden is an anagram of Danger. What's the point???

Don't even dare think what God is backwards. That will set off some sort of end of days

Guy:Incognito

Oldtree wrote: »

Isn't hell out of the sight if God? But how is this possible if God is omnipresent? Go figure

Ever seen your own barse /taint? That's where they hide hell from God

falinn merking

Oldtree wrote: »

But these people espouse Christianity from every pore and thus represent Christianity's values ie Hypocrisy.

A more modern version for you to contemplate.

I played that game on Xbox years ago it was good.

Oldtree

Verpiss dich wrote: »

Ok I will admit it I was having a bit of fun on this thread.:D

It has become trendy to attack the Bible I just thought I would fight it's corner for once.;)

You were doing a great job, I was being the devil's advocate too , can I now interest you in meeting up and having a grand old chat about a really really cool man called Joseph Smith?

falinn merking

Oldtree wrote: »

You were doing a great job, I was being the devil's advocate too , can I now interest you in meeting up and having a grand old chat about a really really cool man called Joseph Smith?

Dumb Dumb Dumb.

Hope you get the reference.

Oldtree

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Ever seen your own barse /taint? That's where they hide hell from God

Tainted Barse is the innkeeper of the Traitor's Gate Tavern. Has he the key to hell?

Oldtree

Verpiss dich wrote: »

Dumb Dumb Dumb.

Hope you get the reference.

So that's a yes then. Great. I'll pm you the meeting place and time. Really looking forward to meeting you.

Andy From Sligo

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

What do you mean what do you do about baptising babies? The sole reason for it is to enter them in to the religion. Nothing happens if you don't do it. Same for the bit of the wedding that happens in the church. That bit is just for the religion bit. The legal stuff is what you do afterwards and what all the people who don't bother with the church part do. The church bit is just the dog and pony show for the churches sake.

oh id say things like getting married in church , getting funeral at a church , christening kids at a church with people who dont regularly go to church or follow religion (me included) go ... because its the done thing!

Highly hypocritical i know though - I mean i have felt awkward in all 3 scenarios because i just think when i am there what a heathen i am and that i shouldnt even be there - its a good job God's special powers dont run to hitting people with lightening to those who only go to church for weddings, funerals and christening because i would be fried meat by now