The Cult of Christianity
9 December 2005An accusation that pops up every so often in conversations with atheists is that Christianity is a “cult”. This is not really an “argument” per say, it is really just an emotional assertion. As we shall see, however, the claim that Christianity is a cult is entirely dubious.
Now, a cult is commonly considered to be a “bizarre” and small religious following full of strange and oftentimes dangerous rituals. However, some people claim that it is unfair to define a cult as a “non-traditional” belief or as a “heretical” group. They point out that such a definition is unfair to those that profess such beliefs, and that to them it is the other view (i.e., Christianity) that is actually “heretical” or “non-traditional”. Therefore, a cult should really be defined as any religious belief whatsoever. Thus, under this rubric, Christianity is indeed a cult.
Essentially, I agree with much of this. It seems a bit subjective to label certain groups as “cultic” because it begs the question as to whether or not their belief or ritual is actually odd or in any way contrary to truth. However, the real problem with the person who claims that Christianity is a “cult” is that they are trying to sneak in the negative connotation of the word “cult” in order to stir the emotions.
After all, if a cult is merely synonymous with “religion”, then there is nothing inherently wrong with being in a cult. In fact, the word “cult” becomes superfluous. However, non-Christians know that the word “cult” carries with it much emotional force. Things like bloody mutilation and unhealthy obsession with rituals and beliefs come to mind at the mentioning of the word. The nonbeliever is merely trying to shove emotional baggage of such activities on the shoulders of the Christian faith. Such an approach is clearly deceptive.
So, the claim that Christianity is a “cult” is really just an emotional non-argument. The word “cult” should either be discarded or given a more specific (and perhaps subjective) meaning than general religious belief.
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Why are all Christians condescending ass holes? In my humble athiest opininion christians are given the steriotype of being a cult, not as a dictionary refrence to “anything religious”, but in order to convey the idea that christianity is set up in a way to operantly condition individuals into their belief systems. Christianity has been used for centuries by monarchs to controll the mindset of the lower class. I believe in the ideaology of christianity, and in God. However, why should individuals have to conform to a universal belief system. Why are Budists unquestionably going to hell? The condescending demeanor christions display to the outside world is slowly encroached into the mindset of individuals seeking meaning and guidance. That is why Christianity is a cult.
— Kreg Ross May 24, 11:49 AM #
Why are all Christians condescending ass holes? In my humble athiest opininion christians are given the steriotype of being a cult, not as a dictionary refrence to “anything religious”, but in order to convey the idea that christianity is set up in a way to operantly condition individuals into their belief systems. Christianity has been used for centuries by monarchs to controll the mindset of the lower class. I believe in the ideaology of christianity, and in God. However, why should individuals have to conform to a universal belief system. Why are Budists unquestionably going to hell? The condescending demeanor christions display to the outside world is slowly encroached into the mindset of individuals seeking meaning and guidance. That is why Christianity is a cult.
— Joe May 24, 11:53 AM #
All religions can be made a cult. Even as most main Christians see what makes a cult, they, themselves, are subject to the meaning of what a cult is. Following a man, religion before family, sacrifice of ones person or material possesions, and not questioning leaders. I know some Christians will say it is to an extreme that makes it a cult, but this isn’t true. Just a faithful cult response.
— David Dec 20, 11:14 AM #
By that definition, atheism is also a cult. Defining things so liberally that anything will fit is a stupid way to argue – and a good indication of someone not really having an argument.
The two guys spamming the same exact comment above are a good example of same.
— PL Aug 16, 06:20 AM #
Cult (noun)-Any religion which regards it’s founder/leader as divine.
Every Christian I know uniformly believes Jesus Christ Josephson to be not only the son of their God, YHWH, but to be the avatar of him/it. In fact, not only do they all believe this, but the belief is in their sacred scripture(s). Therefore, they more or less admit that their faith is a cult.
Note, a “cult” is not always some bizarre new religion started by an egomaniac Hell (or Gehenna or whatever) bent on shattering the minds of innocent seekers of truth, but this is usually the case.
— Adrian the Possibly Agnostic Oct 11, 08:34 AM #
Kreg Ross (and, presumably, Joe),
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16
That is why “individuals have to conform to a universal belief system.” You wish to demand that God “allow” other religions into His Heaven? Good luck, but I believe such an act will be much more difficult to pull off than marching into a restaurant and demanding to see the manager. You said yourself that you believe in God and in the Christian ideology, and that’s well and good, I welcome you as a brother, but it’s not up to me or you or any man other than Jesus Christ, son of God, to say who gets in and who doesn’t.
— pilotmitchw Oct 21, 03:33 PM #
This day and age the word cult has such a bad rap. It actually means a group with similar beliefs. So, Republicans are a cult as well as Democrats. Peta: Cultic, every religion on the face of the Earth: cultic. I am a Chritian, and to me Christianity is not a cult, it is the truth. I also believe that everyone deserves to have thier own beliefs. If you want to call a piece of peach pie (or whatever flavor you prefer) a God, thats cool, do it. Can you spread your beliefs? sure! But please, don’t call me condesending just because I feel called to spread my beliefs too.
Just live and be content.
— Karl Dec 19, 03:05 PM #
In order to answer this question, we must first understand what we mean by the word “cult.” When people say that a religious group is a cult, they typically mean that it has one or more of the following characteristics:
Overly aggressive recruitment/evangelization
False/deceptive teaching, including hyperexclusivism:
Prior to the beginning of the group, everyone was lost/condemned/without any true knowledge
Only a very small, exclusive set of people (i.e. the group members) will be saved/enter heaven
Use of brainwashing techniques, including:
Questioning of the group’s teaching/leadership forbidden
Isolation (physical or forced isolation, or encouragement to break contact with family and friends)
Sleep deprivation and other abusive practices
Financial exploitation of members (ultimately profiting the leaders)
Emotional explotation of young adults, the elderly, etc.
— agnostic Jan 18, 04:45 AM #
this is ridiculous the government is afraid of new religion but if you think “jesus” or “god” did the same thing a long ass time ago
— crash May 14, 04:49 AM #
what happend to freedom of religon
— crash May 14, 04:52 AM #
I was at a youth group a week or so ago. The pastor was trying to say that Jesus was completely without sin and that, even a newborn baby who has been in the world even for a nanosecond, or being in its mothers womb has sinned. He would not explain any further as to what he meant by this. My question: if a newborn baby who hasn’t done anything in the world yet, other than perhaps cry, has sinned, how can Jesus not have sinned, when he was brought into this world in exactly the same way? What makes him different, special? Why has he not sinned? In my humble atheist oppinion which seems to matter so little to you christians, why on Earth should anybody strive to not sin when a newborn baby (God knows why) has sinned for an inexplicable reason that nobody cares to tell me? I am genuinely curious. Somehow, to me, christianity just doesn’t add up. And to anyone who says that christianity is not a serious cult, of the kind that makes bloody sacrifices and does dodgy things, can I just remind everybody of the inquisition, when christians went rounding up those who dared stand against them, those who dared to be different and believe something other than what they were told? Does that not sound like a barbaric cult? To anyone? And Jesus was sacrificed on the cross for those in his religion. Apparently cults have these random ritualistic sacrifices too. Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t that seem a bit suss? That christians who, as I have just proved, do exactly the same as some of the major, scary, and fanatically dangerous cults out there? Those cults that give the word ‘cult’ its bad name? No, but of course I must be wrong. After all, if i don’t say I’m wrong, I’ll be hunted down and killed, won’t I? Just like that speaker from South America, who was suspiciously murdered after preaching against psycho christians? CULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULTCULT
— YOU DRIVE ME CRAZY May 20, 12:18 AM #
The Christian religion can be more precisely called a sect, which diverged from the main religious doctrine some 2000 years ago.
— Rob Jul 24, 04:29 AM #
It has a ‘charismatic leader’ at its center, and it’s the worship of a man (human being). Cult.
— Jay Mar 30, 02:42 PM #
“My question: if a newborn baby who hasn’t done anything in the world yet, other than perhaps cry, has sinned, how can Jesus not have sinned, when he was brought into this world in exactly the same way? What makes him different, special? Why has he not sinned?”
Asked by You Drive Me Crazy above.
Answer : Because Jesus was born after a holy screw, and that makes him special. People who are born out of holy screws have not sinned, and only they are pure.
— Ab Apr 21, 07:51 PM #
To: YOU DRIVE ME CRAZY
From: A CHRISTIAN
Because Adam and Eve sinned, EVERY person that is ever born is born into sin. However, Jesus was GOD in the flesh, therefore was without sin. GOD came in flesh form as JESUS to die for our sins. It would not make sense for a sinner to die for everyone’s sins. So, Jesus was sinless. Also, Marry was a virgin. She conceived JESUS by the Holy Spirit given by GOD.
— Erick Jan 12, 06:32 AM #
You all say that every baby has sinned, but you never actually answer the question of what sin they committed and how.
Also, a Cult is a group of people who share the same religous beliefs. Therefore, everyone belongs to a cult of some sort, from you Christians to us Atheists.
— Jake May 5, 01:43 PM #
i also find Christianity to be a cult. i also have seen that they use almost the same recruiting methods that many cults do! for example, the “moonies” all around the US have weekend “retreats” to get individuals to join their cult. these retreats are filled with activities, late nights and early awakenings along with constant sugary snacks to give that sugar high feel. along with the sugar high also comes a contact high that is given off by the dozens of recruiters present. finally, at the end of the retreat you begin to get a sugar low which makes you much more likely to be persuaded into something, such as the week long workshop they offer you next. in between these activities and though there are also many sermons preaching about how they have to make the world a better place and although the recruit may not believe it entirely his new found “friends” seem interested and thus, they feel the need to listen and agree as to not disappoint their friends. now think of this, those of you who have been confirmed, what did they have you do before hand? a retreat! and on this retreat they had hours of games and activities, sugary snacks and of course the sermons and spiritual lessons in between. and then what do they offer you at the end? they offer to you to be a peer minister, getting more involved with the church!
— Sam May 11, 08:36 AM #
Alright, lets set some facts straight, shall we? I perfectly understand why you think christianity is a cult. I’ve kinda been looking at that too, but the more I look, the more I realize it really isn’t.
For example: You all make this claim that christians don’t question anything. ever. You clearly have not been to any place with a collective group of christians seriously following thier faith. They question things all the time! It’s what I’m doing now! Questioning of the faith has lead to bloody warfares and seperations and… mass screaming matches in coffee hour, lol. Point is, if the christian people you hang out with don’t ask questions, they’re doing something wrong.
Point 2: the baby thing. Seriously, babies have not sinned. They are born IN sin, but that’s an entirely different matter. Sin, unfortunatly, because it confuses the heck out of people, has two different deffinitions. There’s the action, as in doing something morally wrong/against God, and then there’s sin the barrier, or anything that keeps you from reaching towards God. You are born in a world that makes it hard to reach towards God. I mean, can you seriously argue that the world’s a messed up place? That’s what it means when they say baby’s are born IN sin. Jesus had no barrier because he WAS God, or at least a part of God. You don’t get any closer then that, right?
And as for the messed up things done in Jesus’s name, can I appologuise? Those people used a name with power to get what they wanted and confused other people in the process. If one actually reads the Bible, taking time to understand historical context and Language translations (which I don’t blame you if you don’t, it’s a pain in the ass) then you would know that people who pull stuff like mass genocide and judging people outside the faith are fake christians. I mean, just because some one who committed a crime then points at you and say you told them to do it, doesn’t mean you actually did, does it?
You cannot turn against religion as a whole and call it all cult. There is more in the world then what you can perseve with your five senses. There is more to life then survival. Without acknowledging this, you live a life that feels very empty.
I understand your trepidation, really, I do, but please get ALL the facts about us before you write us all off as raving loonies, ok? :)
— A doubting Christian Nov 18, 11:26 AM #
Atheism has all the characteristics of being a true cult. Atheism like scientoligy is a new age belief and its roots are founded by egomaniac power and money hungry leaders. Chritianity has been around for over 2000 years and Christ was not driven for profit nor power. He actually gave up his power which totally goes against the ideoligy of the cult establishment. Dawkins is sadly an iconic figurehead for the modern atheist movement driven by power, greed and control of his flock. Buy the Dawkins ‘God delusion’ novel and you fill your mind with trash and Dawkins pockets with cash…Sounds like a cult to me!
— Evan Feb 5, 11:04 AM #
Atheism can’t be a cult, Evan. It is a state of non-belief. It actually doesn’t state the persons true beliefs, only what they don’t believe. Cults (if you read the dictionary) are based on belief toward a figure or object.
— Ezra Meridian Feb 13, 08:17 AM #
Soooo let me get this straight.
An omniscient God had to sacrifice himself to himself by impregnating a virgin in order to be born human so he could ritualistically be killed and sacrificed on earth to save us from himself???? Makes perfect sense LOL
If anyone doesn’t see the “cult” ritual found in communion I need some of what you’re smoking.
You’re eating his meat and drinking his blood. Which sounds an awful lot like a bazillion other religions/cults that practice/d either animal or human sacrifice.
The only thing that makes Christianity different than most is it’s popularity….which is a direct result of current hardcore evangelism and past DISTURBING evangelism not unlike what you see with hostile Islamic Jihad for example.
And don’t get me started on all the wealthy preachers.
It’s a cult people.
— Jason Feb 22, 11:26 AM #
Most devout Christians are brain washed from birth! The cult of Christianity is the most powerful cult it operates on/with ignorance, brainwash, fear, propaganda, Unionist views, Zionist views, military, money, they pay to have scientific data falsified, they censor/suppress information, and they play into the political arena making most of the decisions in America; born from a history that for the most part consisted of the widely successful military oppression of every other religion, constant brutal torture, and public executions all to force their religion to be the only practiced religion as far as their power could stretch… you really can’t get much more force full than that…
Organizations like Jews for Jesus create staged Orthodox Jewish Synagogues and list themselves as Orthodox Jewish Synagogues in the yellow pages to lure Jews into their fake synagogues and teach them that Jesus Christ is their Orthodox Jewish Messiah. If you cannot see the crime is this deception then your mind is asleep. If you would like to know more about this look up “Tovia Singer,” and acquire his bible studies you will be surprised.
your understanding of the word cult is very lacking here let me educate you:
Definition of CULT
1: formal religious veneration : worship
2: a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents
3: a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents
4: a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator <health cults>
5 a : great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book); especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b : the object of such devotion c : a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion
Definition of RELIGION
1
a : the state of a religious <a nun in her 20th year of religion> b (1) : the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2) : commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
2
: a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
3
archaic : scrupulous conformity : conscientiousness
4
: a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith
— re•li•gion•less adjective
http://www.merriam-webster.com
Christianity is also a form of mental abuse, it beats down people’s value, worth, and self-esteem.
It says that we are all born vile depraved sinners, worthy of every evil and harmful act that happens to us.
We are so evil and depraved that we should just be thankful to be allowed to breath air, because god could easily toss us into eternal hellfire without a 2nd thought.
But this god is just oh so gracious, he is just so holy and good that he overlooks the fact that we are born demonic sinners and sent his son, who happens to be a co-equal and co-eternal member of the trinity (don’t ask how exactly they have a father/son relationship if they are both equal and eternal) to pay for our sins if we submit to him as slaves for the rest of our lives.
Christianity doctrine devalues human life, even looking upon infants as vile, rebellious, sinners under god’s wrath (although their christian children are turned holy upon baptism).
This debasing of human worth, is their attempt to make the god of the bible look good and generous, for saving a few people, even though he on occasions massacres and slaughters other poor saps that weren’t so fortunate.
This way god can slaughter anyone he chooses and still be “a wonderful merciful savior, precious redeemer and friend”.
Christianity certainly has many cult like attributes today, and in it’s early stages, was a bonafide cult.
Commands complete and total devotion Luk 14:26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
Luk 14:27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
Alienates people from there family Mat 10:35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
Controls what you wear, who you associate with and marry, how you behave.2Co 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 1Ti 2:9 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire,
Also when Christianity was first becoming popular people were not even legally allowed to read or mentally capable if people wished too, and even after they could read books they were not allowed reading the bible for a long time. Combine that with the physical corporal punishments you would receive in everyday life and the military/legal oppression followed by torture, excommunication etc. You have yourself a pretty dangerous and forceful cult!
Christianity is a cult! good bye!
I leave you with this
http://www.youtube.com/watch…?v=LACyLTsH4ac
If you can’t see the brain was here… I pity you…
— tom Apr 7, 05:36 AM #
Let’s rephrase those biblical quotes above (Luke and Matt). You shed them in a light completely opposed to what they MEAN. Big no no. Jesus, when speaking those things was EXPLAINING that when people understand his divinity and follow him, that it would cause feuds with EVEN their own family. The people they love the most would be against them and it would cause argument. Jesus does NOT come to cut us away from people and alienate us. But he does warn us that WHEN (not IF) people understand him and his father, they will be open to ridicule by EVEN their family members.
2Cor: people choose not to listen to this all the time. It eventually causes them problems. Its not really a ‘rule’ but if you think along these lines, rules are simply for the protection of people – not to make life difficult. 2 Cor is about a protective guideline.
And as for 1 Tim. You’re seriously fussed about wearing modest clothes? Well then, don’t do anything remotely christian at all then… practice what you preach! Be NUDE EVERYday, ALL day, ALL seasons.
The argument that Christianity is a cult is just silly personally. i CAN understand that it COULD HAVE been considered one when it was small and starting out. But seriously, it just isn’t a cult today. From what I read of people’s arguments, they simply don’t understand the core of what God really meant when he did things. Totally fine with me, people will believe what they want to believe. So long as they can understand that so do Christians (believe what they chose to believe). Christians aren’t brainwashed – in fact we are the most CONSTANT question asking, truth seeking, argue about biblical things over coffee group of people I’ve ever met!
And in the end. Who cares if it is or isn’t a cult? People still CHOOSE to believe in it and people still CHOOSE NOT to believe in it. You’re arguing about a non important aspect of life today. Christianity exists… period.
— Jen May 29, 12:09 PM #
You’re right apart from the fact that Christianity is itself one of those ‘blood sacrifice’ type cults. You worship a zombie and splendour in his crucifixion, and you symbolically eat his flesh and drink his blood. That’s pretty rank and “bizarre” stuff right there.
— Mike Wolfe Jun 30, 04:03 PM #
Now I admit I have a curse where people tend to mis understand me ALL THE FRIGGIN TIME so I finally figured out the universe doesn’t want me to talk so much and listen instead to what’s going on around me so I won’t pretend to be positive and fool myself.
When I get nervous I tend to talk nonsense more in order to feel secure for some reason that I will never figure out.
Furthermore:
I personally believe that God and Lucifer work for each other pretending to be two different beings and there is quite a bit of alarming evidence in the bible if you know how to read between the lines.
— Kyle Jul 12, 10:10 AM #
I find it very amusing that of all the people who have written on this wall, it really is the Christians who “practice what they preach”. I’m an agnostic, however based on the sincerity, education and good grammar of the opposition, I would plant my feet on Eden’s side of the fence, if you know what I mean. Why? First off, those who claim that Christianity is carried out by malicious, deluded assholes…well it is. We all suck as human beings. All of us. So the least we can do is be nice to one another…i.e. not call each other malicious, deluded assholes. Even without believing in Jesus there is absolutely nothing wrong with “loving your neighbor”, “turning the other cheek” and “doing unto others as you would have them do unto you”. And without getting into specifics, that is the main RESULT of the religion. Genocides, wars and the inquisition go against the Christian doctrine, and any 7th grade history teacher can tell you that Christianity was used as a guise to hide the true purpose for these events, namely to satisfy the greed of some authority figure or another. Do your homework people. Which means knowing that a system of “disbelief” is a belief (see: nihilism), knowing that eating the body and blood of Jesus is not to be taken literally (that’s what the Romans thought too, so for those who didn’t know this, don’t be alarmed: you are only a few centuries behind in your education) and knowing more than just “some guy who got killed in South America for preaching against psycho Christians”. Again, those people who kill in the name of Christianity are NOT Christians…they’re people who have an agenda or are too lazy to do research into what they are preaching against. Kind of like the especially-crude bloggers on this webpage. These are probably the cult leaders and retreat leaders that everyone is talking about. Those sects are not recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, the core of Christian belief. For the Roman Catholics, there is a very specific way to interpret the Bible that they believed would be dangerous if fallen into the wrong hands- like the emergence of cults for example. But after a lot of corruption within the church (due to human greed and politics in which kings wanted to select popes) Martin Luther decided to preach that everyone be allowed to read the Bible. Now everyone has a right to read it, however, the RCC interpretation has been decided upon by many councils and will continue to be revised with time (like the Constitution)…a belief that if not followed, prevents one from being recognized as a Catholic by this fellowship. It’s pretty much like any secular organization…you can say you are in a Sigma Kappa fraternity, a Free Mason or the frickin Prime Minister of England. But if you’re not recognized then you’re on your own. Now half of you are not going to read this and repost comments that were already said; a quarter of you will agree with me (you are awesome); and the last quarter will find me a little offensive. To the latter, I am sorry I couldn’t be nicer…I’m not a Christian (can’t get passed the whole resurrection thing…)but I have nothing but the profoundest respect for anyone who is.
— Alex Sep 15, 10:47 PM #
To the question about babies having sin, I know this was a while back in the comments, but I wanted a chance to try and answer also. I don’t believe babies have sinned when they are born. How can an infant who is incapable of choosing commit sin? It can’t, simply put. Each of us was once sinless, but we each reached a point in our lives where we realized some things were right and good, while others are wrong and sinful. Everyone has chosen to do at least one of those sinful things at some point in time; except for Christ. This is why He is perfect, not because He is the Son of God (which He is) but because He chose to do what was right. Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Christ came, lived a perfect life, and has redeemed us through His death and resurrection. It’s up to us to choose to repent and be baptized in order to accept that redemption. This is the reason that sprinkling/christening babies doesn’t save their souls. Salvation is a choice, and they aren’t choosing to do that. They don’t even know it’s happening. Anyway, I hope this helps, and I hope all of you have a great day.
— Alex (different from the last guy) Oct 6, 03:42 AM #
Seriously? I have been in two cults and Christianity has all the earmarks of a cult. Brainwashing children to believe they are sinners and then telling them they have to accept the bloody sacrifice of the ruler of the universe or they will be tortured forever…ARE YOU KIDDING??? You Christians will go to any lengths to defend the rediculous. This is an product of Hypnosis, you HAVE to be hypnotized to defend the bible…
— chris Jan 6, 02:53 AM #
If Christianity is accepting of other faiths, and doesn’t claim to be the only true religion and doesn’t require followers to contribute to the church, then it’s not a cult.
— Trevor Jan 4, 03:21 PM #