Christian Support Group :) discussion

So, what can be classified as a cult? Unfortunately there are the more obvious ones that end in death... Hale Bob cult killed themselves back in 1996 or 1997. Then again, there was also Jimmy Jones who took everyone to some other country and convinced them to drink the poisoned KoolAid. But what about the ones that are less obvious? A cult is defined in several ways... the following are three of those: group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.;sociology:a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.; religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader.
But this definition is extremely vague. So, where is the line drawn between cult and religion?

I found this on http://www.differencebetween.net/misc...
(not my own words)

Traditional Definition of Cult and Religion
Cult – a new religious movement that has a limited number of followers and whose practices may or may not be mysterious and possible unsavory.
Religion – a method of thought that is meant to give meaning to man’s life by putting him in communion with a higher power through stories, rituals, and beliefs.

Modern Definition of Cult and Religion
Cult – a secretive group that brainwashes its members into engaging in obscene and harmful practices for the sake of a charismatic leader.

Summary:
1. Cults and religions are ways in which people can belong to a group and receive a way to interact with God and the world.
2. Cults are generally considered to be secretive and illegitimate whereas religion is open and legitimate.
3. Cults are joined through coercive persuasion whereas religion is generally inherited.

I think some religions fit that definition somewhat.
"for the sake of a charismatic leader"
Buddha
Confucius
Mohammed
Gandhi
Mary Baker Eddy
Joseph Smith

The main part of religion should "give meaning to man’s life by putting him in communion with a higher power"
No man is a higher power, only God.

I have read a couple YA fiction books about cults...
The Chosen One
Patron Saint of Butterflies
both left me feeling immense pity towards those wrapped up in pleasing another human instead of seeking an intimate relationship with God.
Christianity is the only "religion" (really it's the relationship as I'm sure you all know) that you can have "communion" (as Kristen put it, which is very true indeed) and fellowship with God directly.

I loved The Chosen One. I read the entire thing in the bookstore. I just couldn't put it down.

I do that sometimes... pick a poetry book, (or a shorter gripping book) in the library, stand there and read the whole thing :) Glad I'm not the only one... I liked the Patron Saint of Butterflies much better than the Chosen One even! I recommend it if you liked the Chosen one :)

Hehe, I've read a few that way. Me and my friend go all the time. I love Borders :)
Thanks! I'll have to check it out.

Half-price is my favorite store to get books... or the public/school library. Have a wonderful day! :)

I define cults as:
1: requiring all material possessions & monetary resources to be given to the cult's leader; personal possession of material/money by anyone other than the cult's leader is generally forbidden.
2. Contact with the member's friends and family is systematically cut off. Friends and family members are not given any information about their loved one. Member is encouraged to think that their friends and family will cost them salvation/redemption/etc.
3. Member's sources of information are systematically reduced. Eventually the member's sole source of information will be the cult's leader.
4. Further brainwashing using techniques of sleep deprivation, starvation, general physical hardship, emotional & psychological attacks, sometimes physical or sexual abuse.
5. The cult leader is the rule, the god, the law, the judge, the punisher, the executioner, the provider, the sole source of love, knowledge, salvation, forgiveness, redemption.
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/

Does anyone know anything about the new Illuminati. They're trying to bring about the new world order. I thought that was myth, a group like that, I mean. But we know a young person who got involved with that group.

Apparently there are groups of the new Illuminati all over the country and even all over the world. Didn't know it was real until very recently when this teen got involved.