If you go by the dictionary definition of “Cult”, name a religion that isn’t. cult noun 1. a particular system of religious worship, especially with reference to its rites and ceremonies. 2. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, especially as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult. 3. the object of such devotion. 4. a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc. 5. Sociology . a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.
I also think referring to someone as a "kiddie" (especially by someone who is supposed to be an impartial moderator) is rather insulting and condescending. I believe a simple apology would alleviate any tension and allow everyone involved to move on. Just sayin'.
It's funny and sad how fast you go from attacker to wounded duckling. Well, really it's more pathetic than anything else.
That was precisely the argument I didn't want. I understand the strict definition of "cult," but that is not the meaning that the word has in this society. Strictly speaking, a "cult" is merely a group that shares veneration, but in the United States at least, the term "cult" has taken on a pejorative tone and the dictionaries still haven't caught up with that. No one speaks of the "cult" of Roman Catholicism for example--except for a minority of atheists, maybe, who feel compelled to put all religion into a negative light and are using the term strictly in the pejorative fashion. In general, a "cult" is thought to be a group of compliant followers with a particularly charismatic leader, whose members are encouraged to give up old ways of thinking about the world, and whose children are indoctrinated (I used the word advisedly, as opposed to "taught") from a young age to the point of being separated from their parents for long periods to engage in special or secret teaching.
I just don't have any sympathy for you Right-wingers. You are all like victims in search of a perpetrator. You for example started the argument in this thread by being both the aggressor and by being condescending to Clembo. You wrote: “Clembo, I don't [k]now why it's necessary to bash Christianity or religion in order to give an honest response. It's called "objectivity" and you should be able to answer from that position--not every response requires a personal opinion or an insult. Thanks for participating, though.” Where in the hell did Clembo bash either Christianity or religion or insult someone? You set up a poorly defined question and then tried to limit the responses to only the ones you wanted. Both Stu and Clembo gave rather benign answers to your poorly articulated question and you were the first to come out swinging. Why do you people need to be crucified on the cross all the time to justify your own positions? Now I will end this post so that OKIE doesn't accuse me of chasing you away.
Then maybe you should have defined what you meant by "Cult". Ask Aiden about the cult of Roman Catholics some time. You are simply projecting your interpretation of the term "Cult" without ever defining it to the rest of us and then writing off our responses as unacceptable. That really doesn't work. There are Right-wingers that think the David Koresh and the Branch Divians weren't a cult. Clearly, when using a loaded term like "Cult" you should define it first and not expect that we all share you definition.
You are completely right. I didn't define it and I should have. I guess I didn't because the post was a continuation of a discussion my roommate and I had just had. As to the Roman Catholics, I was raised in that church and converted to Eastern Orthodoxy later on in life. I don't really need a primer on the RC faith.
Now having said all of that... You guys want to see my new truck? It looks exactly like this one except mine as a canoe on top View attachment 485
Thank you! I was raised in a catholic church and went to school in one. So were my 9 brothers and sisters. None of us were molested or treated badly while there but yet none of us are Catholics today. We all grew up and educated ourselves and realized independently that what we were being taught was a load of #@*^%$ if you know what I mean. I still have Catholic relatives and friends and neighbors but I am even more convinced today that leaving the Catholic faith was not only right but long overdue. I think a great thread on religion would be, “If you think about all the religions and belief systems that have come and gone over the millennia, and all the religions and belief systems that exist today, what makes you think your religion or belief systems suddenly came up with the right answers?” The only real answer is that they are all the same or at least serve that same purposes in society and it really doesn’t matter if you are a Scientologist, a Catholic, or a Branch Dividian or whether other faiths consider you a cult or not. Hell, in a 100 years, Elvis will have his own religion. His songs will be hymns. He will be a prophet and the son of God. Instead of Amen, they’ll say “Thank you, thank very much”
LOL! I found out that there is actually a Honda Ridgeline forum. Who knew? I guess I'll have to head over there and stir up some trouble too.
Aww, it's good to know that I'm in your thoughts and that you think so highly of me. Sometimes, you bring a tear to my eye. You really do, you old _______, you.
What did you do with Moen? Or Joe Nation? Or whatever else he's calling himself these days? This is not the Moen/Joen I know.......