Are all religions cults?

Under the following definition, yes, I can see calling religion by the extreme name of cult:
A cult is a group or movement held together by a shared commitment to a charismatic leader or ideology. It has a belief system that has the answers to all of life's questions and offers a special solution to be gained only by following the leader's rules.
https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/religion/2016/09/15/what-makes-cult-cult/90377532/

Although many perceive a cult as having a living leader, why can't it be a dead leader?
 

No way. One example is the UU religion (usually called Unitarian). People explore their own search for meaning. Some believe in God, some do not. The writings of various philosophers, poets, scholars, and teachers are studied and respected, and there is no "right" answer. There is definitely no one leader. Some UU congregations have a minister (or "leader,") others do not.

As far as I know, the only requirement is to treat other people with decency and kindness. And to oppose any attempts to stifle other people's freedom of thought or action. Even the more traditional "faiths" are usually not cults, which demand obedience and a kind of "worship" of a charismatic leader. Cults are irrational, and govern by fear.
 
Sunny said:
No way. One example is the UU religion (usually called Unitarian). People explore their own search for meaning. Some believe in God, some do not. The writings of various philosophers, poets, scholars, and teachers are studied and respected, and there is no "right" answer. There is definitely no one leader. Some UU congregations have a minister (or "leader,") others do not.

As far as I know, the only requirement is to treat other people with decency and kindness. And to oppose any attempts to stifle other people's freedom of thought or action. Even the more traditional "faiths" are usually not cults, which demand obedience and a kind of "worship" of a charismatic leader. Cults are irrational, and govern by fear.
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After my 'born into cult' experience, I looked into the UU, interesting and something I could understand.
 
Sunny said:
No way. One example is the UU religion (usually called Unitarian). People explore their own search for meaning. Some believe in God, some do not. The writings of various philosophers, poets, scholars, and teachers are studied and respected, and there is no "right" answer. There is definitely no one leader. Some UU congregations have a minister (or "leader,") others do not.

As far as I know, the only requirement is to treat other people with decency and kindness. And to oppose any attempts to stifle other people's freedom of thought or action. Even the more traditional "faiths" are usually not cults, which demand obedience and a kind of "worship" of a charismatic leader. Cults are irrational, and govern by fear.
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The Catholic Church has a living leader, a pope. The Catholic Church has certainly governed in fear, in the past, there is still a fear component as in ex communication for failure to follow the rules. Same with LDS church. Probably with other churches as well.
 
No, but it's very difficult to explain why it isn't and have people understand it from my own perspective, but here it goes anyway:

Cults are generally smaller groups of people than any one single religion. For example; there are 50+ million Catholics in the U.S. If a smaller group would pull away from the church to form their own sect, but still remain a Catholic, that would be a cult. There were, however, a very few large cults, but not to the size of any Catholic Diocese. Larger bodies of a cult would be The People's Temple and the Manson Family.

I have never studied the subject of "Religion," but I have heard the Priest describe what sets us apart from a cult.
 
Let's clarify what the question is asking by defining cult

There is a non religious definition (from the Oxford dictionary)


Cult (noun)
[usually singular] cult (of something) a way of life, an attitude, an idea, etc. that has become very popular
  • the cult of physical fitness
  • the cult of youth
There is also definition that relates to religion, which is what the OP question focusses on

Cult (noun)
a small group of people who have extreme religious beliefs and who are not part of any established religion
  • Their son ran away from home and joined a cult.
  • the members of a religious cult
So I am assuming that the question is asking whether established religions are all cults.

My answer would be that all established religions have the potential to develop cults within their ranks. Before long the cult members tend to dissociate from the mainstream and go their own way.

It is over reach to think that all religions are cults and that all cults are malignant. Under the Oxford definition the Quakers (Society of Friends) and Amish would be considered cults but I would not fear them nor call for their eradication. I leave that to the Chinese Communist Party.
 
mellowyellow said:
I think any religion that bans their members from seeing or interacting with family members is a cult. I would put the Jehovah's witnesses into this category as once you leave, you are ostracized but there are many others.
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Exactly and add in The LDS church which also baptizes the dead and converts them to the LDS church after they have died. 😂
 
Aneeda72 said:
Exactly and add in The LDS church which also baptizes the dead and converts them to the LDS church after they have died. 😂
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That is peculiar, not to mention weird.

Your going to have to stretch to beat L ron Hubbard. setting up a fully rigged sailing ship in the desert.
This might have been an indicator that this guy is nuts.
Then again, he may have had information like Noah😔
 
I'm an atheist. I don't care what your religious belief is. As long as you don't impose that belief on me. Unfortunately, I've known some "true believers", who felt quite the opposite. I don't know why if one fervently believes in a religion, that I have to also fervently believe .So when asked if I think all religions are cults, I have to admit that all religions are cultish. I don't think wide areas of the world are of one religion, just because they have a better theology. I believe it is because of bias, prejudice, and outright intimidation to conform to the prevailing religion.
 
mellowyellow said:
I think any religion that bans their members from seeing or interacting with family members is a cult. I would put the Jehovah's witnesses into this category as once you leave, you are ostracized but there are many others.
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100% agree @mellowyellow my ex who’s been deceased for many years was in the JW organisation.
I wasn’t involved however I was not permitted to mix with anyone who wasn’t involved in the
organisation ..so that was no one cause I was not interested in the organisation
he even monitored what I did / where I went by taking me to any shopping or any appointments
Even tho I could drive I wasn’t allowed to .


One of the archbishops guilty of covering up child sex abuse has just died in Adelaide at 70 what would you call that ?cult ...or what
 
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Kadee46 said:
100% agree @mellowyellow my ex who’s been deceased for many years was in the JW organisation.
I wasn’t involved however I was not permitted to mix with anyone who wasn’t involved in the
organisation ..so that was no one cause I was not interested in the organisation
he even monitored what I did / where I went by taking me to any shopping or any appointments
Even tho I could drive I wasn’t allowed to .


One of the archbishops guilty of covering up child sex abuse has just died in Adelaide at 70 what would you call that ?cult ...or what
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I'd call it "a member of a religious group behaving badly". Any group (teachers, preachers, police, counselors, doctors, you-name-it) has the potential to have rotten apples in their midst.
 
I've excepted Jesus Christ onto my life to be my Lord and Savior (according to God's Word in the Holy Bible.) I am not a member of any 'religious' denomination. And oh how I hate being labeled religious. I'm a Christian--only a person trying to follow Jesus' teachings according to how I interpret His Word, with help from listening to various Bible scripture teachers. I don't agree with every teachers' interpretation, if I think there is something wrong here..........

Am I my own cult?
 
Kadee46 said:
100% agree @mellowyellow my ex who’s been deceased for many years was in the JW organisation.
I wasn’t involved however I was not permitted to mix with anyone who wasn’t involved in the
organisation ..so that was no one cause I was not interested in the organisation
he even monitored what I did / where I went by taking me to any shopping or any appointments
Even tho I could drive I wasn’t allowed to .


One of the archbishops guilty of covering up child sex abuse has just died in Adelaide at 70 what would you call that ?cult ...or what
Click to expand...
That's sad Kadee46, so many families have been torn apart by cults.
 

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