- #1
Hornbein
- 2,652
- 2,219
So I was wondering what the definition of a cult was. After some bad ones I found
It was interesting to discover that it was only in the 19th century that the word became pejorative. Before that cults were respectable.
However while this definition is good as far as it goes I feel it doesn't stand up to close examination. How about Scientology. A close childhood friend whom I'm still in touch with is a hardcore Scientologist so I know a bit about that. It's leader passed away long ago but Scientology marches on.
We could drop the requirement for a charismatic leader then I'd say the US Army would qualify as a cult.
We could abandon the stipulation for a living leader and instead require only that the cult have been founded by a charismatic leader. But isn't that George Washington? The Army still qualifies.
If the cult is so successful that its practices become the norms of society then it is no longer a cult. Perhaps the truth is captured by "a religion is a cult with an army."
It was interesting to discover that it was only in the 19th century that the word became pejorative. Before that cults were respectable.
However while this definition is good as far as it goes I feel it doesn't stand up to close examination. How about Scientology. A close childhood friend whom I'm still in touch with is a hardcore Scientologist so I know a bit about that. It's leader passed away long ago but Scientology marches on.
We could drop the requirement for a charismatic leader then I'd say the US Army would qualify as a cult.
We could abandon the stipulation for a living leader and instead require only that the cult have been founded by a charismatic leader. But isn't that George Washington? The Army still qualifies.
If the cult is so successful that its practices become the norms of society then it is no longer a cult. Perhaps the truth is captured by "a religion is a cult with an army."