Thinking you have all the answers doesn't constitute a cult, IMHO, but acting to enforce compliance with that mindset through fear or intimidation.
I know plenty of folks who act as if THEIR take on spirituality is the only valid one, and put down those who think differently, but they DON'T have a big organization backing them up, so it's just their opinion.
I would agree that its a start, and thinking you have all the answers would definitely be a PREREQUISITE for culthood. After all, if you are open to competing beliefs, you can hardly require conformity.
Well lets see what Ambrose Bierce has to say about some related issues:
quote:
SCRIPTURES, n.
The sacred books of our holy religion, as distinguished from the false and profane writings on which all other faiths are based.
quote:
CHRISTIAN, n.
One who believes that the New Testament is a divinely inspired book admirably suited to the spiritual needs of his neighbor. One who follows the teachings of Christ in so far as they are not inconsistent with a life of sin.
quote:
RELIGION, n.
A daughter of Hope and Fear, explaining to Ignorance the nature of the Unknowable.
quote:
REDEMPTION, n.
Deliverance of sinners from the penalty of their sin, through their murder of the deity against whom they sinned. The doctrine of Redemption is the fundamental mystery of our holy religion, and whoso believeth in it shall not perish, but have everlasting life in which to try to understand it.
A cult will always reinforce and appeal to dependent behaviors. Dependent behaviors may also become addictive.
We depend upon certain natural relationships in our lives. Family, community, filial, fraternal, sexual...
These natural relationships ("natural affection" may be the KJV term) center us and fulfill us emotionally. Deprived of them, we may substitute other relationships to compensate. It could be a chemical dependency, an obsessive interest, anything to bridge the gap we feel.
A cult conforms itself to a natural relationship, and attempts to replace it. It might be your substitute father, or mother, or family, or "tribe," whatever tribe means to you, or even lover.
The cult, as a counterfeit "father" for example, presents itself as the idealized version of the father who didn't fulfill everything we needed. It steps in with paternal cues, a "father figure," a demand for discipline, an authoritative voice, etc.
A maternal cult might offer comfort and nurture, and demand submission to the family it offers.
This is how they trigger behaviors and feelings already familiar to us, and allows them to side-step our defenses.
The doctrine is important too, but the emotional component is what makes it a toxic tribe, an addictive social order, a.k.a., a cult. The doctrine is really there to support the behaviors that reinforce cycles of dependency. Everything else about doctrine is irrelevant, in a cult. It's just window dressing.
Most cults use more than one approach because they are intelligent. They learn what works for them. They create a constellation of these relationship triggers, knowing some of us will respond better to some than others.
Don't be fooled by the overt signs, or lack of them. Look for the emotional appeals, and the price demanded for satisfaction.
Take a peek at Scientology, and of course, The Way International.
For many of us, The Way was "Dad." Or a "lover," in that it supplied an abundance of partners.
Bear in mind that not everyone in a cult is equally bound by their emotional needs. Some people are just there for the fun. When the fun stops, they leave. Others are so needy, they feel they might even lose themselves if they left. It takes all kinds, just like everywhere else.
What does it say in the king james? I don't have a king james handy but it would be interesting to see the difference.
KJV - and if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
The end of v. 1 says "knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth". Very interesting, indeed. This says to me that there's a point at which love trumps knowledge, and this is what we (TWI included) "ought to know".
Yep, Johniam. Seems TWI spent a great deal of time to teach us how to strain at gnats and swallow camels. We told those brethren who needed coats and blankets that they really only needed "the word" to be warmed.
The end of v. 1 says "knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth". Very interesting, indeed. This says to me that there's a point at which love trumps knowledge, and this is what we (TWI included) "ought to know".
Everybody go "DUH"! lol
We saw it. We read it 1000 times. We ignored it...because we were in a research and teaching ministry that used 'my people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge' as a reason to be 'ever learning and never coming to a knowledge of the truth'...like this little gem smurfette has brought up.
We didn't ignore it; there was plenty of love even into the 90s or none of us would have stayed. The purges in 1994 were when love was all but outlawed. From then on it was like that dead song says "they say love your brother, BUT you will catch it when you try".
We didn't ignore it; there was plenty of love even into the 90s or none of us would have stayed. The purges in 1994 were when love was all but outlawed. From then on it was like that dead song says "they say love your brother, BUT you will catch it when you try".
Johniam, I think it was just that more people's rose colored glasses were coming off is all. It was there from the beginning if one looked hard enough.
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Belle
LOL! Does sum it up in a nice little concise scripture, doesn't it?
Wish I had seen and believed that before having to learn it the hard way.
:)-->
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vickles
so very true, smurfette!!!
What does it say in the king james? I don't have a king james handy but it would be interesting to see the difference.
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Ham
Well, you could always ask it for its I.D.
Probably have a picture of Dracula on it, DOB in 1942, and definitely NOT an organ donor.
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Oakspear
Thinking you have all the answers doesn't constitute a cult, IMHO, but acting to enforce compliance with that mindset through fear or intimidation.
I know plenty of folks who act as if THEIR take on spirituality is the only valid one, and put down those who think differently, but they DON'T have a big organization backing them up, so it's just their opinion.
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smurfette
Ok Oak,
We could say it should raise a red flag though.... It defintely did for me at the church I went to the other day...
Hugs!
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Oakspear
I would agree that its a start, and thinking you have all the answers would definitely be a PREREQUISITE for culthood. After all, if you are open to competing beliefs, you can hardly require conformity.
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diazbro
Well lets see what Ambrose Bierce has to say about some related issues:
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satori001
A cult will always reinforce and appeal to dependent behaviors. Dependent behaviors may also become addictive.
We depend upon certain natural relationships in our lives. Family, community, filial, fraternal, sexual...
These natural relationships ("natural affection" may be the KJV term) center us and fulfill us emotionally. Deprived of them, we may substitute other relationships to compensate. It could be a chemical dependency, an obsessive interest, anything to bridge the gap we feel.
A cult conforms itself to a natural relationship, and attempts to replace it. It might be your substitute father, or mother, or family, or "tribe," whatever tribe means to you, or even lover.
The cult, as a counterfeit "father" for example, presents itself as the idealized version of the father who didn't fulfill everything we needed. It steps in with paternal cues, a "father figure," a demand for discipline, an authoritative voice, etc.
A maternal cult might offer comfort and nurture, and demand submission to the family it offers.
This is how they trigger behaviors and feelings already familiar to us, and allows them to side-step our defenses.
The doctrine is important too, but the emotional component is what makes it a toxic tribe, an addictive social order, a.k.a., a cult. The doctrine is really there to support the behaviors that reinforce cycles of dependency. Everything else about doctrine is irrelevant, in a cult. It's just window dressing.
Most cults use more than one approach because they are intelligent. They learn what works for them. They create a constellation of these relationship triggers, knowing some of us will respond better to some than others.
Don't be fooled by the overt signs, or lack of them. Look for the emotional appeals, and the price demanded for satisfaction.
Take a peek at Scientology, and of course, The Way International.
For many of us, The Way was "Dad." Or a "lover," in that it supplied an abundance of partners.
Bear in mind that not everyone in a cult is equally bound by their emotional needs. Some people are just there for the fun. When the fun stops, they leave. Others are so needy, they feel they might even lose themselves if they left. It takes all kinds, just like everywhere else.
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waterbuffalo
ok, i'll buy that, now what's your source???
...only kidding
:D-->
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johniam
KJV - and if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
The end of v. 1 says "knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth". Very interesting, indeed. This says to me that there's a point at which love trumps knowledge, and this is what we (TWI included) "ought to know".
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Belle
Yep, Johniam. Seems TWI spent a great deal of time to teach us how to strain at gnats and swallow camels. We told those brethren who needed coats and blankets that they really only needed "the word" to be warmed.
How sick.
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CoolWaters
Everybody go "DUH"! lol
We saw it. We read it 1000 times. We ignored it...because we were in a research and teaching ministry that used 'my people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge' as a reason to be 'ever learning and never coming to a knowledge of the truth'...like this little gem smurfette has brought up.
Great going, smurfette!
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johniam
We didn't ignore it; there was plenty of love even into the 90s or none of us would have stayed. The purges in 1994 were when love was all but outlawed. From then on it was like that dead song says "they say love your brother, BUT you will catch it when you try".
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excathedra
good thread
excellent post satori
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vickles
Johniam, I think it was just that more people's rose colored glasses were coming off is all. It was there from the beginning if one looked hard enough.
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