Talk:cult

About verification: Sincerely, "head" is also listed with a lot of meanings as an adjective. --82.139.47.117 17:20, 9 July 2007 (UTC)

post by seekingpurity

My definition of cult is an organisation using mind control techniques that upon realising it is harming its members decides to continue harming them because harming them is bringing leading members wealth, fame, worldly pleasure and popularity.

I believe that we need a clear definition of cult because many new organisations are being smeared & accused of being cults. People who try to set up religious centres are often not skilled in religious conduct. They are incompetant & make mistakes. I myself out of enthusiasm have behaved in fanatical ways. But this is my own mistake. There are intentional mistakes & unintentional mistakes. I was in a group of newly set up religion. Everyone was excited & started being fanatical. This doesnt mean it was a cult it means they were each in their own little bubble of excitement not realising the effect it has on other people. The effects being:

1)Onlookers think that overexcitement is part of the religion

2)In excitement the people start saying extreme things & basically look like evangelical nutcases

3)In bounds of enthusiasm throwing all their resources & time into the religion onlookers start to feel obliged to do the same. Soon extreme behaviour becomes the norm

These above are unintentional incompetance.

A cult intentionally harms people so that others can get sex, young women, money, worship, popularity, fame etc. My definition falls down on the 'organisation using mind control techniques'. It needs to more clearly ascertain that religion and boot camps training in conformity are used.

Please add to discussion & edit definition

replies below


 * Our definitions are based on actual usage in English, so we can't include your original research, even if it's well-founded. Equinox ◑ 23:39, 8 November 2009 (UTC)

Offensive?
Is this term really offensive? I am part of a Teletubbies cult and the LEGO Friends cult and I don't find the word offensive at all. Ready Steady Yeti (talk) 03:10, 25 May 2014 (UTC)


 * Not always offensive. I'll add the modern informal sense.    D b f  i  r  s   09:04, 25 May 2014 (UTC)

About the Sufi example
I just had to change it because it and replace it with another example. Why? Because it is based on heavy misconceptions. I practice what you people call Sufism and I try to follow the Qur'an and everything about Islam. The only difference between me and other Sunni Muslim is that I follow (what Sufis consider) a part of Islam called Tasawwuf. It is not a cult nor a sect but a part of the religion that isn't recognised by anybody. IsmailIzzo (talk) 04:39, 18 October 2018 (UTC)