What is Cult?
1.
a religious group which promotes worship of a human leader and devotion of one's life to a specific purpose.
Some have members practice certain rituals or follow a set of principle rules. The group usually believes its way is the only correct way to live life, and all non-members are doomed to some horrible fate if they cannot be persuaded to join.
Mormonism could easily be seen as a cult. Jesus is the savior, and unless you devote your life to following his teachings you will suffer a firey torture in Hell.
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2.
A group, often times though not always religious or spiritual in nature, that is led by a single or small group of leader(s).
Members are often recruited or by some means persuaded to join, rarely if ever knowing how destructive and harmful a cult can be -- rarely knowing that it IS a cult. Though they usual come off as being generous, caring and in the best interests of their members, cults are inherently based on furthering the desires of cult leaders.
Cult leaders commonly use thought reform or "brainwashing", in conjunction with other methods, to slowly and deliberately reel in more control of said members. In many cases, members may eventually forsake their friends and family (non-members are viewed as "wrong" or "bad") and give up their careers, homes and/or money to the leader.
Jonestown is an infamous example of a cult. Many people were recruited to what was portrayed to be a friendly, all-inclusive and loving community church. Through years of exponential thought reform, however, members would eventually devote their lives to Jim Jones and, in effect, die for him.
Note: Not all cults are harmful in nature. Many are benign, i.e.
trekkies .
See rickross for more extensive definitions.
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3.
A group of religious dudes, that want you to cut off your balls.
C'mon, cut off your balls, we all did it!
4.
Something you don't know you're in till the last ten minutes
Sitting in a circle of flame in a burning building Gee, I guess mom was right. It WAS a cult!!
5.
film or book that has a large non mainstream following over a long period of time
Clockwork Orange is a cult film
6.
1. A religious organization that excercises excessive control over its members.
2. A small or unconventional religion
We saw some people from a cult out passing out brochures trying to recruit people.
7.
A "religion" usually started by some old guy as an excuse to bang teenage runaway girls he gets to join his "alternative-religion." All rituals somehow involve worship of said old guy's penis.
Manson Family, Branch Davidians, Raelians, Heaven's Gate, Latter Day Saints, etc.
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