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Semantics of Cults: What's a cult?

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Author Topic:   Semantics of Cults: What's a cult?
Nighttrain
Member (Idle past 4021 days)
Posts: 1512
From: brisbane,australia
Joined: 06-08-2004

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Message 15 of 37 (257124)
11-05-2005 6:11 PM

Cult/sect
As I understand it, a sect is a breakaway from a mainstream church, retaining most of the dogma but introding variations in interpretation. While a cult might be made up of people from various beliefs, welded together by a totally novel approach. Usually, they have a extra-biblical source of authority based on a charismatic leader or ruling body. One thing sects and cults seem to have in common is a wonderful ability to dismiss errors in their past as if they never happened.They never let an ugly fact get in the way of a good tale. Almost makes cognitive dissonance respectable.
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Nighttrain
Member (Idle past 4021 days)
Posts: 1512
From: brisbane,australia
Joined: 06-08-2004

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Message 17 of 37 (257142)
11-05-2005 7:18 PM 		Reply to: Message 16 by RAZD
11-05-2005 6:30 PM

Re: Cult/sect
Sorry, RAZD, I thought the demolition job was confined to Christian sects/cults. I`ll widen my horizons.
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Nighttrain
Member (Idle past 4021 days)
Posts: 1512
From: brisbane,australia
Joined: 06-08-2004

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Message 19 of 37 (257160)
11-05-2005 8:03 PM 		Reply to: Message 18 by Omnivorous
11-05-2005 7:20 PM

Re: Branches
Martin Luther was a unique person and may be classified as a genius ” he was an intellect, teacher, preacher, musician, poet, leader of men; he was courageous and had a dynamic personality. In spite of his excellent education, he was rough and crude at times. He was a “bull in a china shop,” and his pen smoked hot against his opposition. It took this kind of explosive, dynamic personality to be a catalyst for the Reformation. Luther was God's man for the hour, and there will probably never be another one quite like him.
​
I think that spin-doctor now works for the GOP.
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Nighttrain
Member (Idle past 4021 days)
Posts: 1512
From: brisbane,australia
Joined: 06-08-2004

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Message 30 of 37 (259790)
11-15-2005 1:02 AM

OneDefinition of cult
One definition of cult as classified by Anthony Hoekema, Associated Professor of Systematic Theology as stated in 'Confronting the Cults'-Gordon Lewis involves a five point test:
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* Extra-Biblical source of authority
* Denial of justification by grace alone
* Devaluation of Christ
* The group as the exclusive community of the saved
* The group`s central role in eschatology
​
There ya go, tackle your favourite cult and see how they measure up.
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