ParanoidAndroid Posted May 31, 2009 Group: Senior Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 39 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 591 Content Per Day: 0.09 Reputation: 14 Days Won: 0 Joined: 04/01/2007 Status: Offline Birthday: 11/27/1979 Share Posted May 31, 2009 Islam is a cult; much like the Branch Davidians, the Moonies and the Scientoligists. So what part of the definitions of "religion" did you disagree with to say that Islam is not a religion? I do understand that you have a very personal dislike of Islamic beliefs, but simply stating that they are a cult does not in any way address the debate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParanoidAndroid Posted May 31, 2009 Group: Senior Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 39 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 591 Content Per Day: 0.09 Reputation: 14 Days Won: 0 Joined: 04/01/2007 Status: Offline Birthday: 11/27/1979 Share Posted May 31, 2009 I have to agree that Islam shares many of the features of a cult, and suspect that the main reasons why it is considered a major religion are passage of time and number of followers! Considering that one of the key definitions of a "cult" is the number of worshippers that is a little problematic. A cult can often be described as a set of beliefs that contradict the status quo. Therefore what constitutes a cult can often be dictated by the prevailing beliefs of the time. When 1/6'th of the world (approximately 1.1 billion people) follow Islam, it cannot be considered as part of a "cult" - the numbers do not permit such a definition. Defining anything as a "cult" is problematic, for more reasons than I have shared. It would be good to find a definition of "cult" that we can all agree on before making such statements. We already have a codified definition of "religion", and despite Islam fitting every one of the seven points in my dictionary some have dismissed it without any real alternative explanation.... ~ PA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest man Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 Islam, you can call it a cult, or you can call it a religion, what difference does it make? Evil is evil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin frobisher Posted May 31, 2009 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 5 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 223 Content Per Day: 0.04 Reputation: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 05/30/2009 Status: Offline Birthday: 12/08/1969 Share Posted May 31, 2009 I have to agree that Islam shares many of the features of a cult, and suspect that the main reasons why it is considered a major religion are passage of time and number of followers! Considering that one of the key definitions of a "cult" is the number of worshippers that is a little problematic. A cult can often be described as a set of beliefs that contradict the status quo. Therefore what constitutes a cult can often be dictated by the prevailing beliefs of the time. When 1/6'th of the world (approximately 1.1 billion people) follow Islam, it cannot be considered as part of a "cult" - the numbers do not permit such a definition. Defining anything as a "cult" is problematic, for more reasons than I have shared. It would be good to find a definition of "cult" that we can all agree on before making such statements. We already have a codified definition of "religion", and despite Islam fitting every one of the seven points in my dictionary you have dismissed it without any real alternative explanation.... ~ PA I find a great deal of problems with your post one of the key definitions of a "cult" is the number of worshippers according to whom? your definition of a cult as "a set of beliefs that contradict the status quo" is almost meaningless why would the number of followers define the nature of the belief system? that is the weakest possible argument just as only having 2 followers doesn't make a faith a cult, neither does having 1.6 billion followers make something not a cult a dictionary definition doesn't necessarily equate to a codified or even universally accepted definition the definition of religion would depend on which context the word was being used is Jainism a religion or a philosophy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovedya Posted May 31, 2009 Group: Royal Member Followers: 3 Topic Count: 375 Topics Per Day: 0.05 Content Count: 11,400 Content Per Day: 1.44 Reputation: 125 Days Won: 0 Joined: 08/30/2002 Status: Offline Birthday: 08/14/1971 Share Posted May 31, 2009 I disagree that Islam is a cult. The word "cult" is used too loosely in Christendom, and is generally used to mean, "Any group which does not conform to my theology." This word has become in Christianity a means to demonize smaller denominations which do not appear to conform to popular Christian culture. Islam is not a cult. It is a religion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorningGlory Posted May 31, 2009 Group: Royal Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 1,022 Topics Per Day: 0.16 Content Count: 39,193 Content Per Day: 6.09 Reputation: 9,977 Days Won: 78 Joined: 10/01/2006 Status: Offline Share Posted May 31, 2009 Islam is a cult; much like the Branch Davidians, the Moonies and the Scientoligists. So what part of the definitions of "religion" did you disagree with to say that Islam is not a religion? I do understand that you have a very personal dislike of Islamic beliefs, but simply stating that they are a cult does not in any way address the debate. I'm not addressing prepackaged definitions. I am stating that islam is a cult and I have already enumerated my reasons for saying this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParanoidAndroid Posted May 31, 2009 Group: Senior Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 39 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 591 Content Per Day: 0.09 Reputation: 14 Days Won: 0 Joined: 04/01/2007 Status: Offline Birthday: 11/27/1979 Share Posted May 31, 2009 Remember that 1900 years ago, Christianity was considered a cult also Today this view has obviously changed, but the earliest (1st century AD) prevailing view was that Christianity was simply a cultic offshoot of Judaism. Just a thought Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorningGlory Posted May 31, 2009 Group: Royal Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 1,022 Topics Per Day: 0.16 Content Count: 39,193 Content Per Day: 6.09 Reputation: 9,977 Days Won: 78 Joined: 10/01/2006 Status: Offline Share Posted May 31, 2009 I disagree that Islam is a cult. The word "cult" is used too loosely in Christendom, and is generally used to mean, "Any group which does not conform to my theology." This word has become in Christianity a means to demonize smaller denominations which do not appear to conform to popular Christian culture. Islam is not a cult. It is a religion. I disagree but I'm sure you have your reasons for believing that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorningGlory Posted May 31, 2009 Group: Royal Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 1,022 Topics Per Day: 0.16 Content Count: 39,193 Content Per Day: 6.09 Reputation: 9,977 Days Won: 78 Joined: 10/01/2006 Status: Offline Share Posted May 31, 2009 Remember that 1900 years ago, Christianity was considered a cult also Today this view has obviously changed, but the current prevailing view was that Christianity was simply a cultic offshoot of Judaism. Just a thought Christianity was considered a cult by the spiritually blind and deceived Jews at that time. They did not know the Truth and, largely, still don't. I'm going to add this edit since I forgot something very important: early Christians were also considered a cult, a dangerous one, by the Romans before the reign of Constantine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParanoidAndroid Posted May 31, 2009 Group: Senior Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 39 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 591 Content Per Day: 0.09 Reputation: 14 Days Won: 0 Joined: 04/01/2007 Status: Offline Birthday: 11/27/1979 Share Posted May 31, 2009 Christianity was considered a cult by the spiritually blind and deceived Jews at that time. They did not know the Truth and, largely, still don't.I give up. Honestly, I don't even know why I try. Someone else can tell you how contradictory such a statement here is. I'll just leave it and shake my head - I have no time to argue with the wilfully ignorant. All the best, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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