Talk:Cult

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Does anyone know anything about a - I don't know if it was/is a - cult named Radiant Living'? my grandmother was a member - I also associate the name 'Rudolph Steiner' with it. She died when I was young - over 55 years ago. I've googled & find it very confusing. He seems to be a teacher & RL a cosmetic industry. Anyone? Susan Jayne Garlick^talk 16:34, 4 September 2007 (CDT)

Don't know is Susan's still around, but I believe Rudolph Steiner was the founder of a Theosophy variant called Anthrosophy. Not sure if it qualified as a cult, but definitely a bit odd. --Gulik 23:16, 27 November 2008 (EST)

[edit] Mormons

"God lost his voice around 100 CE..." By this, Mormonism would be a "cult." Does the writer of that sentence want to endorse that? (Else I shall change it) Lyra Silvertongue 14:36, 10 June 2008 (EDT)

[edit] CP?

Would you even consider it? If it is, then just general right-wing intollerance and evangelism is cultish. I can see where it's coming from but I'm not 100% convinced it's quite the same as Scientology. ArmondikoV^{...I'll bake your pillow!} 09:09, 5 November 2008 (EST)

I'd be tempted to say no. Doing so cheapens the meaning of the word cult, and the existence of several very public departures sorta obviates the whole 'closed circle' bit. Also, cults need a charismatic leader. --מְתֻרְגְּמָן וִיקִי ^{שְׁלֹום!}

1. Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability. Check
2. No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry. Check
3. No meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget, expenses such as an independently audited financial statement. Not relevant to near all websites.
4. Unreasonable fear about the outside world, such as impending catastrophe, evil conspiracies and persecutions. Check
5. There is no legitimate reason to leave, former followers are always wrong in leaving, negative or even evil. Okay, this one might be missing.
6. Former members often relate the same stories of abuse and reflect a similar pattern of grievances. Check
7. There are records, books, news articles, or television programs that document the abuses of the group/leader. Well, plenty of websites (including this one), otherwise, not much.
8. Followers feel they can never be "good enough". This one might be missing as well, not sure.
9. The group/leader is always right. Check
10. The group/leader is the exclusive means of knowing "truth" or receiving validation, no other process of discovery is really acceptable or credible. Pretty much check

So, out of the 10 warning signs, 1 is not relevant, and 2 are not present, that leaves us with 7 of 9 relevant warning signs present. InaVegt 09:18, 5 November 2008 (EST)

It should be noted that it doesn't seem like anything is done to persecute those who leave (other than bad-mouthing them in the group.) This is often the most important difference between a cult and a minority religion. Researcher 10:07, 5 November 2008 (EST)

I'd actually agree with Point 8 the "not good enough" bit, as clearly, you can't be right-wing enough for the upper rulers of CP. Although I'm still not convinced it's a "cult". Possibly a "cult" only in the sense of "cult TV", in which case RW is the "cult audience". ArmondikoV^{...I'll castigate your band!} 10:23, 5 November 2008 (EST)

[edit] Islam would be A cult

If "God lost his voice around 100 CE..." that would make Islam a cult wouldn't it --Dolphin674 19:57, 27 November 2008 (EST)

I believe (opinion) that somewhere in the definition of cult should be an "It's us against them" attitude, and although in many places Islam fills the bill, in many other place they are the powers-that-be, making them ineligible for cult status.

Fixed by fudging the date. PFoster 20:50, 27 November 2008 (EST)

"Smooth moves," as we used to say in the Bowel Movement.
Carptrash 22:04, 27 November 2008 (EST)