3 ms·
One criteria that's fairly defining of a cult, by my definition, is major operational secrecy. People who join don't know what the higher-ups are doing. Indee
by retrac 4y ago
One criteria that's fairly defining of a cult, by my definition, is major operational secrecy. People who join don't know what the higher-ups are doing. Indeed, they often don't know the fundamental doctrines of the cult! E.g. people who join Scientology don't get the whole "God is a space alien" package dropped on them until they're many, many $10,000s down the hole already.
Now, let's take Catholicism, probably the major faith most often accused of cult-like behaviour. It certainly has some of the most political structure and (pardon the pun) orthodoxy of the major religions. But Catholicism is also extremely open. There are no fees to join. There are no mandatory payments. There are no doctrinal secrets. They're entirely open about everything they believe, up front. You don't get whacked with some dark secret ten years in. They also don't really attempt to control most, let alone all, domains of of members' lives. They go about careers, etc. as they see fit. They're also tolerant of internal criticism and dissent; you've got some Cardinals in favour of gay marriage, and some of the loudest voices about the systematic sex abuse problem (one of the biggest reasons one might call them a cult) are coming from adherent Catholics, who aren't automatically excommunicated or given other traditionally cult-like handling for their dissent.
Such difference seems very significant to me. And I'm an atheist and decidedly anti-religious, for what it's worth.
- prirun 4y ago> Now, let's take Catholicism ... They also don't really attempt to control most, let alone all, domains of of members' lives. Really? "The Catholic position on contraception was formally explained and expressed by Pope Paul VI's Humanae vitae in 1968. Artificial contraception is considered intrinsically evil, but methods of natural family planning may be used, as they do not usurp the natural way of conception." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_views_on_birth_control https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_views_on_birth_contr...
- retrac 4y agoHaving a strong stance in one domain != moral totalitarianism. Some branches of Jainism recommends brushing the sidewalk ahead of you so as to avoid destroying any insects unnecessarily. A totalitarian religion controlling all aspects of life? Or just a profoundly intense moral doctrine that, naturally, has ramifications throughout many aspects of life if you accept it?
- foldr 4y agoThis is a doctrine that's famously ignored by most practicing Catholics. I could write paragraphs of criticism of the Catholic Church, but it's not really any more cult-like than lots of other organizations that people belong to (the most obvious example being the organizations that they work for).
- jondeval 4y ago>Such difference seems very significant to me. Thank you for your honesty. As a Catholic it's interesting to hear the perspective of an atheist on this topic. Christianity rejects at a philosophical level any sort of dependence on 'secret information'. The teachings of the Catholic Church should stand up to scrutiny and there is nothing to hide.