Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Muad'Dib · 01-20-2002, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Metacrock:
It was the typical double standard that atheists can say anything to attack a Christain and if a Christian defends himself than he's banned.

Meta, if you have a problem with the way you are treated in this forum, you need to talk to me or Boshko about it. If you are being unfairly abused, we will put a stop to it. That's what we're here for.

Many people in this forum say that Christianity is stupid and irrational, much as you say that atheism is illogical and senseless; but abuse of people is not permitted. I am sorry that you don't differentiate between insults to your ideas and your person, but we do make that distinction, and we do not enforce politeness toward ideas.

Vorkosigan · 01-20-2002, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Metacrock:


Meta ->Ok look, i've tried to be nice. I've tried to have nice little dialogues and gamely endure insults and ignorance. I can't do that anymore. I'm sick of this stupidity. To charge of Christianity with being a "cult" is the height of assingn stupidity! .

Metacrock, Kosh compared an aspect of Christian behavior with that of cults. I don't see an issue here. Can you elaborate?

Vorkosigan · 01-20-2002, 03:16 PM

Moving this post to Misc Religious Discussions

MikeG · 01-20-2002, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Metacrock:


Meta ->... To charge of Christianity with being a "cult" is the height of assingn stupidity! By defition it cannot be a cult because it is the thing that cults are imitating!
.....

I found the above sentence quite humerous... I mean, its that supposed to be some kind of compliment to xtianity or does it simply point out that it is the ultimate cult?

[ January 20, 2002: Message edited by: MikeG ]

HelenM · 01-21-2002, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Metacrock:
Meta ->Ok look, i've tried to be nice. I've tried to have nice little dialogues and gamely endure insults and ignorance. I can't do that anymore.

Did you stop believing the Bible, Meta? It says: I can do everything through him who gives me strength. -- Phil 4:13

There's no small print exclusions for Christians who get fed up on Secular bulletin boards...is there?

[...]It doesn't have any of the ear marks of cults

Boy I wish that were true!!!

and no sociologist who studies cults has ever tried to say that it is one (and I know that for a fact because I was a sociology major and I studied in the class of one of the major cult watching sociologists).

How does knowing what one sociologist doesn't say, prove that none of them have ever said it?

love
Helen

freemonkey · 01-21-2002, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Metacrock:


To charge of Christianity with being a "cult" is the height of assingn stupidity! By defition it cannot be a cult because it is the thing that cults are imitating!

Umm.... weren't there some older religions that christianity was trying to usurp.... I mean imitate?

Henrietta · 01-21-2002, 07:00 AM

For those who study them cults are not longer referred to as cults but as NRMs: New Religious Movements. This is in recognition that the only difference between what is commonly referred to as a cult and what is commonly referred to as a religion is their longevity and/or their number of adherants.

I don't have a line out of the bible for you but I can tell you in my fundamentalist upbringing one point that seem to be of major importance was that it was absolutely a sin to question any of it. That just nipped any questions or doubts right in the bud.

dwp666 · 01-21-2002, 03:46 PM

The book of Acts certainly brings killer cults to mind. The Bible clearly describes how the early Christians lived together in a communal fashion, selling their goods and sharing their belongings with the group (Acts 2:43-46, 4:32-35). Acts chapter five says that Saphira convinced her husband to retain some of the money they made from selling their belongings and only give some of it to the apostles. After Peter confronted the couple they both fell down dead. The Bible doesn't specify whether it was the "loving" God or one of the apostles that killed the free thinkers but the murders nonetheless succeeded in terrifying the whole church.

scigirl · 01-21-2002, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kosh:
We were going to come up with a list of things
in Christianity that smack of being manipulative
for the purpose of diverting free thinking and
questioning by the members...

I do think certain sects of Christianity can be seen as cults. To me, it's how the beliefs are indoctrinated, not the specific beliefs themselves.

For instance, the Christain Scientists (who won't use modern medical care). They tell their children to pray for healing when they are sick. BUT--when they don't get better, it's because they aren't praying hard enough. In this case, blame and guilt keep people in the church--instead of looking for outside help or reasons why things happen, they are stuck in a cycle.

Is this making sense?

scigirl

scigirl · 01-21-2002, 05:05 PM

Another thing I occasionally see on Christian forums is the ole "You are not a true Christian if you think that way about Harry Potter/gay rights/etc."

So not only are people not encouraged to disagree, when they do disagree they are accused of being un-christian! Hmm....I think that's a huge manipulation seen across the board in every religion--the old I'm right you're wrong crap.

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01-20-2002, 03:16 PM	#13
Vorkosigan Contributor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Barrayar Posts: 11,866	Moving this post to Misc Religious Discussions

01-21-2002, 07:00 AM	#17
Henrietta Regular Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: West USA Posts: 380	For those who study them cults are not longer referred to as cults but as NRMs: New Religious Movements. This is in recognition that the only difference between what is commonly referred to as a cult and what is commonly referred to as a religion is their longevity and/or their number of adherants. I don't have a line out of the bible for you but I can tell you in my fundamentalist upbringing one point that seem to be of major importance was that it was absolutely a sin to question any of it. That just nipped any questions or doubts right in the bud.

01-21-2002, 03:46 PM	#18
dwp666 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: North Bay, Ontario, Canada Posts: 59	The book of Acts certainly brings killer cults to mind. The Bible clearly describes how the early Christians lived together in a communal fashion, selling their goods and sharing their belongings with the group (Acts 2:43-46, 4:32-35). Acts chapter five says that Saphira convinced her husband to retain some of the money they made from selling their belongings and only give some of it to the apostles. After Peter confronted the couple they both fell down dead. The Bible doesn't specify whether it was the "loving" God or one of the apostles that killed the free thinkers but the murders nonetheless succeeded in terrifying the whole church.

01-21-2002, 05:05 PM	#20
scigirl Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Seattle Posts: 4,261	Another thing I occasionally see on Christian forums is the ole "You are not a true Christian if you think that way about Harry Potter/gay rights/etc." So not only are people not encouraged to disagree, when they do disagree they are accused of being un-christian! Hmm....I think that's a huge manipulation seen across the board in every religion--the old I'm right you're wrong crap.

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