Freethought & Rationalism Archive

sandlewood · 10-21-2002, 11:58 AM

Many years ago I was listening to some radio show and one of the guests on the show pointed out that the difference between a cult and a religion is that a cult has a hidden agenda while a religion does not. At the time, I took this to sound sensible. But more recently it seems to me that that distinction was purposely contrived in order to rationalize his/her personal belief in a religion.

Can religion be said to have an agenda, whether it be hidden or not?

Or does it not even matter whether there is an agenda or not and that�s just a red herring?

BigJim · 10-21-2002, 12:18 PM

Rusting Car Bumper · 10-21-2002, 01:08 PM

Difference? 100 years maybe?

DC

Kosh · 10-21-2002, 01:54 PM

I read somehwere (don't ask me where) that the difference between a cult and a religion is political power.

Ask people in DC which is a cult, Christianity or Mormonism. Now got to Utah and ask the same question....

Blue_Metal · 10-21-2002, 02:11 PM

Mormons are christians.

Blue

Mageth · 10-21-2002, 02:17 PM

Mormons are christians.

Not according to many if not most (non-Mormon) Christians, many of which consider Mormonism a cult or, at best, a false religion.

Triple Six · 10-21-2002, 03:15 PM

Big Jim has it right.

They are one and the same.

Furthermore they have exactly the same agenda, which is to exert influence over and take money from gullible people.

10-21-2002, 11:58 AM	#1
sandlewood Regular Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: San Jose, CA, USA Posts: 264	Religion Vs. Cult Many years ago I was listening to some radio show and one of the guests on the show pointed out that the difference between a cult and a religion is that a cult has a hidden agenda while a religion does not. At the time, I took this to sound sensible. But more recently it seems to me that that distinction was purposely contrived in order to rationalize his/her personal belief in a religion. Can religion be said to have an agenda, whether it be hidden or not? Or does it not even matter whether there is an agenda or not and that�s just a red herring?

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10-21-2002, 12:18 PM	#2
BigJim Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Stepford, CT Posts: 4,296

10-21-2002, 01:08 PM	#3
Rusting Car Bumper Banned Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: U.S. Posts: 4,171	Difference? 100 years maybe? DC

10-21-2002, 01:54 PM	#4
Kosh Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Orions Belt Posts: 3,911	I read somehwere (don't ask me where) that the difference between a cult and a religion is political power. Ask people in DC which is a cult, Christianity or Mormonism. Now got to Utah and ask the same question....

10-21-2002, 02:11 PM	#5
Blue_Metal Regular Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: NA Posts: 130	Mormons are christians. Blue

10-21-2002, 02:17 PM	#6
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	Mormons are christians. Not according to many if not most (non-Mormon) Christians, many of which consider Mormonism a cult or, at best, a false religion.

10-21-2002, 03:15 PM	#7
Triple Six Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: formerly Lae, Papua New Guinea Posts: 1,867	Big Jim has it right. They are one and the same. Furthermore they have exactly the same agenda, which is to exert influence over and take money from gullible people.

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