Are all cults evil?

Not all cults are evil. Some just stand for something they believe in and nothing wrong in that. "Cult" typically refers to a cohesive social group devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding population considers to be outside the mainstream.

A group's cult status begins as rumors spread of its novel belief system, its great devotions, its idiosyncratic practices, its perceived harmful or beneficial effects on members or its perceived opposition to the interests of mainstream cultures and governments. Persistent rumors may follow relatively small and recently founded religious or non-religious groups when they are perceived to engage in excessive member control or exploitation. Citation neededThe issue of perception, whether notably positive or negative, is the main cause of variation in the use of "cult" as a descriptive term.In common usage, "cult" has a positive connotation for the members of devotee groups in the domains of painting, music, writing, fiction, and fashion devotees, despite or even due to the relatively low economic value of the object of art.1 In contrast, when used to describe new religious groups, extreme political parties, questionable therapeutic alliances and pyramidal business groups, the word usually has a negative connotation.2 For this reason, most, if not all, non-fan groups that are called cults reject this label.

In general, translation of the pejorative connotation from modern English to use of the same term in other languages can be misleading as they (e.g. French) may retain the original meaning. Citation neededSome sociologists who study cults have argued that no one has yet been able to define “cult” in a way that identifies only those groups previously recognized to have beliefs or practices that run counter to generally accepted norms and values. Clearly, criteria for the identification of cults do exist, but they are problematic themselves.

A little-known example is Alexander and Rollins' 1984 study, which concluded that the socially well-received group Alcoholics Anonymous is a cult by using the model of Lifton's thought reform techniques3 and applying those to AA's group indoctrination methodology.4 Despite the applicability of Lifton's model, researchers5 point out the benefits that AA offer its members, which are plain even to non-members.6 For many, this issue with the concept of cults might raise the question of why it is important to define any particular group as a cult; hence, the preference among anthropologists for "sect", or even the dated and out-of-fashion term, "sub-culture". An additional worry is the problem of how to identify those in a given society who should be privileged to decide which groups ought to be referred to as a cult or, using the more neutral term, as a "sect. " Thus, it becomes an open question whether the study of cult groups is a valid topic for the self-critical and professionalized production of systematic knowledge.

Laypersons participate in cult studies to a degree not found in other academic disciplines, making it difficult to demarcate the boundaries of science from theology, politics, news reporting, fashion, and family cultural values. From about 1920 onward,7 the populist negative connotation progressively interfered with scientific study using the neutral historical meaning of "cult" in the sociology of religion.8 A 20th century attempt by sociologists to replace "cult" with the term New Religious Movement (NRM), was rejected by the public 9 and not entirely accepted by the social-scientific community. 10During the 20th century groups referred to as cults by governments and media became globally controversial.

The televised rise and fall of less than 20 destructive cults known for mass suicide and murder tarred hundreds of NRM groups having less serious government and civil legal entanglements, against a background of thousands of unremarkable NRM groups known only to their neighbors. Following the Solar Temple destructive cult incidents on two continents, France authorized the 1995 Parliamentary Commission on Cults in France. This commission set a mostly non-controversial standard for human rights objections to exploitative group practices, and mandated a controversial remedy for cultic abuse, known in English as cult watching, which was quietly adopted by other countries.

The United States responded with human rights challenges to French cult control policies, and France charged the U.S. with interfering in French internal affairs. The United States does not have a classification for cults in its legal system.11 In recent years, France's troublesome public cult watching lists appear to have been retired in favor of confidential police intelligence gathering. New religions are often considered "cults" before they are considered religions12 by social scientists, and usually by Christian Evangelical/Fundamentalist theologians, and by the secular public – yet these three groups do not usually have the same understanding of the term "cult".

People understand the term "cult" through the most popular usage in their cultures and subcultures, which can result in homonymic conflict, a communicative conflict with people who hold a different definition of the same term. This often results in confusion, misunderstanding, and resentment between members of "cult" groups and non-members. Citation needed .

No I don't think all cults are evil Cult as per the Dictionary is a formal religious veneration (Worship). So looking at the different religions and see what they do I would say that not all are evil but even with in the groups that profess THE ONE TRUE GOD, we have those that cause nonbelievers to turn away because of what they do. Like the preachers on TV that will pray that you will be healed if you send them money and the e-mail that gets me "send this to 10 people and something great will happen in your life with in the next 24 hours".

I don't believe GOD works that way. Sources: opinion .

Lt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciationkuhlt Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –noun 1. A particular system of religious worship, esp. With reference to its rites and ceremonies.

2. An instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, URL1 manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult. 3.

The object of such devotion.4. A group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc. 5.Sociology. A group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.

6. A religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader. 7.

The members of such a religion or sect.8. Any system for treating human sickness that originated by a person usually claiming to have sole insight into the nature of disease, and that employs methods regarded as unorthodox or unscientific. –adjective 9.

Of or pertaining to a cult. 10. Of, for, or attracting a small group of devotees: a cult movie.

E·vil Audio Help /? Iv? L/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciationee-vuhl Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –adjective 1.

Morally wrong or bad; immoral; wicked: evil deeds; an evil life. 2. Harmful; injurious: evil laws.3.

Characterized or accompanied by misfortune or suffering; unfortunate; disastrous: to be fallen on evil days. 4. Due to actual or imputed bad conduct or character: an evil reputation.

5. Marked by anger, irritability, irascibility, etc.: He is known for his evil disposition. –noun 6. That which is evil; evil quality, intention, or conduct: to choose the lesser of two evils.7.

The force in nature that governs and gives rise to wickedness and sin. 8. The wicked or immoral part of someone or something: The evil in his nature has destroyed the good.

9. Harm; mischief; misfortune: to wish one evil.10. Anything causing injury or harm: Tobacco is considered by some to be an evil.

11. A harmful aspect, effect, or consequence: the evils of alcohol. 12.

A disease, as king's evil. –adverb 13. In an evil manner; badly; ill: It went evil with him.

—Idiom 14. The evil one, the devil; Satan. Having a cult following for a movie, does not neccesarily have to be considered evil.

Though if you're an extremist and believe that anything and everything that isn't about GOD is evil, then it is, along with hot dogs, apple pie, baseball and Mama. Sources: www.dictionary.com EternalOptimist's Recommendations Stolen Innocence: My Story of Growing Up in a Polygamous Sect, Becoming a Teenage Bride, and Breaking Free of Warren Jeffs Amazon List Price: $25.95 Used from: $12.99 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 56 reviews) Warren Jeffs leads an EVIL CULT .

Religion is for people who are scared of hell, and spirituality is for people who have been through it. " comments? " (10 answers) "religion" "How would you define spirituality?" "Did you know that Islam is a cult of Christianity?

It happens to be one of the first Christian cults. " "can we grace ourselves out of obedience? Religion and Spirituality" "Why isn't Religion & Spirituality listed under Main categories?

I didn't realize the category existed. " "Religion is for people who fear hell; Spirituality is for people who've been to hell. What does this mean?

" "The Way of The Cults? " "Does Spirituality provide more understanding than Religions?" "What do you think is the main difference between Spirituality and Christianity?

Religion is for people who are scared of hell, and spirituality is for people who have been through it. " comments? " (10 answers).

It happens to be one of the first Christian cults.

Religion is for people who fear hell; Spirituality is for people who've been to hell. What does this mean?

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.