How do you feel about the Catholic cult? The Jehovah’s Witness cult? Seventh Day Adventist cult? The Methodist cult?
They’re all, including Baptists, cults. Some just have more members than others.
What criterion do you use to judge these religions you listed as being cults?
The dictionary definition?
Main Entry: cult
Pronunciation: 'k<
Function: noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: French & Latin; French culte, from Latin cultus care, adoration, from colere to cultivate – more at WHEEL
Date: 1617
1 : formal religious veneration : WORSHIP
2 : a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents
At least they don’t charge $300,000 for the scriptures. Any of the “cults” you mentioned would gladly give you a free bible.
I have my own personal system for telling the difference.
A religion is where it relies on the members to continue existing.
A cult is where the members rely on it to continue existing.
In Catholicism, if you choose to leave the church, it’s not official policy to harass and slander you (sure, some of the members might be assholes, but you get that in ANY group).
What is it with CoS and Hollywood? Are that many celebrities members, or do we just hear about them because they are celebrities?
No, there really are a lot more scientologist in Hollywood per capita than the rest of the US. There are two reasons. Scientology goes after these people is a minor factor. The major one is that people who become actors are highly rewarded by the attention they get, and Scientology (like all cults) gives them lots of attention. Christopher Reeves has a bunch to say about this that you can read in his book or you can find bits and pieces quoted on the news group alt.religion.scientology.
If you want to know why people are so rewarded by attention, put “sex drugs cults” in Google and take the first link.
Keith Henson
The Straight Dope on Scientology.