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       #Post#: 7--------------------------------------------------
       Understanding Sects vs Cults
   DIR By: bulmabriefs144
       Date: September 1, 2019, 8:40 pm
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       The word cult comes from cultus which means both "to till, grow
       (see also cultivate)" and "worship." It also has connections
       with words for to "train or educate."  While culture also comes
       from this root, the implication is that culture grows at least
       somewhat productively.  A cult is forced worship using means of
       grooming or brainwashing.  Throwing around words like
       "Christianity is a cult" is basically a misuse of the word.
       Christianity started as a sect, not a cult, as did most (real)
       religions of modern life.  A cult strictly speaking is a group
       that does nefarious things like punish members for leaving.
       Needless to say, cults are bad news.  Christianity has several
       groups that could technically be considered cults:
  HTML https://christiananswers.net/q-aiia/aiia-top10cults.html
       - The Twelve Tribes
       -  Unification Church
       -  Boston Movement
       -  The Family
       - Klu Klux Klan
       - The Nation of Islam (Not to be confused with Islam itself, but
       I'm not a fan of that either)
       I was actually stuck in Twelve Tribes. For about three days. I
       was alert and stubborn enough to realize they were creepy, and
       got in my car and drove off.  Things could have been alot worse
       if they didn't let me go, but I think part of it was that I
       hadn't made any official move to join, because I was working on
       their farm.
       So, I said that most religions started as sects. So, what
       exactly is a sect?  A sect is a party or school within a
       religion. Literally a "beaten path."  It's an offshoot of the
       main versions.  For example, Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana
       Buddhism are the main types of Buddhism, while Tantric Buddhism
       is a sect. Sects can be good or bad, depending on who you ask
       (other Buddhists probably don't like Tantric Buddhism, and the
       above link also called Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses cults)
       and what their members in general do. But as a general
       guideline, a sect is basically a religion with fringe beliefs,
       while cults are not religions at all, but control groups.
       
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