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Originally posted by AfterInfinity
reply to post by network dude
Christianity is a matter of two perspectives: those who created it, and those who follow it.
Those who created it, did so on one premise: erring on the side of caution. Keep mankind from destroying itself...because in those days, a papercut was a death sentence.
Those who follow it, do so because they want safety and surety. They want control, and yet are afraid of it...so they give control to a being whose very nature is so mysterious that controlling it is a matter of how you look at it.
It may be a cult, but it started out with good intentions. But there's always the problem of creating an illusion so complete that the people who inherit the design have forgotten its original purpose...edit on 25-5-2012 by AfterInfinity because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by SaturnFX
from wiki answers
Cults can occur inside of and outside a 'mainstream' religion (here I take it that the question is referring to the classical 'cults' whereby strong leaders have control over members of their group, rather than alternative definitions such as 'personality cults', or 'cults of devotion').
Three ideas seem essential to the concept of a cult.
1. Thinking in terms of us versus them with total alienation from "them."
2. The intense, though often subtle, indoctrination techniques used to recruit and hold members.
3. The charismatic cult leader. Cultism usually involves some sort of belief that outside the cult all is evil and threatening; inside the cult is the special path to salvation through the cult leader and his teachings.
The indoctrination techniques include:
Subjection to stress and fatigue;
Social disruption, isolation and pressure;
Self criticism and humiliation;
Fear, anxiety, and paranoia;
Control of information;
Escalating commitment;
Use of auto-hypnosis to induce "peak" experiences
Cults are absent of the betterment of the individual person but rather than leader only. Cults try to subvert the human will with total and complete obedience to the leader of a group or sect
Arguably, the difference between a cult and a religion is numbers.
Several levels of indoctrination exists within a religion though...which is why subsects and micro-sects are initiated within the mainstream religion to create pockets of full indoctrination within the entity.
Indoctrination happens almost since birth.
The reapers are the real threat!
I blame Harbinger.
Originally posted by protocolsoflove
reply to post by PurpleChiten
Those people aren't christians. they're just people who say they're christians to get a lot of money.
Yes, but the OP is a Freemason, and Masons are constantly called a cult (and worse) by people who know nothing about it. Your argument to him is the same he would make to others who would attack him.
Originally posted by MarlboroRedCowgirl
I have no idea why the changes in my words were necessarily and really don't see what freemasonry has to do with this topic. I was responding to the OP and not any issue of freemasonry that was brought up.
Originally posted by JoshNorton
Yes, but the OP is a Freemason, and Masons are constantly called a cult (and worse) by people who know nothing about it. Your argument to him is the same he would make to others who would attack him.
Originally posted by MarlboroRedCowgirl
I have no idea why the changes in my words were necessarily and really don't see what freemasonry has to do with this topic. I was responding to the OP and not any issue of freemasonry that was brought up.
Originally posted by protocolsoflove
Now you know the point of this thread. Someone got a little butt hurt so they went for "revenge".
Originally posted by CodyOutlaw
Originally posted by protocolsoflove
Now you know the point of this thread. Someone got a little butt hurt so they went for "revenge".
Or, perhaps, he had a valid question based on personal experience.
Far out, I know, but it does happen.
Originally posted by protocolsoflove
You guys must be paid to lie for each other. Oh wait it's the other way around haha.
Originally posted by PeaceNLove123
reply to post by network dude
Look, saying that Christianity is a cult and implying one should stay away from it, is as stupid as saying Rock n' Roll is Satanic or beer is evil. Get my point?
Originally posted by SaturnFX
Arguably, the difference between a cult and a religion is numbers.
"Every major religion in the world has been manufactured or infiltrated by the Illuminati to enslave and brainwash society. In essence, religion was the first form of mind control. The indoctrination of the masses by a "Trojan Horse" false religion has allowed the Illuminati to take control and work in secret for many, many years." Link
Satan's most effective method of seducing men and women to yield to his control over them is via a religious system. Link
"Organized religion is THE deception that keeps us in fear of God and rejecting his grace. Religion keeps you from knowing God and keeps you blind as to what God is really like! Sadly, some confuse religion with Jesus, and walk away from them both, God and religion are separate entities that get intertwined together by man. ALL pagan religions are controlled by Satan! The elite created religion as a tool for control with a hidden agenda that aims to blind and misguide you away from the truth."
"Today the religions of the world remain a major tool of the Illuminati agenda. They maintain the climate of unquestioning, unthinking, ignorance, and their pseudo-morality provides a veil of hypocrisy, behind which the most sickening abuse of children can be hidden." Link
Originally posted by protocolsoflove
Originally posted by JoshNorton
Yes, but the OP is a Freemason, and Masons are constantly called a cult (and worse) by people who know nothing about it. Your argument to him is the same he would make to others who would attack him.
Originally posted by MarlboroRedCowgirl
I have no idea why the changes in my words were necessarily and really don't see what freemasonry has to do with this topic. I was responding to the OP and not any issue of freemasonry that was brought up.
Now you know the point of this thread. Someone got a little butt hurt so they went for "revenge".
Originally posted by KSigMason
reply to post by protocolsoflove
I think the OP was going more for mockery than revenge.
'
Originally posted by network dude
Originally posted by protocolsoflove
Originally posted by JoshNorton
Yes, but the OP is a Freemason, and Masons are constantly called a cult (and worse) by people who know nothing about it. Your argument to him is the same he would make to others who would attack him.
Originally posted by MarlboroRedCowgirl
I have no idea why the changes in my words were necessarily and really don't see what freemasonry has to do with this topic. I was responding to the OP and not any issue of freemasonry that was brought up.
Now you know the point of this thread. Someone got a little butt hurt so they went for "revenge".
Nope, I really do have family. No really. And had an Aunt and Uncle who did this. They are cool now, but when I was about 10 this all happened. It lasted for about 5 years. They are cool now as in they aren't part of the same church anymore. Amazingly enough, now they don't make snap judgments about others without knowing their situation. But thanks for believing in me.