New Age and Cults - Cult Catalog list

That has got to be the longest and most verbose rendition of "If it ain't Catholic, it ain't right," I have ever seen.

-- Druweid

I noted the Baha'is were on the list and the entry was as follows:

Baha'i World Faith -
. Baha'i, an independent world religion based on "a unique
revelation of God," traces its roots to an early division within
Islam. God, called by different names, is one but unknowable. Christ
was a "manifestation" of God and a way to God, but not the ONLY way to
God.

A few corrections could be made.... The name is simply "Baha'i Faith" not "Baha'i World Faith" ...while we Baha'is stress world peace and unity the official name is simply "Baha'i Faith".

The few sentences are fairly accurate though.. Regarding Christ.. It's true Baha'is accept Him as a Manifestation of God and that there have been other Manifestations. When a person becomes a Baha'i they must accept Christ as well as all the other Manifestations. The Manifestation today for Baha'is is Baha'u'llah.

My understanding is that a cult can have various meanings and usually when people use the term they think of a controlling maybe secretive kind of group that may have some odd or unsocial practices.. but in the case of Baha'i Faith none of the negative characteristics that I'm aware of associated with "cults" can be applied to the Baha'i Faith.

An article on the subject can be found at

http://bahai-library.com/essays/cult.html

- Art

I would not feel to bad Arthra. The authors feel that Zoroastrianism is a thriving cult. Do they even exist outside small pockets in Iran?

RebYosef said:

I would not feel to bad Arthra. The authors feel that Zoroastrianism is a thriving cult. Do they even exist outside small pockets in Iran?

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Thanks Reb..

No I don't feel bad at all.. but as to Zoroastrianism ... Yes there are "pockets" of Zoroastrians still in Iran. There is still a fairly large and prosperous Parsee community in India and this was from immigration of Zoroastrians after the collapse of the Sassanid dynasty. The traditional Zoroastrian communities are not looking for converts though and they have restrictions on marrying only within their community as I understand it.

-Art

Cult - (the definition used by fundies of any religion)


Every religion or spirituality that differs even slightly from one's own religion or spirituality.

That list is hysterical! I almost died laughing.

Certainly, a few items in the list are genuine cults, but the inclusion of so many legitimate groups, including major religions, is pure humor.

"Cults" included are: Baha'i, Buddhism, Islam, Jainism, Shintoism, Taoism, Zen Buddhism, and Zoroastrianism.

The word "cult" is not generally understood to mean a "false religion", but rather some dangerously manipulative organization. To call major religions "cults" is only putting up straw wolves to frighten the sheep to keep them in the flock.

"Cult" simply becomes a scare word, full of emotion but devoid of meaning.


eudaimonia,

Mark

In short, that list defines "cult" as anything that isn't Nicene Creed Christianity. Pretty asinine, really.

SecretOfFatima said:

I also do think that the word cult is not very nice, remind me of some fanatic leader with brain washed followers.

But with regards to your point, well such group technically could be considered New Age religions, Since Judaism and Christianity have been around much longer and such groups contradict Judaism and Christianity, Christianity being the fulfillement of the OT.

I guess my opinion is open to all sorts of contra arguments, but that is how i see it from my perpective, and obviously you have a diferent truth from your perpective, which i respect.

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Using your logic though, both Judaism and Christianity would be considered New Age religions since Hinduism has be around longer and is considered the world's oldest religion.

Greetings!

To counteract the ignorant nonsense so many of these "cult-watch" groups so like to spout, here's a far more accurate rendering of such criteria, as well as how and why the Baha'i Faith simply doesn't belong there!:

Based on Combating Cult Mind Control" by Steven Hassan, here are the criteria for determining "cults":

1. How new members are found.

Dangerous Cults: With many cults, you don't get to know what you are getting into until after you have made a commitment.

Baha'i Faith: What you see is what you get: there are no secrets.


2. How funding is obtained.

Dangerous Cults: Commercial operations and/or mandatory donations (often large percentages) by members.

Baha'i Faith: Has no commercial businesses, collection plates are never passed, and donations are completely voluntary and accepted from enrolled members only.


3. Charismatic central figure.

Dangerous Cults: Cults usually have a central living figure who often lives on income from adherents.

Baha'i Faith: There is no living central figure in the Baha'i Faith (and there has been none since 1957); government is by bodies freely elected from the membership. There is no clergy, paid or unpaid.


4. Investigation of truth.

Dangerous Cults: Members are often told that it is dangerous to investigate other religions.

Baha'i Faith: Baha'is are encouraged to investigate all religions, and to appreciate truth no matter where it is found.


5. Behavior control, as defined by Hassan. *

Dangerous Cults: Persons may be told where to live, what to wear, or what (and how much) to eat. Sleep and freedom to travel or move about may be limited.

Baha'i Faith: Baha'is do not live in communes, but in the world as normal individuals and families. They wear no special or required clothing. The religion has no food requirements other than abstaining from alcohol, and the annual nineteen-day fast during which food and drink is not consumed during daylight hours only. Baha'is may get as much sleep as they want, eat whatever they want, work and live where they want.


6. Thought control as defined by Hassan. *

Dangerous Cults: There is often use of "thought-stopping" techniques such as chanting or speaking in tongues for long periods of time, setting up a type of hypnotic atmosphere.

Baha'i Faith: Chanting and prayer are not prolonged, nor is their intent to block thought. There is no speaking in tongues. Thought and investigation are encouraged.


7. Emotional control, as defined by Hassan. *

Dangerous Cults: Guilt and fear are often used to control members, including alternating praise and public humiliation or forced confession, and indoctrination against leaving the group.

Baha'i Faith: Confession to and humiliation of others are forbidden. Members are free to leave the Faith at any time if they so choose, without stigma.


8. What happens when people leave the religion.

Dangerous Cults: People who leave cults are often considered to be dangerous and are usually shunned.

Baha'i Faith: Baha'is are generally permitted and encouraged to remain friends with people who leave. The only exception is in the case of a person declared to be a "Covenant breaker" by the Universal House of Justice due to an attempt to split the Baha'i Faith. There is no condemnation of those who voluntarily choose to leave.

o O o

* Hassan, Steven, Combating Cult Mind Control, Park Street Press, One Park Street, Rochester, Vermont 05767, 1988, ISBN 0-89281-311-3. "The Four Components of Mind Control", pages 59-67.


Peace,

Bruce