Roman Catholicism , cult or not?

Cult!

 

The RCC is definitely a CULT! Yes, we need to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the Catholics--

 

I believe that the RCC is a cult just as I believe that the Word Faith is a cult. However, I believe that there are true believers, though sadly misguided, within both movements.

 

Having studied the cults for 20 years, I've come to the point where I've decided to stop using the word "cult." The reason is that people get all wrapped around the axle about "you called this one a cult, why not that one?" and people get all emotional over the word, and don't focus on the main points: whether the group teaches doctrine that is essentially christian, or do they teach doctrine that is, at its core, essentially non-christian. Too many times the discussion gets sidetracked over whether we're defining an official cult or not, instead of focusing on the teachings and how they compare with the bible.

The RCC is wide and broad, and despite what some say, are not entirely consistent. Within the RCC, there are those who are very liberal, very conservative, and all in between.

The RCC teaches some doctrines that are of major conflict with the scriptures. They are wrong on some very key, essential issues.

 

I would agree it's a cult. Any religion that prays to someone other than God would fall into that camp.

 

The RCC is the worst cult hiding under the umbrella of "Christian" in the world. In China many non-Christians wanted to refer to the Crusades, and all the horrors that took place during the Crusades, as an example of why they should not trust Christians. But of course the Crusades are a perfect example of the RCC in action. I witnessed to RCC people all the time, and some of them even seek me out. And ask me, please tell me what you told so and so that cause them to leave the Catholic Church. When this happens you know you have a willing listener, and many of these turn themselves from thier life time association with the RCC.

 

The RCC is filled with rampant heresy but I don't think we can call them an cult. The reason? Most cults generally deny the diety of Christ. Or deny the Trinity. The RCC holds to many Orthodox Christian truths they just messed up when they added man's tradition and replaced the authority of Scriptures with men word. But I don't think they quite qualify as a cult.

 

Not cult. I agree with DeclareHim that on Trinitarian and Christological issues, the RCC is as orthodox as they come. There are some doctrines that I disagree with them about and some practices that I would not encourage, but by and large, I find that Catholics are generally more biblically sound and Christ-like than some baptists I've met. Of course you have fundamentalist Catholics and liberal Catholics who are just as off-their-rocker as some of the extreme protestant varieties.

The traditional definition of the word cult can apply to them as it would to baptists as one of devoted following.

The modern definition of the word cult in the vein of David Koresh, et al obviously does not qualify for Catholicism. This is the defintion I use most often.

The fundamentalist definition of the word cult which applies to anyone who differs in biblical interpretation from said fundamentalist does apply to Catholicism. But it also applies to pretty much the rest of orthodox Christianity as well.

 

The use of the word "cult" seems to have become a perjorative description, although that isn't the only definition. I think the definition plays an important role. From Merriam-Webster.com:

Etymology: French & Latin; French culte, from Latin cultus care, adoration, from colere to cultivate -- more at WHEEL
1 : formal religious veneration : WORSHIP
2 : a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents
3 : a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents
4 : a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator <health cults>
5 a : great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book); especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b : a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion

By definitions 1 or 2, Baptists are a cult. I think it is definition 3 that is how it is being used in the OP, although an organization as large and old as the RCC hardly seems like it qualifies as "unorthodox" or "spurious", due to the sheer size it has.

 

From Webster's...

Main Entry: cult
Pronunciation: 'k&lt
Function: noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: French & Latin; French culte, from Latin cultus care, adoration, from colere to cultivate -- more at WHEEL
1 : formal religious veneration : WORSHIP
2 : a system of religious beliefs and ritual ; also : its body of adherents
3 : a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents
4 : a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator <health cults>
5 a : great devotion to a person, idea, object , movement, or work (as a film or book); especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b : a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion

 

We posted that at the same time...freaky!

 

For us their are two kinds of cults. The Biblically wrong kind, and the ones that rule with mind control. Many are both like JW's. Mormons would only be a Biblically wrong cult.

I think that Biblically the Roman Catholic Church could be defined as a cult, but no longer are they a sociological cult. I mean one that rules the people through mind and fear control.

They used to be a sociological cult since they claimed to be the sole agent by which one could get to heaven. And if they pronounced you to be anathema, you went to hell. (Hense the fear tactic of The Council of Trent). But very few if any Catholics today fear this decree of excommunication. And because of money donations from members, they almost never wield it as a power any more.

They do hold to many of our teachings, but the devil is fine with this since they miss the mark on salvation. Satan just loves religion. Especially works based religion.

 

And this differs from some Baptist groups how?

I wouldn't say they are a cult.

 

And this differs from some Baptist groups how?

I wouldn't say they are a cult. </font>[/QUOTE]LOL. I quess that the difference is that we don't have a pope of a Magisterium like Rome.

Hey! Maybe this board is a find of Magisterium for Baptists.

 

And this differs from some Baptist groups how?

I wouldn't say they are a cult. </font>[/QUOTE]Baptists have never claimed 'the church' saves. That is the difference.

As to the cult thing... a definite 'maybe'. Depends on your definition.

 

This Topic has been moved into the Other Christian Denominations Forum. See this link:

http://www.baptistboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/28/3676.html?