Ken, My cousin -a priest- once told me "The difference between a religion and a cult is the number of members e/o has." Both groups are afraid of people with "big mouth".
It depends on how you define a cult. I can think of at least five major churches that follow the teaching of a leader or founder (years past the apostles) that claimed or claims to have received a direct connection to God, be a prophet or prophetess, or be god on earth. My point was if members start speaking out against church founders, and big-name leaders as frauds, they won't remain in that church very long. Most churches allow "free" speech as long as it isn't contradictory to their beliefs and/or Bible interpretations, creeds, charters, or politics. My comment was in direct connection with the topic and why some spiritual leaders are frightened by the idea that a magical God does not exist and go to great lengths to teach against atheism and how evil it is. They perpetuate the idea that one that doesn't believe in a magical God and a beyond human savior, cannot be a good person and will suffer eternity in torment. Some spend their lives searching for a piece of gopher wood that can date back to the ark or a shred of fabric that can be dated back to the burial clothes of Christ or the cup that was used at the last supper. Faith isn't good enough for some, they want proof so they can prove to the world they are right. Yes, there are those that are frightened by atheism, but there are also those that are frightened by religion. I have never had an atheist try to force me into believing what they do, but I have had numerous "Christians" try to force their beliefs on me. I have never had an atheist knock on my door to announce the end time and hand me a pamphlet spouting ludicrous nonsense and expect a donation. 144,000 will be resurrected to heaven if they were buried with their heads facing east and met all the criteria set forth by Russell's scriptural interpretations in 1870. The rest of the approved will be resurrected and inherit the earth and the rest of us that refused the informative pamphlet won't be resurrected and will just not exist which is the equivalent of hell. Two ladies in suit dress at my door. The one void of happy expression speaks: "We bring good news for you in these perilous times." Faye: That is wonderful. Can I be part of the 144K that walk the streets of gold for eternity?" Lady: "No, but you can be one that inherits the earth forever." Faye: "Well that sucks! Watch Fox news lady, why would I want to spend eternity in this violent shit hole?" Lady: "Because it will change and the lions will lay down with the lambs." Faye: "So the lions are going vegan and doing the ugly with lambs?" Lady: "Let me read the scripture to you." Faye: "No thanks, I have been reading since I was 5 and have better things to do than hear preschool storytime with you two silly broads." I would take up arms and fight to the death to protect the right of anyone to worship as they wish as long as their worship doesn't infringe on others' rights. I would also fight to the death on the side of atheists to prevent ideas based on an invisible all-mighty magical God from being legislated as law and forced on others unwillingly against their beliefs.
I was once a deacon at the Millinocket Baptist Church. I left that church, but I'm still friends with everyone I was friendly with before I left.
That is the case with many that once belonged to churches that didn't spring up in the last 400 years. Churches that are based more on Christ and the original apostles rather than churches started by individuals claiming divine revelation or claiming to be later day apostles.
Faye, An Atheist will never attempt to convert a person; the reason is quite simple: We want that person to discover his / her own truth. Of course the believers go around attempting to change people's minds.......they know the more people believe their speech the less people will fight them. About eternal condemnation: Centuries ago, the Catholic religion used to sell "indulgences".....IAW< pay now -cash- and your eternal life will be rosy and full of peace.
Yep! A person can label me anything they want and I don't care. I don't ever even want anyone to believe as I do. I want them to find their own way and truth. When they asked me if I believe in God, I just asked them the question back, and when they answer yes, I say well there you go then. Why do you care what I believe? How does what I believe have any bearing on your salvation?
I guess more people would feel more comfortable knowing what religion the person is they are talking to before becoming too friendly with them. Sometimes a person can tell right away if a person they are talking to is Christian, Atheist, Catholic or whatever. I don't know how that would be done, but it can be. If a person is telling another person about some personal or family problems they are having and the other person says "I'll pray for you", no doubt Christianity is there in the one person.
To YOU, a lie, but to many, many others, definitely not! Face it, Silvia, discussing Atheism here most likely isn't going to cut it! Way to many Christians in this forum to try that.
From an article that I wrote on Cults in the web directory that I work for... "To a large extent, today, a cult is a religion in need of a good public relations campaign. New religions are generally thought of as cults, at least until they gain enough followers to become a part of the mainstream. I think it's fair to say that members of a cult do not consider themselves to be cult members."
Most forum members are adults and can have a conversation. Atheism has been discussed here many times, especially when Lon was alive.
Then there are those members that join SOF and don't hardly post at all. All I'm saying is, Atheism isn't a "I'm interested and want to learn more" in Ken's forum. A number of members are making negative posts about Atheism. Or, haven't you noticed?
Silvia started this thread in the Atheism section of the forum, and any thread that is started, especially about religion and politics, is going to always have several different viewpoints in the responses. We all know that reading someone’s post in a forum thread is not likely to make a life-change in the reader’s life, so we are merely posting our opinions about the topic, not trying to convert anyone to either religion or atheism.