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cult?
is it considered a cult, when someone is brainwashed to believe certain things. For example i use to go to church with my friend but i stopped going recently because they are being told to go out and pour into other people's lives about Jesus even if they don't know them, and that twilight and harry potter is bad because they talk about witches and vampires. My best friend believes all this and now she starts telling me i shouldn't watch this movie because they say bad things and harry potter is dumb, and one time she saw a ganesh figurine in my car and said it's bad just because it wasn't her god. i've posted a question like this before and i know it's getting old but im worried, even though there isn't much i can do. i mean all they talk about is jesus and even at birthday parties they do prayers and it's weird. not only that but they have a youth pastor and they even hang out with him, his wife, and kids. they're really young. they both went to a bible college called CFNI and a lot of my friends are going there now, and i am not sure if it's because of their influence, since a lot of them weren't raised in christian homes. so is this church a cult? i feel like it is because the pastors are making them believe all these things. so i am not sure.
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There are many, many sects of Christianity which meet the requirements of "Cult" or have at some point during their history. The Catholic Church has only really not been a cult because it's been so big for so long that it's gained some degree of legitimacy.
However, it doesn't have to be a cult to be unhealthy. They don't have to brainwash you to put unfair pressure on you. They crossed that line with baptism.
I was brought up in Catholicism. I was baptized into the church before I was six months old. I think that baptizing children into the church at that age is messed up. I didn't have a choice about being part of that church.
You weren't in any better of a situation. You were essentially coerced into baptism by stupid kids who don't know any better. They think any baptism is a good baptism because their parents don't know any better either.
Superficial service to God is good enough for them. It's obviously not good enough for you.
The answer to your first question is, essentially, yes. They believe this because of the pastor, their parents, and community.
That's how religion works, you indoctrinate the young so they believe from a young age.
I would remove myself from that group if I were you. They will continue to try to inundate you with their way of thinking until you cave or walk away anyway. There is no meaningful connection to be made with those who refuse to associate with others who do not conform to their belief systems.
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There are many different definitions of what the word 'cult' means.
Some christian churches are absolutely cults. Mormonism, for example, would be a cult by many definitions, but not all.
I can't tell you, just from what you've described here, if the church your friend is attending is a cult or not. There isn't enough information, and remember what I said before: There are many different definitions of what makes something a cult. It definitely sounds like a fundamentalist christian group, but it may or may not be a cult.
Regardless if that church is a cult or not, you don't want to be a part of it and that's okay! Their behavoir is rude and inappropriate in some of the same ways as a cults behavoir would be rude or inappropriate: It's inappropriate and unkind to put so much pressure on someone to accept a very specific kind of religious belief. It's rude to only show caring for a friend when they agree with your religious beliefs. It's rude not to listen to your friend's values, when they are different then you own and continue to argue and pressure when 'agreeing to disagree' would be the respectful response. It's not nice behavoir, or friendly behavoir, and it's okay if you don't want to be their friends.
Don't worry so much about if it's a cult or not, consider the people who are involved: Do they make your life happier or healthier? Do they seem to genuinely care for you, and you for them? Do you enjoy their company? Can you respect one another and talk freely and honestly with them?
It's okay to not want to be near the people who do things you aren't comfortable with, regardless if their church is a cult or not.
I disagree with Peeps on that point - This is not normal or healthy behavoir they are engaging in. Your friends might just be young, keen teenagers who are (hopefully) in the process of learning how to be respectful of others beliefs - just like you are learning how to coexist with their fundamentalist beliefs. But what you've described here not healthy, because it's disrespectful and unkind.
It is tough not be disrespectful and rude right back when you are faced with that much pressure and rigid belief. I'm sure you have been rude back to them sometimes, and you should always try not to be. But, you can be friendly and respectful to them, without being their friends.
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Yes and no.
Christianity is not a cult in this sense because what you believe a cult is probably is something about extremist, sacrifices, and insane behavior.
In the sense of yes, it is, then you must realized that all religions would fall under the "cult" definition:
Webster's Dictionary says:
Definition of CULT
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>
5a : 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 : the object of such devotion
c : a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion
This site also may help when trying to decide if Christianity is a cult:
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
What she is doing is not extremist behavior at all.
If she was, say, threatening to kill non-believers then that would be extreme.
If she was, say, burning an entire library down because it contained some books about atheism then that would be extreme.
If she was, say, refusing to speak a word to ANYONE that didn't follow her religion then that would be extreme.
She has a belief system now. That's is perfectly fine. It is acceptable to "give your life" to Christ.
Your friend is, likely, not being brainwashed either. Just because YOU don't believe the same things she does not doesn't mean she's being forced or manipulated into the new beliefs.
She believes that God is good. She believes that Jesus saves. She believes that Heaven is a place you want to go.
She believes if you sin then you don't get to Heaven. Of course she wants to be on her best behavior.
It's like saying: Her parents make her go to bed at 8 every night! They're brainwashing her to believe she should do that sort of thing but last year she didn't go to be until 9! When she stays over my house she even wants to go to sleep by 8 at night.
You're overreacting to this entirely too much.
Relax.
Stop being her friend. Seriously. You can't handle it. This is too much for you to comprehend.
Prayer at birthday parties is absolutely normal. Hell, Jews have religious celebrations instead of birthday parties! Think about it. A prayer at a party is no big deal, especially compared to an entire RELIGIOUS celebration instead of a birthday celebration. Nobody goes, "Wow! Jews are extreme! It's a cult because they actually believe in their religion!"
Back away from this girl immediately. You're driving yourself insane over-thinking this. It is what it is and there REALLY is nothing wrong with this. It's like getting pissed off because your best friend suddenly says, "Hey, I was thinking about it today and my favorite color really is orange," when you think it should be red. Seriously.
She is in no danger in this situation. What you describe is perfectly normal and healthy for a Christian person.
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