--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Richard J. Williams" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > satvadude wrote: > > I would enjoy hearing your thoughts on the > > matter Richard. Any reaction to the story? > > > It all depends on the definition of 'cult'. > > The term 'cult' is just another term for 'sect'. > There are at least eight dictionary definitions > of the term 'cult'.
I always use Chambers: http://tinyurl.com/3gb8wz Do any other definitions exclude groups like scientology or the TMO? I'd be surprised if they did, you could probably fit most New Religious Movements into the definition above. > Apparently, the United States does not have a > classification for cults in its legal system. > > From what I've read, no one has as yet been > able to define 'cult' in any meaningful way. > However, it should be pointed out that the > idea of 'brainwashing' or 'mind control, > vis a vis, 'cults' has almost been totally > discredited. Manchurian candidate styule brain-washing yes, but general group conformity can make a True Believer out of most. People like to fit in and they sooner they pick up the lingo the better. I heard many people say they cringed at using terms like Nature Support when they first moved into academies but they soon got the hang of it. The more isloated you are from old friends and "normal" society the quicker it will happen. If I was classifying NRMs I would put the TMO down as cult-lite: crazy but happy, though rather expensive.
