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Post by wewerepr on May 23, 2021 19:55:23 GMT
Just a thought: cults that are simple and relatively straightforward can afford to focus on spreading, but when they get to a certain level of intricacy and complexity they have to discourage outside contact so that they can hold everything together? I know in reality the PRC and all cults are a complex mixture of culture, history, and personalities, but my brain is always trying to categorize and system build (just like everyone, but especially those of us who were brought up memorizing a system). Pure speculation here: depending on your definition of cult, the PRC (and many forms of organized religion, quite frankly) can be categorized as cults. However, I think one of the things that separates run-of-the-mill cults and organized religion is that the people who could be identified as cult leaders in organized religion genuinely believe in the cult themselves. Manipulators and narcissists who manipulate people into following them generally do what they can to amass more power since that is their ultimate focus, while organized religion’s ultimate focus is to serve the religion. What you said brings up an important point - since the primary motivator for the PRC is to preserve their religious beliefs, they will do what they can to not have them challenged. This means being insular, and being rigid and following tradition for traditions sake. When a cult’s primary purpose is to give power to its leader, then the cult can alter itself to make itself more palatable to outsiders. Honestly, the lines are more blurred than that - some leaders with genuine religious belief get so taken in by power that they change focus, and some leaders who keep the main focus of religion are manipulative narcissists. Further yet, I wouldn’t be surprised if some manipulators knowingly peddle utter crap then end up convincing themselves into actually believing it later. Edit: I didn’t make this clear; I do not believe all religious groups are cults and I don’t believe all religious people are cult members. In trying to understand how friends from the PRC are going to the RP, I have been on this site for just a couple months and I’m convinced again: the PRCA is indeed a cult. Not just a religion but a cult. The RP must be a cult as well?
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Post by fellowhuman on May 23, 2021 21:46:59 GMT
Pure speculation here: depending on your definition of cult, the PRC (and many forms of organized religion, quite frankly) can be categorized as cults. However, I think one of the things that separates run-of-the-mill cults and organized religion is that the people who could be identified as cult leaders in organized religion genuinely believe in the cult themselves. Manipulators and narcissists who manipulate people into following them generally do what they can to amass more power since that is their ultimate focus, while organized religion’s ultimate focus is to serve the religion. What you said brings up an important point - since the primary motivator for the PRC is to preserve their religious beliefs, they will do what they can to not have them challenged. This means being insular, and being rigid and following tradition for traditions sake. When a cult’s primary purpose is to give power to its leader, then the cult can alter itself to make itself more palatable to outsiders. Honestly, the lines are more blurred than that - some leaders with genuine religious belief get so taken in by power that they change focus, and some leaders who keep the main focus of religion are manipulative narcissists. Further yet, I wouldn’t be surprised if some manipulators knowingly peddle utter crap then end up convincing themselves into actually believing it later. Edit: I didn’t make this clear; I do not believe all religious groups are cults and I don’t believe all religious people are cult members. In trying to understand how friends from the PRC are going to the RP, I have been on this site for just a couple months and I’m convinced again: the PRCA is indeed a cult. Not just a religion but a cult. The RP must be a cult as well? In terms of its focus on the teachings of basically two men, the RPC looks more like a cult. Those who join it are also the most intransigent and irascible of the PR stock. On the other hand, the reason Lanning was deposed was because he failed to disagree with the hierarchical authorities in the right manner. Disagreements in the PRC are meant to be passed silently up the ecclesiastical chain where nearly all are sifted out and some are effective and their changes adopted. The choice of classis or Synod is meant to be binding, a sort of stamp of approval from God. Expressing disagreement too loudly before an issue is decided is foolish, and expressing disagreement afterward is heresy or even apostasy. Judge as you will. The line for cults is not scientific; really it's your discretion.
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