Religious Cults and Their Beliefs
76
Religious Cults and their Beliefs
Religious Cults are ridiculed the world over, for their outlandish beliefs, and their even more outlandish behaviour, not only do we ridicule them but we shun them at every opportunity in the hope that they will go away and bother someone else. But there is no doubt that the people who create a religious cult are fantastic business people and know exactly how to market their target followers, without their business acumen, the cults would die a slow death and wouldn't be so popular.
Cults rake in billions of dollars every year from their gullible followers.
How much do you actually know about the cult religions? What do they believe in, apart from the Almighty Dollar?
Below you will find the some religious Cults and their strange beliefs
Sun Myung Moon
The Moonies
The Unification church or as they are better known The Moonies, have a strict moral code.
They believe that Jesus appeared to Sun Myung Moon when he was 15 years old.
Strangest Belief- The Moonies believe that if you spend money in this life, it helps to allieviate the suffering of those in the afterlife.
you can learn more about the Moonies from their website.
Peter and Eileen Caddy
The Findhorn Foundation
Founded in 1962 by Peter and Eileen Caddy and Dorothy Maclean.
the principle of The Findhorn Foundation is to build a self-sufficiant eco and spiritual community, that does everything together, growing food,building houses, and generating electricity via wind turbines.
They also spend alot of time dancing and celebrating together.
Strangest Belief
Followers are expected to live at the foundations house on the Scottish Isle of Iona, but only during the freezing winter months, to renew their Spiritual education.
for more info visit the Findhorn website
Bruce Hales
David Miscavige
The Exclusive Brethren
The Exclusive Brethren also known as The Raven Taylor-Hales Bretheren was created in the early 1800s by John Nelson Darby, the current leader is Australian Businessman Bruce Hales.
They believe in Jesus, followers are banned from television, radio and the Internet and members are expected only to do business with other members.
Strangest Belief
Members are only allowed to socialise activly when they are celebrating the Lord's supper.
Although they don't allow members to use the internet The Exclusive Brethren do have a website.
The Church Of Scientology
David Miscavige is Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center
Scientology addresses the spirit and believes that man is more than a product of his genes. Believers join together in pursuing the "Ultimate reality".
Each follower has a one on one session with a Scientology auditor to help locate that persons "Area of concern".
Strangest Belief
During Childbirth, the mother should be silent because it is believed that the noises evoke bad memories when the child gets older.
visit the Scientology website for more info
The Chaos Star
Chaos Magick
Chaos Magick was founded by Austin Osman Spare, Ray Sherman and Peter Carrol.
Chaos Magicians - Believe that reality can be altered through the power of will, seeing belief as a state of mind.
Strangest Belief
Chaos Magicians believe that they can help bring about the change that they desire through Orgasm.
The Chaos Magick website
Mario Rodriguez Cobos
The Humanist Movement
The Humanist Movement - was founded in the 1960s by Argentinian Mario Rodriguez Cobos.
The aim of the movement is to overcome suffering through social and mental changes in the present world. All followers have to undertake a strict non-violence vow.
Strangest Belief
That money has become the most important thing in the world, creating violence and injustice, meaning that people no longer have the possibility to live as decent human beings.
The Humanist website
There are literally thousands of Religious cults out there each with their own set of beliefs and different ways of living their lives. they are big business and the Almighty Dollar keeps rolling in.
|
NEW TRUE RELIGION BRAND Bobby Big T Jeans size 26 NWT
Current Bid: $169.00
|
|
NWT TRUE RELIGION WOMEN'S JEANS JOEY BIG T SZ 28
Current Bid: $147.77
|
|
NWT TRUE RELIGION WOMEN'S JEANS BOBBY BIG T SZ 28 CHALK
Current Bid: $147.77
|
|
NWT TRUE RELIGION WOMEN'S JEANS BOBBY BIG T SZ 26 CHALK
Current Bid: $177.77
|
|
TRUE RELIGION MENS 28 MARCO BIG T MED CLEARWATER JEANS
Current Bid: $69.94
|
Join Hubpages Today
Do you like to Write, write on any topic that you want to, and make a few dollars for your trouble, join hubpages today and become a fully fledged published author.
it is free and there is a whole community of writers available 24/7,365. each willing to help you with valuable advice and writing tips in the forums.
|
New Religions: A Guide: New Religious Movements, Sects and Alternative Spiritualities
Price: $4.75
List Price: $45.00 |
|
Teaching New Religious Movements
Price: $44.00
List Price: $55.00 |
|
Religious Observances Of Al Haq Sect (Sanandaj, Kurdistan, Iran)
Price: $0.99
|
Share it! — Rate it: up down [flag this hub]
Comments
Thanks Patty I am not really a religious person myself, but i did enjoy researching this one. people have strange beliefs indeed.....jimmy
While I agree that cults aren't good in any way, what makes most of these cults? Yes, there are people who demand tributes or whatever, and live extremely hypocritically (ie, saying that money is evil but that everyone has to give all their money to the person in charge), but then one has to wonder; what's the difference between cults and religions? In a way, a few religions that call themselves a religion (not going to get into which ones) are actually cults in the way they demean everyone, yet they're considered a religion by everyone, not a cult.
Most of this is best to just agree to disagree; if someone's very existence depends on what the people in their religion/cult believe, then it's pathetic, but then there are plenty of people who actually think for themselves and still believe in similar concepts. For instance, with the chaos magicians, the belief that change can be done through orgasm isn't new. It's been said/thought/believed for thousands of years. In fact, there's an entire separate religion that's been around for a long time that also believes that. What would make them a cult is if they use religious belief in order to get others to have sex with them. If they believe that you can just have sex with anyone you feel like, even masturbate, that's not cult tactics. The Humanist movement does make sense - people have always done evil things in the pursuit of wealth. However, what really would make them a cult is if he demands that others give their money and belongings to them, not their beliefs.
It seems almost like the entire point of this hub was to make fun of people's beliefs, not to discuss any actual cults. Aside from that, there are tons of other cults out there that are a lot more dangerous than just believing in something that others don't.
Sorry but it just seems like you posted this just to have a laugh.
Luckily I am too broke to be attractive to any cults. However, there is a Church of Scientology two blocks from where I live. I always look in the windows as I pass, wondering if Tom Cruise is in town.
Hi Brandy, when I write to "have a laugh" or for readers to laugh, I write jokes, poetry, or amusing stories, Although I am not a religious person, I respect other peoples beliefs and religion. This article gives a brief description of the different religions and their beliefs, they are factual and all of the information that i have written here can be found on the individual websites that I have linked.
take care.....jimmy
Thanks Stacie, I hope you will meet Tom one of these days.....jimmy
Jimmy: Ah, thanks for clarification. Sorry for being testy, it's just a pet peeve when people make fun of others' beliefs. I probably came across differently than I meant to; I mostly wondered why these specific beliefs were written as cults and not others, but that's probably for space and time.
Well I can only say, the comments by Brandy Owens reflects the ignorance of the general Public, everyone has something to say but nobody thinks of doing any research, to establish what constitutes a cult and what is a religion, and what is true warship, Jimmy is not making anyone laugh, he is just pointing out how stupid some people are, they have got no logical thinking ability and are very unreasonable.
Yeah, Jimmy, these cults have got to go. Great hub, Jimmy! - Reverend wajay_47, Church of the Open Bottle.
I have always felt that religion is the greatest destructive force in all the world. Faith (whoever that belief is in) is a great comfort, strength and joy in a persons life. Religion tears almost everything that is good in the world in some form or another. I know what I beleive and I am firm in that belief. I do not need a church or their doctrine to help me know what I believe. Yes it was religion that got me to learn about how I think and what my faith is but it was also a combination of a few religions that helped me along the way. However as I looked closer I found too too many inconsistancies and hypocracies for my liking. So I do not nor shall I ever be associated with any formal religion thank you God! I like this site and hope you add to it.
PK
I was religious once, among other things, but such fanatacism led me to become just spiritual and shun religion.
Thank you, Jimmy, for putting this bunch together. :)
Jimmythejock -
I will admit... on my way over here, I was sure I would find another article about Mormons being a cult.
I just wanted to say, thank you, and that I appreciate the fact, that you did not.
Sorry for misjudging you. That is as wrong, as those that judge mormons to be a cult. It is simply because of assumption and a lack of good information.
I like writing on the Hub, and hopefully I can add to a better understanding and perhaps, even an appreciation for people of sincere faith.
tDMg
LdsNana-AskMormon
Hi Jimmy - risky territory, because one guy's religion is another guy's cult. I'm not sure 'humanist' belongs in this round up. To quote you -
The aim of the movement is to overcome suffering through social and mental changes in the present world. All followers have to undertake a strict non-violence vow.
Strangest Belief
That money has become the most important thing in the world, creating violence and injustice, meaning that people no longer have the possibility to live as decent human beings.
- There's not too much to argue with there, is there?
Its really amazing how people get carried away.
Thankyou everyone who has commented, I wonder though if anyone of you have ever been or had a family member who was in a "cult" and how it affected the people around you or them......jimmy
Paraglider
Bringing up the idea, that some or all (?) those who are labeled 'cults' vow to not do violence... which is great, but what about war, to ensure freedom from bondage. I know that many, if not most wars, have been over power - over someone else, not necessarily defense for freedom.
The United States, initially fought to have freedom. Is this a worthy cause to enact violence on others who would take away the freedom of others?
I believe that to be free, is one of the greatest blessings in our lives. Many are not.
Jimmythejock -
What more can you tell us, about 'why' those who join a 'cult' (still have a hard time labeling anyone) refuse or vow to never engage in this way?
Don't we all pray, that none of our sons and daughter are sent to war, for anything less than our freedom?
tDMg
LdsNana-AskMormon
Lds-Nana -
I commented here because I have never (till now) seen humanists described as a cult. In fact, it is so out of order that I strongly suspect Jimmy was being tongue-in-cheek. I certainly hope so.
Defending your own freedom when it is attacked is natural, even if the defence is a Ghandi-style show of non violent non-acquiescence.
Aggressive, politically motivated foreign policy, as practised by the present regime in US, cannot be called 'defence' of anything at all, and is inexcusable.
Neat collection, Jimmy - and good to have the links to the asociated sites. That lets readers make up their own minds.
On the question 'what constitutes a cult?' : My experience is that a movement is more likely to be labelled a cult by those whose own beliefs or culture are threatened by it. Hence just about everyone will call a movement that encourages mass suicide a cult, but a few mainstream Christian religions, and some governments, consider organisations like Jehovah's Witnesses to be cults. The Romans considered the early Christians to be a seditious movement - with good reason.
I used to live just outside Findhorn, and knew some of the 'external' faces of the Findhorn Foundation, but plenty of locals eyed them with suspicion, spreading rumours about LSD sandwiches, etc.
This is very interesting. I recently watched a "monk" episode in which he joined a cult to help solve a murder. They made him give them all his money. It was crazy.
A very interesting hub! I have links to follow. I'll be back!
Good stuff, jimmy. Quite interesting.
Interesting....aside from Moonies and Scientology, these others I hadn't heard of before.
I agree w/chabrenas' comment below:
"Neat collection, Jimmy - and good to have the links to the asociated sites. That lets readers make up their own minds."
working
Patty Inglish, MS says:
6 months ago
Thank you jimmy; this is a very informative hub.