Whats the difference between cults and Catholocism?

Question

Idol worship, blood sacrifice, corrupt people of power, taking large sums of money from the followers, brainwashing, etc?

Is there a difference?

Answer 1

Well, if you think *catholicism* is cult- like then all religious sects must be because they all take people's money and tell them how to believe.

Answer 2

christians do not worship[ idols and there is no blood sacrifice.

Answer 3

Catholics don't worship idols, corrupt people are everywhere not just Catholics, I really don't think they have blood sacrifices and the people give money they don't have it taken and no it's not brainwashing but just gullible believers. Cults are very different, here is a checklist on how to spot a cult. One way to educate yourself is to actually learn about something and experince it before making assumptions based on hearsay

http://www.csj.org/infoserv_cult101/chec...

Answer 4

Bainbridge and Stark looked at why people join cults, they were working way back, in the 1940/50/60's, but their main argument was that cults offered 'believers' compensators. A compensator is something of very high value you will receive if you follow the cult and act/believe in accordance to the cult leader’s teachings.

So, the promise of 'ever-lasting' life after you die in 'paradise' is a pretty valuable compensator for going to church every Sunday and giving money to the collection. So, a firm check there!

High ranking members of cults have often abused their positions, look at all the cult leaders you have treated the women of the cult as their own, personal property. No look at the child abuse scandals within the Catholic Church! So, another firm check!

Many cults require their members to hand over large amounts of money to gain entrance to the cult, and gain access to the cult's secrets (mentioning no names, scientology!). The Catholic Church expects church members to hand over cash during church services and as tithes. So, another check!

Idol worship! Well, if the cross wasn't enough of an idol (and if it is not an idol, I don't know what it is!!), the Catholic Church worships Mary almost as much as Jesus, if not more! Statues of Mary are everywhere in Catholic churches and the homes of Catholics. And what is the rosary all about??!! So, another check!

I have seen young children at a Catholic school during a school mass. They go into a form of authopilot mode, as the priest says a trigger phrase, everyone automatically responds with an accepted answer. This looks and feels like brainwashing to me, and if it looks like a duck and quacks, then it’s a duck! So, another check there!

Blood sacrifice! Wasn't Jesus supposed to have been crucified? And doesn't the congregation drink wine that represents his blood? That's close enough for me too. Another check there too!

So, is there a difference between a cult and Catholicism? Not a lot, except for size and number of believers. So, when does a cult become an accepted religion? When it's got 1,000,000 believers or more?

Answer 5

catholicism is silimar to the religion Christianity  just  a bit different a cult takes over your mind, corrupts you, and can possibly lead you into a world that is not reality

Answer 6

as far as i'm concerned the catholic church is the most convincing...yes they have money but they give it too...they read the bible to you and elaborate on it...thoroughly...i hate when a church takes one sentence turns it around to their convenience and then rip people off....(cults)

furthermore, catholicism is lead by a priest who goes to school and is highly educated....not by a religious fanatic that had a vision after going on a weird LSD trip.

as far as I'm concerned...no other religion is as organized and considered sacred as the catholic church...it is a religion that brings the word to the masses and has survived throughout time.

what gets me is...when "weird spirits or demons" posses people or places....the only church that has the education and strength to perform these rites of exorcism or steps up for that matter, is the catholic church...where do other religions or cults go??

I'm not even catholic ...but looking at things in a logical and rational way with evidence presented...it makes lot's of sense...