is there evidenc e that christianity is just another cult?

[burning flames]

crazy people here in jesus land hear the devil and god. do we know that crazy people in islamic or hindu communities hear allah, the shaitan, shiva or kali?

Do we see the same psychological signs in people escaping from "obvious cults" and people deconverting from christianity (or islam for that matter)

[nogods4me]

A cult is simply a religion of which you are not a member.

[David B]

It seems to me that now there are lots of cults within the broad umbrella of Christianity, as well as other Christian groups who don't have many of the defining characteristics of cults.

In the early days, though, the natural reading of several texts is that the second coming was going to happen in the lifetimes of people around then, which indicates to me that early Christianity was cultic.

David B

[Selsaral]

Is there evidence that Christianity isn't just another cult?

[Cheese]

Defintions required....

Cult


adherents of an exclusive system of religious beliefs and practices
fad: an interest followed with exaggerated zeal; "he always follows the latest fads"; "it was all the rage that season"
a system of religious beliefs and rituals; "devoted to the cultus of the Blessed Virgin"
In traditional usage, the cult of a religion, quite apart from its sacred writings ("scriptures"), its theology or myths, or the personal faith of its believers, is the totality of external religious practice and observance, the neglect of which is the definition of impiety. Cult is literally the "care" owed to the god and the shrine. ...
A religious group that follows a particular theological system. In the context of Christianity, and in particular, CARM, it is a group that uses the Bible but distorts the doctrines that affect salvation sufficiently to cause salvation to be unattainable. A few examples of cults are Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Science, Christadelphians, Unity, Religious Science, The Way International, and the Moonies.

Based on these can we answer the question better?

[naturalist.atheist]

crazy people here in jesus land hear the devil and god. do we know that crazy people in islamic or hindu communities hear allah, the shaitan, shiva or kali?

Do we see the same psychological signs in people escaping from "obvious cults" and people deconverting from christianity (or islam for that matter)

Yes. The same sorts of psychotic behavior can be found everywhere. That is because psychotic people can be found everywhere. Believing in Jesus certainly doesn't make you sane.

And when the behavior gets crazy enough even people who talk to god are called crazy by people who also talk to god.

[orac]

I belong to a religion. (No, not me personally.)
You belong to a sect.
They belong to a cult.

And noone who talks to god is called crazy unless they claim that god answered and has a different opinion to the person claiming that the person is crazy. ;)