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In Reply to: 2 Types of Cults posted by Mike W. on February 22, 2002 at 21:38:14:
Man is multidimensional and we function in many domains, as you say. We are different things and we bring them to decisions on issues that overlap many domains. For example, what movies to view with the family? or what types of conversation are appropriate in a social gathering?
I think we decide on issues based on how important we consider the domains related to that issue. If we consider religion very important, our decisions on what we eat will be very religious-like. If, on the other hand, we consider politics more important, then politics will have more weight and we may not eat that chicken because we opose chicken farms.
Considering individual churches I have seen how some of them discourage while others promote open discussions and critical thinking, even on scriptures. Since my involvement with the COG/FOL I have equated groups that discourage freedom of thought as being cult-like. I include here all types of groups, from social to sport clubs to political parties. Cult mentality does not exist only in religion but in any type of association.
In my opinion, you hit the mail on the head when you said obsessed. I wonder if cults are full of obsessed people who leave them as they get healed from their obsessive behaviour and on we go to another obsession...
I don't agree with you on your conclusion that religion should only be a PART of your universe, not the center but that is my personal position.
Our job is to separate our decisions within the different domains when they overlap: political, religious, etc. and realize that we are doing so. Then, if the issue is political, we should view it as such and decide on it as such. Likewise, if it is religious.
In the case of decisions, we assign more weight to one domain than to other(s) without realizing that is what we are doing. In the case of gay couples adopting children, your friends are surprised because they think you should give more weight to religion in that issue. But if the issue is political it should not be decided in the religious arena.
Likewise, religious issues should not be decided as being political. Even George Bush, our current president, started fliting with the gay side of the Republican party before his election.
Sad to say, most Christian movements and organizations have shut down their doors to intellectual freedom and failed to understand that dicussion of ideas if the nest of freedom and a sign of liberty. If there was an initial close relationship between Christian spirituality and politics in this country, it soon died down because most Christians did not know that the freedom of Christianity includes freedom to think.
