Dwayne Waden, whose Facebook profile identifies him as pastor of Elevated Life International Ministries and a semitruck driver, was arrested after the incident at a High Point, North Carolina, McDonald's.
At risk of taking the bait, I’m curious of other’s experiences - is it all religion that’s a cult, or Christianity alone? If so, is there a divide between Catholic/Protestant?
To me at least, the primary difference is time and size.
If the founder/god/messiah/prophet/messenger is still alive or died recently, folks call it a cult.
If the founder/god/messiah/prophet/messenger died a long time ago, folks call it a religion.
From my point of view it’s all the same, it’s just easier to add to the myth after a long time has passed. That and religions are widely accepted throughout wider culture as basic reality, and cults are considered fringe.
If those cults grow to represent wider culture, they’ll stop being called cults and instead be called religions.
This doesn’t take legal status into account or anything. It’s just an observation.
Again, I’m curious. Personally, I have not found my loyalty as a Christian to be forced, it’s of my own will. How can I ever prove (to myself or others) that it’s of my own free will, and not being brainwashed? This applies to anything: religion, politics, sports, school affiliation, nationality.
This doesn’t answer the question though - how can anyone know or decide for others that they are not brainwashed? I trust you’ve come to your own conclusion, as I’ve come to my own. It’s a poor excuse to call anything contrary to what I believe as being brainwashed unilaterally.
No point in debating with you about your being brain washed. You are and you’re the only person that can come to self realize in order to break away from the insanity of religion.
You really should get out of that cult. Don’t even try to say it’s “not” a cult.
At risk of taking the bait, I’m curious of other’s experiences - is it all religion that’s a cult, or Christianity alone? If so, is there a divide between Catholic/Protestant?
The only difference between a cult and a religion is size.
So all
(mainstream)religion is a cult apart from size.To me at least, the primary difference is time and size.
If the founder/god/messiah/prophet/messenger is still alive or died recently, folks call it a cult.
If the founder/god/messiah/prophet/messenger died a long time ago, folks call it a religion.
From my point of view it’s all the same, it’s just easier to add to the myth after a long time has passed. That and religions are widely accepted throughout wider culture as basic reality, and cults are considered fringe.
If those cults grow to represent wider culture, they’ll stop being called cults and instead be called religions.
This doesn’t take legal status into account or anything. It’s just an observation.
Any group that bends your mind into believing falsehoods and expects your loyalty is a Cult. No matter the religion, political party, etc.
Again, I’m curious. Personally, I have not found my loyalty as a Christian to be forced, it’s of my own will. How can I ever prove (to myself or others) that it’s of my own free will, and not being brainwashed? This applies to anything: religion, politics, sports, school affiliation, nationality.
So you have free will according to your belief system? You sure about that?
Then I guess God isn’t all-knowing right? Because if he knew what you were going to do before you did it, then it wouldn’t be “free will,” would it?
You are brain washed. Just not willing to admit it.
This doesn’t answer the question though - how can anyone know or decide for others that they are not brainwashed? I trust you’ve come to your own conclusion, as I’ve come to my own. It’s a poor excuse to call anything contrary to what I believe as being brainwashed unilaterally.
No point in debating with you about your being brain washed. You are and you’re the only person that can come to self realize in order to break away from the insanity of religion.
But you just made that determination for me? I’m confused, am I supposed to make my own decisions, or listen to others?
Religious people are brainwashed. That is a fact. No matter what I write back to you, you’ll never agree. You need to wake up to reality on your own.