Definition of a cult

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
sorry you are talking of the word cult, I am talking of defining the term through observation of cult behavior, the same as a criminal is defined through criminal acts. If someone steals your property, will you go to the police and offer a lexical definition, yes officer, it was according to Rogets thesaurus, a criminal wot did it! Haha, what a nonsense.

Googlefudge said it above, but it bears repeating. You define what a cult is by looking at cult behaviour? Is that what you're seriously saying?!

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
sorry you are talking of the word cult, I am talking of defining the term through observation of cult behavior

So what [and how] are you going to select as "cult behavior" so that you can look at it and say THAT's "cult behavior"? And - apparently - you have to do it without "talking of the word cult", as you have objected to me doing so. 🙂

Originally posted by Proper Knob
Googlefudge said it above, but it bears repeating. You define what a cult is by looking at cult behaviour? Is that what you're seriously saying?!

not only am i saying it, i have produced references to substantiate the claim, after all a criminal is defined by criminal acts, please tell me why a cult cannot be defined by the behavior of its members, this is the wrong approach why?

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
yes officer wait till I look up my thesaurus to get a definition.

The word "criminal" is used in more than one way. Such is the reality of definitions and the meanings that people attach to words.

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
sorry if you cannot remain civil then you should not take part in any discussions here, once you apologise, ill answer your questions.

Everyone else is going to ask the question.


You are claiming that you define the word cult by looking at the behaviour of cults...


I was simply expressing the hope that you were capable of seeing that that is a circular argument.


I am not apologising because I haven't insulted you... yet.

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
criminal is defined by criminal acts

"The way Arsenal played in the second half was criminal."

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
not only am i saying it, i have produced references to substantiate the claim, after all a criminal is defined by criminal acts, please tell me why a cult cannot be defined by the behavior of its members, this is the wrong approach why?

A criminal is defined as such because they are breaking laws which have been decreed by government or a king/queen. Those laws are written down somewhere and everyone can see them and look at them. There are no such definitions or laws for what a 'cult' is, it's subjective.

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
not only am i saying it, i have produced references to substantiate the claim, after all a criminal is defined by criminal acts, please tell me why a cult cannot be defined by the behavior of its members, this is the wrong approach why?

A cult is a group that acts like a cult.

How do you know what acting like a cult looks like?

Why it's obviously the behaviour of cults...

Originally posted by Proper Knob
A criminal is defined as such because they are breaking laws which have been decreed by government or a king/queen. Those laws are written down somewhere and everyone can see them and look at them. There are no such definitions or laws for what a 'cult' is, it's subjective.

This thing robbie's introduced about the word "criminal" is a red herring. "Criminal" has its meanings; "cult" has its meanings; the words "pencil sharpener" have just the one meaning as far as I can make out. The meanings of these words do not affect each other and applications of these words have no bearing on each other.

Originally posted by Proper Knob
Demonstrate to us how you use the 'scientific method' in this particular instance.

The fact that the word "cult" is used subjectively to refer in a negative or disapproving way to groups [because of their beliefs or behaviour] is "observable" surely?

Originally posted by Proper Knob
A criminal is defined as such because they are breaking laws which have been decreed by government or a king/queen. Those laws are written down somewhere and everyone can see them and look at them. There are no such definitions or laws for what a 'cult' is, it's subjective.

A criminal is defined by behavior. It is clear that a cult can also be defined by behavior, as I have done, drawing certain defining criteria through that which can be observed. Why you should suddenly abandon the scientific method I cannot say.

Originally posted by FMF
The fact that the word "cult" is used subjectively to refer in a negative or disapproving way to groups [because of their beliefs or behaviour] is "observable" surely?

He seems to have gotten himself in a bit of a pickle. He's back on his merry-go-round of circular arguments.

Originally posted by Proper Knob
He seems to have gotten himself in a bit of a pickle. He's back on his merry-go-round of circular arguments.

I have done nothing of the sort, my definitions are clear and have, unlike our abandonment of the scientific method, have the added benefit of being proven with reference to actual cult behavior. Merry go round, yeah, that's right, honest officer, my thesaurus stated that it was a criminal not a mere pilferer of goods.

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
A criminal is defined by behavior.

"It's criminal the way things just seem to land in Barry's lap."

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
A criminal is defined by behavior. It is clear that a cult can also be defined by behavior, as I have done, drawing certain defining criteria through that which can be observed. Why you should suddenly abandon the scientific method I cannot say.

A criminal is defined by behaviour, and we can deem that behaviour criminal if a person breaks a law. If they beak a law they can be deemed a criminal.

Now you are saying we can deem what a cult is by the behaviour of it's members. But who gets to decide if that group of people is in fact a cult in the first place?