From: Elizabeth.Mccoy@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Elizabeth Mccoy)
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: Re: cult
Message-ID: <4994@beguine.UUCP>
Date: 7 Aug 91 23:07:33 GMT
References: <86530@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU>
Sender: usenet@beguine.UUCP
Organization: Extended Bulletin Board Service
Lines: 47

In article <86530@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> noah@acsu.buffalo.edu (philip d noah) writes:
>scientology isn't a religion it is a CULT damn it !

_The Americal Heritage Dictionary of the English Language_, William
Morris, Ed. Published by American Heritage Publishing Co., Inc. &
Houghton Mifflin Company. Boston/New York/Atlanta/Geneva,
Illinois/Dallas/Palo Alto. (c) 1969, 1970 by American Heritage etc...
5th printing.

Page 321, Cult.

"cult:*n.* 1. A system or community of religious worship and ritual,
especially one focusing on a single diety or spirit. [Nope, not us. We
don't worship any spirit <though some might, it's not the religion that
does>.] 2. a. Obsessive devotion or veneration for a person, principle,
or ideal. [Obsessive? Maybe; again it depends on the person.] 2.b. The
object of such devotion.  3. An exclusive group of persons sharing an
esoteric interest. [Maybe. Dunno how "exclusive" we are.] (French
*culte*, from Latin *cultus*, cultivation, a laboring, worship, from the
past participle of *colere*, TO CULTIVATE."

On page 1099, religion.
"religion: *n.* ... 1. The expression of man's belief in and reverance
for a superhuman power recognized as the creator and governor of the
universe. [Sounds like 1 for cult, eh?] 2. Any particular integrated
system of this expression. ...  3. The spiritual or emotional attitude 
of one who recognizes the existance of a superhuman power or powers.
[I'd say that is applicable.] 4. Any objective attended to or pursued
with zeal or conscientious devotion. ... [the rest ommitted because my
fingers hurt.]"

Now, does this handle all the silly stuff about what is a cult and what
is a religion? Xianity is a cult/religion. Wicca is a cult/religion.
Scientology is a cult/religion. Stamp collecting is a cult
(esoteric)/religion (pursued with zeal). Cats are a religion. :-)  If we
want to call ourselves a religion, isn't it polite to abide by that? I
mean, if you wanted to be called Fred, and asked politely, or introduced
yourself as Fred, I'd call you Fred. Whuzza big deal?

--Elizabeth
Disclaimer: I am but human, not even Clear, my Word is not All, and my
fingers hurt. :-( 
--
   The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University of
     North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Campus Office for Information
        Technology, or the Experimental Bulletin Board Service.
           internet:  bbs.oit.unc.edu or 128.109.157.30