Classifications

[DrMatt]

Here are three categories:


Superstition
Cult
Religion


What tests can I apply to reliably and objectively classify things as belonging to each of these categories? Are they mutually exclusive categories?

I've consulted a few dictionaries and the only distinction I was able to bring away from them was one of connotation or attitude.

[ceo_esq]

Interesting query; it’s difficult to approach these distinctions systematically.

For what it’s worth, Aquinas, the systematic philosopher par excellence, did attempt to analyze the nature of superstition in the Summa Theologica (available online here (http://www.ccel.org/a/aquinas/summa/SS/SS092.html#SSQ92OUTP1), among other places; the analysis continues in subsequently linked sections).

I’m not sure I could formulate a good definition of “superstition”, but in a general way I’d venture to say that it’s what religion can become if it’s cut off from reason and scientific inquiry for very long.

As for the definition of “cult”, I seem to recall that there was an old thread devoted to this question, but I can’t locate it. However, the website of Cultic Studies Journal (a scholarly periodical) does offer some pointers in what it calls "Cults 101 (http://www.csj.org/infoserv_cult101/cult101.htm)".

[evildave]

Superstition: Those unreasonable fears and suspicions that are NOT a part of your religion.

Cult: The church across the street from your church.

Religion: That which you alone possess, and none of those other heathens (especially those across the street) have.

[stamenflicker]

Superstition -- Misbelief.

Cult -- Organized misbelief with determental human consequences.

Religion -- Organized beliefs or misbeliefs with consequences of human meaning.

Flick

[Dancing David]

Superstision: beliefs held despite lack of empiracal proof.

Cult: name applied to other religions

Religion: whatever you want to call it.

Evildave, way to go!

Peace

[Upchurch]

Superstision: Belief that there is NO God

Cult: A-theism

Religion: A-theism

[roger]

I disagree with other posts stating that "cult" is used for religions that aren't your own.


Cult is used for an organization that inflicts serious harm on an individual - examples would include taking all or most of your money, requiring the member to cut off all contact from their family, has them kill themselves to visit a flying saucer in space, etc. These groups usually use psychological tactics to 'break down' their peope. Sleep deprivation, uncomfortable environments (too hot, too cold), food deprivation, etc.

I can't remember an instance of a Catholic calling a Protestant a member of a cult, for example (except on internet boards).

In general the term is not used to describe vast differences in beliefs (compare Christianity to Hindu to Native American religions, for example), nor the unpopular religions (never heard Judiaism described as a cult in America, except on the internet).

[kourama]

Originally posted by roger
I disagree with other posts stating that "cult" is used for religions that aren't your own.


Cult is used for an organization that inflicts serious harm on an individual - examples would include taking all or most of your money, requiring the member to cut off all contact from their family, has them kill themselves to visit a flying saucer in space, etc. These groups usually use psychological tactics to 'break down' their peope. Sleep deprivation, uncomfortable environments (too hot, too cold), food deprivation, etc.

I can't remember an instance of a Catholic calling a Protestant a member of a cult, for example (except on internet boards).

In general the term is not used to describe vast differences in beliefs (compare Christianity to Hindu to Native American religions, for example), nor the unpopular religions (never heard Judiaism described as a cult in America, except on the internet).

Roger: I think that, in general, religions demonstrate all the traits of cults to some degree. In my opinion, religion is a cult that has been diluted by a little common sense and a little sharing of power, so that the rules aren't always so harshly enforced.

[DialecticMaterialist]

Well no definitions are really universal/set in stone. At least none of these are. However I see a difference between what we call a cult and a religion. Superstition I am iffy on.

Anyways this is how I define the three(in an aproximate manner):

Cult: A group of people fanatically devoted to a belief, who strongly isolate themselves from mainstream society/inquiry and adhere to an authoritarian belief system.

Some elements can be, practiced excommunication, cutting off non-cult members,listening to cult dogma without questioning and even seeing an denial of cult dogma as evil.

In this sense even a secular group like Objectivism can be seen as a cult. Ayn Rand for example, told one of her top followers to divorce his wife after she found out the man's wife was a Catholic or get kicked out of the movement. Ayn Rand also told her followers to not be friends with non-Objectivists/wouldn't be friends with them herself. Behavior like this are what makes a cult a cult. (Notice many beliefs practive this to a degree, cults just do to a greater degree and more frequanetly.)


Satanism however I would not consider a cult as the religion does not promote any extreme authoritarianism or isolationism.


Religion:

Belief system that promotes man's relatioship with the "sacred." The sacred is something beyond the natural world.

Religion has three elements, myth,dogma and ritual.

Superstition: A false cause and effect belief.

Notice these definitions are messy and not mutually exclusive. Somewhat can belong to a religious cult that adheres to many superstions. However no definition is perfect. Many if not most are mere approximations.

Dear Dr.Matt,

These are all extremely difficult to define. The dissimilarity of answers shows that people cannot exactly agree on common definitions, even though there is some amount of agreement present.

Here are my incomplete attempts

Superstition: something done or believed mostly because it was done or believed in the past

Cult: a high-demand system, and/or an extremely small system, and/or an abusive system

Religion: an organized system, composed primarily of superstition

Sincerely,

S.H.

[DrMatt]

I'm resigned to the understanding that a direct definition of the three terms may not be forthcoming. That's why I asked for operational tests which I could objectively apply to figure out whether any given thing did or did not fit in each of the categories. Again, I'm not convinced the categories are distinct or disjunct--I am still waiting for an example which I can clearly see fits in one of the categories but not the other two, even.