Lowell, MA Cult- A group of people who do crazy stuff for there leader, and would do anything just to stay in that group.That's what I think a cult is. Savannah A cult is a small group of devotees who believe in the revelations of a self-appointed leader. Generally they have no written or oral tradition. Jill, 59
Saylorsburg, PA A group of individuals who defy the government rules and expectations of the norm for all people. THose who subject children to their beliefs Children do not understand why they follow that belief. THey know it as normal because their parents do it. Those who make others suffer or live in worse conditions than themselves. A group who uses the laws that are not biblical, environmental, spiritual nor governmental to explain their beliefs. Stephanie, 24
TX A cult is a group of followers that do satanic worship and evil things. They use animals and people especially women carrying a baby for sacrifice. They are evil and usually not in their right mind or under the influence of drugs or other satanis powers. Marci, 55
Diamond, OH No offense, but aren't we going a little overboard with all these definitions? I know of a dictionary website y'all can use. . . Karen, 21
Marshelltown/Ames, IA A system of religious worship. I think that's the dictionary defition as well. Shanna, 15
Cardiff ENGLAND First off I'd like to apologize for coming up with questions that assume everyone wants to write their own dictionary. To me 'cult' is just another word for religion. Some people say it involves a human leader who claims to be directly linked to God (like the pope). Some people say it's a group of people whose beliefs blatantly misinterpret the Bible (how many interpretations are there? Every variation of Christianity disagrees with the others to some extent). Alias Irrelevante I actually no longer use that word at all, because in truth it is far too easy to use as a slander against a religion that is simply different. If pressed, however, I would define it as a group that uses extremely high-pressure tactics to compell its followers to an extremely rigid code of ethics, that requires all of its followers to surrender all personal property to the group (rather than such a move being an option a select few may choose to do), that forces its followers to cut off all contact with friends and family not in the group and ostracizes those who do not do so, and ultimately leads to group self-destruction.
Kim, 30
New York, NY
*shrugs* I have no idea. I don't know much about them, but I guess it would be a group of people who believe in something or an idea that is strange or radical???
Jeremy, 13
Highlands Ranch, CO
It really could be used to describe everything from followers of Manson to the viewers of Pink Flamiingos. I guess the best definition I can come up with is a cult is a group of people who passionately follow something. Sometimes with reason, mostly without.
Felicia, 34
Lowell, MA
A group of people whose mindset has departed radically from the mindset of the majority of society's people. Mindset being the opinions, lifestyles, moral codes and practices that make up a person as a whole.
Jesse, 24
Bowie, MD
A cult is comprised of a group of people passionately if mindlessly devoted to a particular object of worship, often a particular method of worship or a specific belief in something like the date for the end of the world, and usually a messianic, charismatic leader. Cult members generally renounce all ties to the outside world.
Jane, 60
West Linn, OR
A cult has different meanings to me, although I suppose when I think of the word 'cult', I think of evil religious fanatics with followers in a trance with them. That's probably because the first time I heard the word used was when that Heaven's Gate thing was going on.
Gavin
Sydney AUSTRAILA
fraternities.... ooohhh... score one for the GDIs and the college intellectual "alternaspookikids"!
Amy, 23
New Orleans, LA
drains in pools.... roaches and wasps... death...
Brooke, 16
Memphis, TN
A cult is a group of people that is involved in its own affairs so deeply that it excludes other people (family, friends, neighbors) A cult member is expected to follow the groups ideologies without question and often become so involved it is nearly impossible to get out. Scary stuff.
Maggie, 20
Sandwich, IL
wal-mart....lol. no, seriously, anything that includes mass suicide, following someone who says they are god or drinking kool-aid with cyanide is probably my definition of a cult.
Angela, 16
Aiken, SC
An organization with leaders and followers that controls your mind so much that you eat sleep and breathe it's dogma.
Jaden, 21
Brampton, Ontario CANADA
Sam's Choice Cola vs Pepsi same thing as the more popular brands, just without the name recognition
Anthony, 25
Baton Rouge, LA
A bunch of people believing that someone is the Messiah who is not, and they are usually serial killers, and the supposed Messiah is not really who he says he is
Melodi, 19
Hlliard, OH
Perth AUSTRALIA
i don't know. . . any group that "thinks" largely as a unit, where each individual's idenity is inextricably linked to the group's "consciousness. . " something like that. . .
mothmc, 36Los Angeles, CA USA