Sick of this argument like mad, so I think I'll copy and paste what I wrote on another forum:
Ok, I'll do the same.
In the years following the ascension of the resurrected Jesus to heaven, the Christian church grew rapidly. Christians soon found themselves to be the subjects of persecution by both the Romans and the Jews. In many locales, it became dangerous to be known as a Christian. Thus, when two strangers met and thought maybe they were fellow believers, one of them would draw, on the ground, the upper half of the fish symbol.
http://www.eureka4you.com/fish/fishhalve1.gif)
Recognizing the symbol, the stranger would add a second curved line and complete the drawing of a fish.
http://www.eureka4you.com/fish/fishhalve2.gif)
It is a very simple shape to draw - just two curved strokes. It could be drawn quickly, and erased just as quickly if there was no sign of recognition on the part of the stranger.
http://www.eureka4you.com/fish/fishsymbol.htm)
http://www.albatrus.org/english/reli...ish_symbol.htm)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichthys)
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The word "Cult" means this:
1. a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies.
2. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult.
3. the object of such devotion.
4. a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.
5. Sociology. a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.
6. a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader.
7. the members of such a religion or sect.
The literal and traditional meaning of the word cult is derived from the Latin cultus meaning "care" or "adoration", which from ancient times meant a traditional practice of religion or the tribal beliefs which preceded formal religions.
Since at least the 1920s to 40s, the approach of orthodox, conservative, or fundamentalist Christians was to apply the meaning of cult such that it included those religious groups who used (possibly exclusively) non-standard translations of the Bible, put additional revelation on a similar or higher level than the Bible, or had beliefs and/or practices that were not held by current, mainstream Christianity.
By some definition, cult could hold the same meaning as any normal religion. By other definitions, it is something that is not a formal religion, or something that does not follow fundamentalist Christian beliefs.
By some of those definitions, Christianity could be considered a cult, or could have started out as a cult. The early Christians had to hide from the Romans, thus making them below what was a formal religion back then. Or, a cult.
"Cult" is commonly accepted as a negative belief system, but a cult is simply an unorthodox religion for its time. Christians, as said before, use "cult" to refer to something that is, by some definition, not Christian.
In common society today, "cult" is a word given to a group of brainwashers, exploiters, "witchercraft", and other groups that may or may not manipulate people into a belief system. Depending on the situation, the person, and the point of view, nearly any religion (including modern day Christianity) could be considered a cult. The documentary "Jesus Camp" is an example of how Christianity today could fall, under some situations, into the modern day definition for the word "cult". Being raised and taught to be a tight Christian could be considered by some to be a form of brainwashing, manipulation, or indoctrination, thus also putting it into the current day definition of "cult".
What I'm trying to say is, the word has been manipulated for so long that it is hard to give it a meaning anymore. It is commonly accepted as a negative, but what it is an unorthodox religion for its time. Brainwashing is unorthodox now, but I'm sure throughout history that was even seen as a social norm once.
I'm not calling Christianity a negative in this sense. I'm calling it what it was at the time when the Ichthys (fish) was a sign of secrecy and digression. Today, I'm sure a religion that runs around making fish signs would be persecuted and called a "cult" by some, because that is exactly what it would be.
And, A religion that followers a science fiction novel could be considered unorthodox. Thus, by definition, Scientology is a cult, or an informal religion.
Christianity was informal and unorthodox once. Thus, a cult.
However, at least Christianity actually has evidence of being true, even if it's debatable after all this time, but that's natural when something lasts over, you know, 1,000 years.
Hubbard novel has many real world elements in it, like the Hydrogen bomb and the planes. A thousand years from now, we could have lost much of what we had today. Two thousand years from now, Scientology could be the new accepted Religion of many. His books could be that ages bible.
As you said, it is natural when something lasts over 1,000 years.
Scientology is science fiction, started in the mid-'60s, by an author of space fantasies who's sanity was very questionable. If anybody thinks that's even comparable to Christianity, then sign me up for the Jedi Academy, because I've felt like going on a murderous rampage against the Sand People lately.
The bible was a bunch of stories thousands of years old. There are stories of a man living in a giant fish. Stories of a man taking one of his ribs and making a woman. There are stories of flaming rain destroying cities.
I question the sanity of anybody who believes those stories. Same goes for the people that wrote them. It is the exact same thing, but Scientology just happens to be the new guy.
The very fact it has followers proves that it is believable. It has followers, and can thus be considered a cult at worst, and a new religion at best.
Thus, comparable to Christianity.