What is a Cult?
The term "cult" first appeared in English in 1617, derived from the French word Culte, meaning "worship." The Oxford dictionary describes a cult as a group of people whose members all believe in an ideal, person or event that is often contradictory to the social norm. The Church of England says a cult is a religion whose beliefs differ from the majority around them. For example in the Roman Empire, Christians were sometimes considered a cult because they worshipped Jesus rather than the established Roman gods. On the other hand, author and Christian apologist, Ravi Zacharias defines a cult as a religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner, under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.
Indeed there are many definitions of what a cult is and depending on the source, you may get completely different answers. But in modern culture any person or indeed anything can have a “cult” following. For example the American film “Napoleon Dynamite,” is said to have one of the largest cult followings in the world but its supporters are not collectively referred to as a cult. The same is true of many musicians who have cult followings but this does not necessarily mean they have any religious link or are considered extreme in any way.
In any sense of the word a cult usually means a following. This website is specifically devoted to exploring some of the most notorious and well publicized followings of the past and present.
For example cults such as: “The Movement for the Restoration of the 10 Commandments of God,” who murdered 778 of their own followers to simulate an apocalypse because their own prophecy of a real apocalypse was unfulfilled. Or members of the satanic cult: “The Ripper Crew,” who picked up prostitutes and murdered them, after which they would cut off their breasts and desecrate them before throwing them into a fire.
Or at the other end of the spectrum there are cults purely devoted to Hello Kitty brand of stuffed toys. Whatever the subject, human nature seems to persuade people to gather around charismatic people or an area of interest, sometimes in great numbers. This may be because of the comfort or safety of being in a group of like minded people or just to indulge in a shared topic. Cult followings are created everyday, some clearly more radical than others.
In summation after the analysis of many different cult rationalisations, this is what our own definition is and is the test applied to content before it is published on this site: A cult is a collection of two or more people with a common interest,goal or compilation of ideas that meet in some way and actively express whatever they feel through any medium over a period of time. Be that extreme or otherwise , the main criteria is that they are untied in their activities and beliefs.
So we invite you to delve into the deepest corners of KVLTS and explore some of the most bizarre and intriguing groups of people on Earth.
Indeed there are many definitions of what a cult is and depending on the source, you may get completely different answers. But in modern culture any person or indeed anything can have a “cult” following. For example the American film “Napoleon Dynamite,” is said to have one of the largest cult followings in the world but its supporters are not collectively referred to as a cult. The same is true of many musicians who have cult followings but this does not necessarily mean they have any religious link or are considered extreme in any way.
In any sense of the word a cult usually means a following. This website is specifically devoted to exploring some of the most notorious and well publicized followings of the past and present.
For example cults such as: “The Movement for the Restoration of the 10 Commandments of God,” who murdered 778 of their own followers to simulate an apocalypse because their own prophecy of a real apocalypse was unfulfilled. Or members of the satanic cult: “The Ripper Crew,” who picked up prostitutes and murdered them, after which they would cut off their breasts and desecrate them before throwing them into a fire.
Or at the other end of the spectrum there are cults purely devoted to Hello Kitty brand of stuffed toys. Whatever the subject, human nature seems to persuade people to gather around charismatic people or an area of interest, sometimes in great numbers. This may be because of the comfort or safety of being in a group of like minded people or just to indulge in a shared topic. Cult followings are created everyday, some clearly more radical than others.
In summation after the analysis of many different cult rationalisations, this is what our own definition is and is the test applied to content before it is published on this site: A cult is a collection of two or more people with a common interest,goal or compilation of ideas that meet in some way and actively express whatever they feel through any medium over a period of time. Be that extreme or otherwise , the main criteria is that they are untied in their activities and beliefs.
So we invite you to delve into the deepest corners of KVLTS and explore some of the most bizarre and intriguing groups of people on Earth.
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