Does this sound like a Cult ?

This preschool my son goes to theres a group of mothers who only socialize with people in their specific cult. While waiting for the kids to come out there is (at least I notice ) two groups of peope who converse. The normal people who all chat and make small talk and then these four who go off to the side and speak only with their cult members. If none are present they stand there silently. They also apparently don't want their kids socializing with non cult members. Unfortunately one of the cult members organizes certain functions and always puts her cult member friends on the calendar before anyone else has access to it which has angered many of the normal parents.

I've had other dealings with this cult in the workplace. These people are extremely strange, prone to listening to vile country music, and the inability to socialize with normal people outside of their own cult.

By the way did I mention they were Mennonites ?

I don't know if I would consider Mennonites a cult, wierd no doubt, but they aren't insane.

Well it bothers me that the Roman Catholics didn't wipe them out in the medieval era so that I wouldn't have to deal with them now.

Like at work one time I brought my radio because these mennonite contractors listening to country music were giving me a fkn headache. So I turned it to a normal radio station that played your avg rock music, nothing hardcore stuff you'd hear on your local radio station. I'm up in the rafters doing ductwork when my radio goes off. I climb down notice its unplugged. Ok, its a rechargeable dewalt radio so I turn battery on. Climb back up. After a few minutes the radios off. I climb down and shout at the top of my lungs "DON'T FKN TOUCH MY RADIO."

So I took the radio up into the rafters with me hooked my phone up with all my mp3's and put on Opeth Karma & Tool Opiate on full volume. Within a few minutes I see this guy come wandering in looking around for my radio and he looks up. So I climb down and confront him and ask why should I have to listen to their music if they don't wanna listen to mine. He replies "We're christian we don't stand for that music."

I started laughing at the guy. Told him I was christian too. He replied "I'm MENNONITE!" Like it was announcing he was super man. I said "oh that explains it." Went back up to the rafters and switched my phone to deathmetal and kept it cranked all day.

Whats to know other then being a cult ? They're females all have these blank looks on their faces and lack the ability to talk about anything other then church.

Well it bothers me that the Roman Catholics didn't wipe them out in the medieval era so that I wouldn't have to deal with them now.

Like at work one time I brought my radio because these mennonite contractors listening to country music were giving me a fkn headache. So I turned it to a normal radio station that played your avg rock music, nothing hardcore stuff you'd hear on your local radio station. I'm up in the rafters doing ductwork when my radio goes off. I climb down notice its unplugged. Ok, its a rechargeable dewalt radio so I turn battery on. Climb back up. After a few minutes the radios off. I climb down and shout at the top of my lungs "DON'T FKN TOUCH MY RADIO."

So I took the radio up into the rafters with me hooked my phone up with all my mp3's and put on Opeth Karma & Tool Opiate on full volume. Within a few minutes I see this guy come wandering in looking around for my radio and he looks up. So I climb down and confront him and ask why should I have to listen to their music if they don't wanna listen to mine. He replies "We're christian we don't stand for that music."

I started laughing at the guy. Told him I was christian too. He replied "I'm MENNONITE!" Like it was announcing he was super man. I said "oh that explains it." Went back up to the rafters and switched my phone to deathmetal and kept it cranked all day.

Skarwolf

The nerve. But really I don't think their a cult, I mean they drive mini vans and shop at wal-mart for pity's sake.

Whats to know other then being a cult ? They're females all have these blank looks on their faces and lack the ability to talk about anything other then church.

Skarwolf

All religions are cults to some degree or another.

Whats to know other then being a cult ? They're females all have these blank looks on their faces and lack the ability to talk about anything other then church.

Skarwolf

Maybe they just really love church,I mean who wouldn't:roll: ?

This preschool my son goes to theres a group of mothers who only socialize with people in their specific cult. While waiting for the kids to come out there is (at least I notice ) two groups of peope who converse. The normal people who all chat and make small talk and then these four who go off to the side and speak only with their cult members. If none are present they stand there silently. They also apparently don't want their kids socializing with non cult members. Unfortunately one of the cult members organizes certain functions and always puts her cult member friends on the calendar before anyone else has access to it which has angered many of the normal parents.

I've had other dealings with this cult in the workplace. These people are extremely strange, prone to listening to vile country music, and the inability to socialize with normal people outside of their own cult.

By the way did I mention they were Mennonites ?

Skarwolf

People have the tendency to associate with those who are similar to themselves. How is that evidence of a cult?

Well it bothers me that the Roman Catholics didn't wipe them out in the medieval era so that I wouldn't have to deal with them now.Skarwolf

[QUOTE="Skarwolf"]

This preschool my son goes to theres a group of mothers who only socialize with people in their specific cult. While waiting for the kids to come out there is (at least I notice ) two groups of peope who converse. The normal people who all chat and make small talk and then these four who go off to the side and speak only with their cult members. If none are present they stand there silently. They also apparently don't want their kids socializing with non cult members. Unfortunately one of the cult members organizes certain functions and always puts her cult member friends on the calendar before anyone else has access to it which has angered many of the normal parents.

I've had other dealings with this cult in the workplace. These people are extremely strange, prone to listening to vile country music, and the inability to socialize with normal people outside of their own cult.

By the way did I mention they were Mennonites ?

TwoFace-BS

[QUOTE="Skarwolf"]

Whats to know other then being a cult ? They're females all have these blank looks on their faces and lack the ability to talk about anything other then church.

SUD123456

All religions are cults to some degree or another.

People have the tendency to associate with those who are similar to themselves. How is that evidence of a cult? [QUOTE="Skarwolf"]

Well it bothers me that the Roman Catholics didn't wipe them out in the medieval era so that I wouldn't have to deal with them now.mindstorm

[QUOTE="mindstorm"]

People have the tendency to associate with those who are similar to themselves. How is that evidence of a cult? [QUOTE="Skarwolf"]

Well it bothers me that the Roman Catholics didn't wipe them out in the medieval era so that I wouldn't have to deal with them now.cheese_game619

I always think of cults as trying to isolate their members and going to great lengths to discourage them from socializing with people who aren't in their cult. I don't think the Mennonites qualify - sounds like those people are just friends with each other and so they hang out together.

It doesn't sound like a cult. They just sound like a tight clique....I've seen groups like that before from mennonites to jocks to av club peeps to LARPers. They just have their own thing they got going on. No biggie.

It does sound sound like douchbaggery in that second story though...at least in the Radio Story where that jackass was turning off your radio.

[QUOTE="SUD123456"]

[QUOTE="Skarwolf"]

Whats to know other then being a cult ? They're females all have these blank looks on their faces and lack the ability to talk about anything other then church.

LJS9502_basic

All religions are cults to some degree or another.

Umm...yes. By definition. And by etymology of the word. But we don't like that word so much anymore, so we avoid it when discussing the mainstream; however, it is the same and comes from the same root. If you worship someone or thing and you have rites and ceremonies then you are a cult.

[QUOTE="Skarwolf"]Well it bothers me that the Roman Catholics didn't wipe them out in the medieval era so that I wouldn't have to deal with them now.mindstorm

Umm...yes. By definition. And by etymology of the word. But we don't like that word so much anymore, so we avoid it when discussing the mainstream; however, it is the same and comes from the same root. If you worship someone or thing and you have rites and ceremonies then you are a cult.

SUD123456

As such, the only rituals we actually partake in would be baptism and the Lord's supper. None of us put on robes and walk in circles chanting, none of us sacrifice animals on alters, and none of us have alters we bow down to. We simply seek to live life for the sake of God's glory.

[QUOTE="TwoFace-BS"][QUOTE="Skarwolf"]

This preschool my son goes to theres a group of mothers who only socialize with people in their specific cult. While waiting for the kids to come out there is (at least I notice ) two groups of peope who converse. The normal people who all chat and make small talk and then these four who go off to the side and speak only with their cult members. If none are present they stand there silently. They also apparently don't want their kids socializing with non cult members. Unfortunately one of the cult members organizes certain functions and always puts her cult member friends on the calendar before anyone else has access to it which has angered many of the normal parents.

I've had other dealings with this cult in the workplace. These people are extremely strange, prone to listening to vile country music, and the inability to socialize with normal people outside of their own cult.

By the way did I mention they were Mennonites ?

dkdk999

[QUOTE="SUD123456"]Umm...yes. By definition. And by etymology of the word. But we don't like that word so much anymore, so we avoid it when discussing the mainstream; however, it is the same and comes from the same root. If you worship someone or thing and you have rites and ceremonies then you are a cult.

mindstorm

As such, the only rituals we actually partake in would be baptism and the Lord's supper. None of us put on robes and walk in circles chanting, none of us sacrifice animals on alters, and none of us have alters we bow down to. We simply seek to live life for the sake of God's glory.

[QUOTE="mindstorm"]

[QUOTE="SUD123456"]Umm...yes. By definition. And by etymology of the word. But we don't like that word so much anymore, so we avoid it when discussing the mainstream; however, it is the same and comes from the same root. If you worship someone or thing and you have rites and ceremonies then you are a cult.

cheese_game619

As such, the only rituals we actually partake in would be baptism and the Lord's supper. None of us put on robes and walk in circles chanting, none of us sacrifice animals on alters, and none of us have alters we bow down to. We simply seek to live life for the sake of God's glory.

[QUOTE="SUD123456"]Umm...yes. By definition. And by etymology of the word. But we don't like that word so much anymore, so we avoid it when discussing the mainstream; however, it is the same and comes from the same root. If you worship someone or thing and you have rites and ceremonies then you are a cult.

mindstorm

As such, the only rituals we actually partake in would be baptism and the Lord's supper. None of us put on robes and walk in circles chanting, none of us sacrifice animals on alters, and none of us have alters we bow down to. We simply seek to live life for the sake of God's glory.

I never said they were. You are equally cultish. My first post was that all religions are cults, more or less. So, I don't particularly distinguish any religion on that basis. I really don't care if people are religious or not, and what cult or sect they belong to or not. I only care about beliefs to the extent that they directly result in actions and outcomes. Hence, cult is not a dirty word to me.

i don't know if it is a cult or not but i do know my amish friends condemn the luxurious hedonistic lifestyle they have and tell me they are all going straight to hell.

[QUOTE="cheese_game619"][QUOTE="mindstorm"] Mennonites are no more ritualistic, ceremonial, and, if you insist, cultic than I am. They more intentionally seek a simpler life than myself, are pacifists, do not take oaths, and have a few more minor differences but other than that there is extremely little different than me and a Mennonite.

As such, the only rituals we actually partake in would be baptism and the Lord's supper. None of us put on robes and walk in circles chanting, none of us sacrifice animals on alters, and none of us have alters we bow down to. We simply seek to live life for the sake of God's glory.

mindstorm

I think it depends on your definition of "normal"; don't you? I'd regard devoting your life to convert others to your way of thinking, without particularly exploring other ways of thinking yourself, is rather strange and abnormal.

One of the major aspects of apologetics (as the name implies) is the defensive - not objective - nature of the "trade", that would tend to create more misconceptions that it would defeat.