"Some Enchanted Evening"

I bet if I listend to it today it would suck?

There was a time in a bong induced haze with a Rainier pounder back it sounded pretty good.

According to Websters:

CULT

A religion or 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.
The followers of such a religion or sect.
A system or community of religious worship and ritual.
The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual.
A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease.

Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing.
The object of such devotion.
An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest.

Republicans


Oh, I never knew about that last part. Interesting.

Because part of the problem with some Christian cults is the need to "spread the word" and "convert" lost souls. Doesn't that sound like most any other cult?

Hmmm, so if kids have been saying the pledge with 'under god' in it for 50 some years, and yet there are still huge amounts of atheists and agnostics - how is this impacting those who don't want to beleive in a 'god'? It is simply a cultural and historical reference... Nobody is forcing anything.

Personally I don't care much either way. Kids learn their values and morals at home mostly. Assuming the parents bother actually teaching them. If not, the schools, friends, MTV, etc will take care of that gap for them...

I like the idea of the pledge in general from a patriotic perspective. We need to stand strong as a country and the values mentioned in the pledge are important.

Also, Christianity in general is a legitimate world religion. It is not considered a cult. Now there are groups who spin off from Christianity that are definately cults. Just as there are other non-Christian cults.

Here is a list of cults (sorry to offend anyone who fits one of these, but this is a widely agreed upon list, not complete, but pretty good... ): (see if you can spot the fun hollywood cults that guys like Tom Cruise, Shirely McClain (sp?), John Travolta, etc belong too....)

Alamo Christian Foundation
Anthroposophical Society
Astara
Children of God
Christadelphianism
Christian Family Fellowship
Christian Identity Movement
Christian Science
Church of Armageddon
Divine Light Mission
Eckankar
Est
Foundation of Human Understanding (Roy Masters)
Jehovah's Witnesses
Krishna
Life Spring
Mormonism
Oneness Pentecostal
Rosicrucianism
Scientology
Self Realization Fellowship
Silva Mind Control
Swedenborgianism
The Farm
The Unification Church
The Way International
Theosophy
Two by Two's
Transcendental Meditation
Unitarian Universalist
Unity School of Christianity
Urantia

Maybe we need to revamp the entire thing?
"I (state your name) pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
I promise to pay all taxes owed and to report all abuse and corruption which is contrary to the founding principals of this great nation.
I promise to be a contributing member of this nation instead of a detriment.
I realize that I have the freedom of personal beliefs but not the freedom to impose those beliefs on my fellow countrymen............blah blah blah".

PP,

Who agrees? Everyone who isn't a member of one of those cults? I've known practicing Christian Scientists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Mormans, and I sure agree that the first two are cults. I suspect, but don't know enough about Mormanism to have as strong an opinion. While in college I attended a couple meetings for Transendental Meditation and even paid the money for my secret mantra. I knew a couple TMers when I worked for a hospital. They seemed like harmless do gooders to me. Hardly threatening or potentially harmful to anyone.

Stlhead,

Very good. I like it.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

"Hardly threatening or potentially harmful to anyone."

That's not a requirement for being considered a 'cult'. It does fit some cults - not all.