XPost: alt.religion.eckankar, alt.meditation.shabda   
   From: emptyroom@emptyroom.emptyroom   
      
   On 5 May 2005 20:50:50 -0700, "lackpurity"  wrote:   
      
   >> 1. a - 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.   
   >   
   >MM:   
   >"Generally considered," means there is some wiggle room, for positive   
   >connotations, regarding a TRUE CULT, or one not so extremist.   
   >   
   >>    b - The followers of such a religion or sect.   
   >   
   >MM:   
   >Again, not necessarily a negative connotation.   
      
   It's the "extremist or false" part that has the negative connotation.   
   These two words are 'not normally' considered to be 'positive'   
   descriptors when describing a group. You can argue that some people   
   may find those qualities 'positive', but then again such people are probably   
   'extremists' who employ 'false' thinking.   :-D   
      
      
   >> 4.    A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its   
   >originator to have   
   >>        exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease.   
   >   
   >MM:   
   >Why do you think this is a negative connotation?  I don't see any   
   >reason to necessarily think that.   
      
   The "nonscientific" part here generally would be seen as a negative   
   connotation. It doesn't necessarily mean that the thing being described is   
   definitely not sound, just that it is not scientifically proven, and thus   
   suspect   
   to many people. In this particular case, I would agree that it is open for   
   debate   
   about whether that is a fair judgement, however, those who would use the   
   word cult to describe such a case, probably are intending a negative meaning.   
      
      
   >> 5. a - Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a   
   >person,   
   >>          principle, or thing.   
   >   
   >MM:   
   >Obsessive devotion to a True Master would result in God-Realization.   
   >Nothing negative about that, IMHO.   
   >   
   >>     b - The object of such devotion.   
   >   
   >MM:   
   >I don't see any negative connotations here.   
      
   The "obsessive" part here is the give-away.  This word   
   is not normally used as a compliment. :-D   
      
   Although, as I previously mentioned, the word cult does not   
   technically have negative connotations for all senses of   
   the word; nowadays, in common usage, it usually always   
   is taken as having a negative connotation, due to association with   
   cults like the Branch Davidians and other doomsday cults.   
      
   empty room - 975th Living Truth Master (on probation)   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)