I think that those of us who are seeking the deep questions like who are we and why are we here are really spiritual beings. We are seeking something which can't be found by conventional, material means. The answer lies within us all.
This question has been emerging in human consciousness for the last several thousand years as we have further evolved. Part of it was spawned from the actualization of the inevitability of our own death. Hence, humankind created religion, a result of the development of the "god" part of the brain. (see http://godpart.com)
I can imagine that every single religion we have today had to start with "cultish" ideas at some part or in some way! What defines something as a "cult" or "religion" all has to do with the perception of either individuals or a social establishment. We always have to wonder about new things, especially when they are similar to old things that have often been corrupt. Such is the case with our need to label something as a "cult". Often times, this is very necessary! Many people/groups have come forth, and are yet in power now that are leading people to exercise fanatic belief. But often times too somebody/a group of people comes forward with ideas that are rejected as "cultish" and then they turn out to be very true and it develops into a religion. Jesus was rejected by his people (The Jews) as vehemently as most of us reject cult leaders today, but what really mattered was that he was NOT false, and that factor of truth in his words and his ideas remained even until today.
Belief is fine. We all need something to hold on to, because those of us who are seeking the answer to the fundamental questions of our existence need some form of satiation.
It is only dangerous when belief causes us to shut out other facets of our journey to understand ourself and our role in this world. For example, some forms of Christianity would completely condemn meditation and lucid dreaming. However, if you were to listen to that and then not practice either thing again, yet you had deep down an urge and need for it, you might risk going through your life never discovering your true potential.
Essentiallty, we have two things: fanatacism and faith. Fanatacism is the insatiable need for certainty. That sort ot thing spawns cults. But faith in being is a satiable attainment of inner knowing. Those of us who have faith in our being (as individuals and as humanity) will go on to seek the higher truth and we will use our spiritual discernment to always grow toward our higher self (both as individuals and as humanity).
My opinion (as of today, this moment, as I type these words): religion is a mature cult. If you imagine the core of human ideaology to be a great tree, and each person's thinking is a branch, then cults are the fruits that first come up on the tree. In the beginning they are not ripe, and many of them, if plucked prematurely, will rot and be discarded. However, some come to be ripe and they feed many for a long time, and their seeds can be used to grow new trees.
We are all trying to grow together and uphold one another. I think this basic truth and way of being is something we should all check every cult/religious institution for. I completely agree when you say that many cults (and sometimes purported religions!) do not believe what they say and are driven on materialism, not spirituality. Many religious institutions are also driven by fanatacism (not all, though). Classical example: most of the Christian church condemns homosexuality (sorry, have to use this, its today's hot issue). Now, an individual who is raised by this particular church is homosexual. Science has proven that homosexuality is not simply behaviorally conditioned but that there are actual anatomical structures in the postmortem brain found in homosexuals and not in heterosexuals that are often implicated in perception of attraction. But the church condemns it for this individual, because it is certain that God has said its wrong and they have to "fix themself". So, this person condemns homosexuality, gets rid of his/her current lover, and later married an opposite sex partner and has a family. Years later he is charged for molesting his children. When asked why he did it, to his therapist, he tells them that he just was not happy with his wife in bed. This is just one case I have encountered before, but it is a classical message: we must never think, for one moment, that we know the whole story! To do so would be like leaving flowers in a dark room.
If any of your guys are interested in discussing this issue with me further, pm me. I love to talk about this stuff!
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