Cult is generally used for groups that are exploitative and controlling. Modern Christianity for the most part doesn't fit that. Catholicism is closer than Anglicanism but neither are very exploitative and Catholicism is only somewhat controlling.

I guess I could see how some of the aspects of Opus Dei could be cult-ish, but there are far more...Cult-y things out there, as far as I've seen.

I feel like Mormons fit that description.

Samus - Mormons also consider themselves christians...

I know. Doesn't really change a thing. It just goes to show that only small groups are considered cults. If Catholicism wasn't as big they'd be considered a cult for sure.

Not all cults are bad per se anyway.

@Rath: Catholicism was exploitative and very controlling during the middle ages, early modern era and also a huge part of whatever time comes next. Far worse then a normal cult.

You know, I would be very hard to name any denomination that is not exploitative. Solely by believing in hell/heaven is a group exploiting the masses' fear of the unknown. To me any denomination of any religion that is organized is a cult.

To be fair then, Mirgo, you'd have to believe that some scientific groups are cults as well, as they believe in the existence of apocalyptic scenarios (like global warming killing off people in 20-50 years) as they are also exploiting people into giving money/changing their lives for their stated cause.

Some, but not all. It's uncertain what happens and you can't say thigns you mentioned are for sure with our current tools. However eventually we will have the tools at which point they could say that with certainty.

Pretty sure some of the things mentioned like asteroids hitting the earth, or supervolcanos spewing enough ash to blanket out the sun hasn't quite happened after Nero's death...

no I have not