Cult (religious practice) facts for kids

A cult originally meant the special care or respect given to gods, temples, shrines, or churches. This care was shown through rituals and ceremonies. You can still see where this care was given in old temples, shrines, and churches. It also included special cult images and votive offerings (gifts) left at holy places.

In today's world, the idea of a "cult" is sometimes used differently. However, the original meaning is about showing devotion and respect.

What Does "Cult" Mean?

The word "cult" comes from the Latin word cultus. This word means "care," "cultivation," or "worship."

The famous Roman writer Cicero said that religio (religion) was cultus deorum, which means "the cultivation of the gods." This "cultivation" was the special care needed to honor a specific god. It meant knowing how to give the gods what they were due.

The Latin word cultus comes from the verb colo, which means "to tend," "take care of," or "cultivate." Originally, it meant "to live in" or "to farm land." Farming was very important to the Romans.

The word "cult" first appeared in English in 1617. It came from the French word culte, which also means "worship." The meaning of "devotion to a person or thing" came later, around 1829.

In some languages, like French, the word culte is still used to mean religious worship. For example, a newspaper might list Catholic services under Culte Catholique.

How People Showed Religious Practice

In ancient times, a "cult" involved specific actions and behaviors related to holy places or objects. These actions included:

• Prayer
• Sacrifice (giving something up)
• Votive offerings (special gifts)
• Competitions
• Processions (parades)
• Building monuments

For a cult to be practiced, these actions had to happen regularly in certain places over time.

In the Catholic Church, the term cultus is used in a special way. It refers to the special respect or honor given to a particular saint. This is different from the worship given to God.

The Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church make a clear difference:

• Latria is the worship given only to God.
• Dulia is the honor or respect given to saints.
• Hyperdulia is a special kind of honor given to Mary, the mother of Jesus.

So, when these churches talk about the "cult of saints," they mean the special ways people honor and respect saints, not worship them as gods.

Cults in the Age of Technology

Traditionally, religious practices and "cults" happened in physical places like temples. However, with the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), some groups are exploring digital spaces for their beliefs.

A group that worships AI might see it as a very powerful or even divine being. They might believe AI is the ultimate source of knowledge and wisdom. Members of such a group could have rituals or practices centered around AI. An example of a group exploring the worship of machine intelligence is Theta Noir.

See also

In Spanish: Culto para niños

• History of religion
• Mythology
• Place of worship
• Religious fanaticism