Difference between revisions 1049346 and 1070096 on enwiki

<i>For this article to have the [[neutral point of view]], it should say '''who''' considers each listed group a "cult" and '''why''', balanced by similar info about those who disagree with the "cult" designation. Otherwise, it is just a list of groups that have somehow acquired a bad reputation.</i>

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This is a list of organizations, religious groups, and sects which are purported to be cults.
(contracted; show full)

===Jehovah's Witnesses===

Throughout their history, many have found the doctrines, beliefs, and practices of the [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] controversial. Responses have included mob action; government oppression, including being targeted in the [[Holocaust]] and widespread criticism from Christians of other [[religious denomination|denominations]]. Such criticism has become an entire genre with the advent of the Web. 
Unlike other differing Christian denominations, thosSome Christians who are not Jehovah's Witnesses do not consider them to be a Christian organization because of the significant differences in beliefs. Instead, theySome go so far as to label the organization as a heretical sect and/or [[cult]]. 

=== Others ===

* [[est]] / [[Werner Erhard and Associates]] / [[Landmark Education]]

Satisfied participants characterize Landmark as "just a [[business]]". Others, less charitably inclined towards the company, suggest that [[brainwashing]] might account for devotees' fanatical devotion to unpaid recruitment for Landmark seminars. The sometimes controversial reputation of founding [[guru]] (formerly known as "The Source") [[Werner Erhard]] often muddies debate on the alleged merits of Landmark's innovative (or [[psycho-babble]]) "technology".

* [[Lifespring]] 

The teachings, methods and results of Lifspring and its offshoots appear comparable to those of [[est]].

* The [[Church of the SubGenius]] has made numerous attempts to be included on lists of cults and controversial religious movements.  This organization is widely seen as a humorous [[parody]] of religious cults, though members of the organization vehemently deny this; they state that while they are seen as a "joke desguised as a religion," in actuality they are a "religion disguised as a joke."