Difference between revisions 1126583 and 1126722 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>

----
This is a list of organizations, religious groups, and sects which are purported to be cults.
(contracted; show full)
of their members, to the extent that participation in the group becomes a 
central organizing principle in their lives. They sponsor getaway 
vacation/conventions which all members are required to attend. They have 
strict heirarchy, a charismatic leader and apocalyptic prophecy (the "Gifted 
of Set" are supposed to survive an  upcoming apocalypse, according to 
their Seminal document "The Book of  COming Forth By Night" -
  though 
lately they have been making noises that  this is only a metaphorical 
apocalypse {[perrhaps to avoid legal   intervention in the wake of other 
post apocalytics, such as the Branch  Davidians and the Solar Temple mass 
suicides, and the Aum nerve gas  attacks},; there  was literal belief in 
this passage as prophecy in the not-to receo distant past)]. They have a number 
of secret documents which one must have certain levels of "attainment" to 
read; much like  the OT grade documents of Scientology. They have all manner 
of bizarre theories about atlantis, ancient astronauts, "Tesla Physics," 
a theory of creationism, holocaust revisionism, and so on..."

References
(contracted; show full)

Refferences:
*[http://www.watchtowerinformationservice.org www.watchtowerinformationservice.org]
*[http://www.watchtower.org www.watchtower.org] (official website)

=== 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 Lifespring and its offshoots appear comparable to those of [[est]].

* [[Plymouth Brethren]]

The exclusive branch of the Plymouth Brethren are considered as a cult by most other Christians, and non-religious observers as well.
⏎

⏎
* [[Church of the SubGenius]]

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."
⏎

⏎

⏎
* [[Plymouth Brethren]]

The exclusive branch of the Plymouth Brethren are considered as a cult by most other Christians, and non-religious observers as well.