Difference between revisions 1161231 and 1161259 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)ine of the [[Trinity]], has scriptures in addition to the [[Bible]], and has various other unorthodox beliefs and practices. [[Stephen E. Robinson]], an LDS scholar, responds that ad hominem labeling of the LDS Church and excluding it as Christian based on a sectarian concept of Christian (like that of the Christian countercult movement) is merely a way of saying that it is only a particular history, tradition, canon, doctrine, orthodoxy or sect that is justified when such justifications are debatable.


References:
*[[Mormonism as a Christian religion]]
*http://invitation.to/dance/cults-mormon.htm
*http://www.lds.org (official church site)Former Mormons make various charges of cultlike behavior, including group-thinking, fanaticism, adoration of  charismatic leaders, and varying degrees of coercive [[conditioning]] and [[mind control]]. 

References:
*[[Mormonism as a Christian religion]]
*http://invitation.to/dance/cults-mormon.htm
*http://www.lds.org (official church site)

[[Conditioning]] and [[Mind Control]]
*http://www.exmormon.org/thought.htm
*http://www.freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/groups/m/mormon/BITE-Mormonism.htm

=== Church of Scientology ===
The Church of [[Scientology]], founded by [[L. Ron Hubbard]], uses a form of psychotherapy called [[Dianetics]] that some people claim is designed to hypnotize members into a more weak-minded and paranoid state. The church is said to persuade some members to become slaves. Critics say the church seems to function as a for-profit organization, as it requires fixed-price donations for many of its services. An extensive discussion of the cult allegations against Scientology a(contracted; show full)

* [[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 disguised as a religion," in actuality they are a "religion disguised as a joke."