Difference between revisions 276108 and 276109 on enwiki

<i>For this article to have the [[neutral point of view]], it should say '''who''' considers each listed a group a "cult" and '''why''', balanced by similar info about those who disagree with the "cult" designation. Otherwise, it's 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.

As described in the [[cult]] article, there exist several different, conflicting, definitions of what a "cult" is, in widespread use. And even once a definition is agreed upon, there is still sometimes widespread disagreement as to what entities fit under that definition. Therefore, this page exists merely to list those which are commonly described as such without expressing any view on whether they do in fact fall under one or more of those definitions.

Please add to the list, but do not remove items merely because you disagree as to their status.



== Trans-national ==
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=== [[Amway]] ===

Critics, many of them former Amway distributors, claim that Amway distribution networks (which technically are independent from the company itself) are cults or cultlike.

They claim that the distribution networks

encourage people to dedicate their lives to efforts that usually will make them little money,

encourage people to not think for themselves,

encourage unthinking fanaticism for Amway products,

encourage people to deceive others and hide the truth from outsiders,

and use [[mind control]] and psychological pressure to encourage people to join the organization and to discourage them from leaving.   



On its Web site, the company denies that it is a cult. "No, Amway Corporation is a business and, similar to other large and established companies, has a distinct environment defined by shared business goals. Shared business philosophies should not be misinterpreted as a cult."



References:

* http://www.ex-cult.org/Groups/Amway/ (Ex-Cult Resource Center)

* http://www.amway.com/infocenter/questions/question13.asp (Amway)



=== Christian Science ===

Many [[Evangelicalism|Evangelicals]] consider [[Church of Christ, Scientist]], a cult.

They claim that Christian Science redefines words in the Bible, rejects the Trinity, denies the existence of sin and hell, attempts to explain away the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and purports a lack of need for salvation of the soul.



References:

*http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Cults/science.htm



=== Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ===

The [[Christian countercult movement]] considers the [[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] a cult because the church rejects the traditional doctrine of the [[Trinity]], has scriptures in addition to the [[Bible]], and has various other unorthodox beliefs and practices.



References:

*http://invitation.to/dance/cults-mormon.htm

*http://www.lds.org (official church site)
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=== 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.

(contracted; show full)
*http://www.icoc.org/ (official church site)

*http://www.reveal.org/ (site run by former members) 





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=== Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ===

The [[Christian countercult movement]] considers the [[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] a cult because the church rejects the traditional doctrine of the [[Trinity]], has scriptures in addition to the [[Bible]], and has various other unorthodox beliefs and practices.



References:

*http://invitation.to/dance/cults-mormon.htm

*http://www.lds.org (official church site)



=== Christian Science ===

Many [[Evangelicalism|Evangelicals]] consider [[Church of Christ, Scientist]], a cult.

They claim that Christian Science redefineJews for Jesus ===



Some Jewish critics have called [[Jews for Jesus]] a cult or claim it uses cultlike tactics to seek converts. They claim that it often deceives people in saying who they are and exploits people's religious insecurities. Many of the critics sharply disagree with the organization's claim that it is possible to become a Christian yet remain Jewish.



The organization says in a letter to a member on its Web site that those concerned about Jews wfords in the Bible, rejects the Trinity, denies the existence Jesus being a cult have "been influenced by propaganda promulgated by those who would detract from the credibility of your witness and ours. Some Jewish community leaders spread this kind of misin and hell, attempts to explain away the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and purports a lack of need for salvation of the soul.



References:

*http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Cults/science.htmformation in order to counteract Jewish evangelism, which they erroneously consider a threat to Jewish survival. ... If your friend finds Jesus as her Savior, she will measure our doctrine and our conduct in the light of the Scriptures. Then she will know that Jews for Jesus is not a cult."



References

*http://www.jewsforjudaism.org/j4j-2000/html/FAQ/ (Jews for Judaism FAQ)

*http://www.jfjonline.org/ (Jews for Jesus official site)



=== Unification Church ===



The [[Unification Church]] has been called a cult for religious heresy, alleged corruption in its top leadership, [[mind control]], and (in the past) fears that its members would commit mass suicide.



The church does have a novel view of the trinity (and of Jesus' divine nature), but is accepted as Christian to some extent. Allegations of corruption are based primarily on Rev. Moon's conviction in the early 1980s on charges of criminal tax fraud, although the amount allegedly underpaid was less than $7,500 and the case was initiated nearly ten years after the fact based on the first three returns Rev. Moon filed after coming to the US. The jury is still out on charges of mind control, with critics' accusations balanced by church insistence that its recruitment and indoctrination techniques are no different from any Christian denomination. Fears of mass suicide, played up in the aftermath of the [[People's Temple]] disaster of 1980, have proven false in the succeeding two decades, and the church considers suicide a terrible sin (suicides go to hell).



Another criticism of the Unification Church is that it is centered to an extreme degree around its leader, the Reverend [[Sun Myung Moon]], whom the members of the Church believe to be the Messiah.



=== Others ===

* [[est]] / Landmark Education

* [[Jehovahs Witnesses]]



== [[United States]] ==

* [[Jews for Jesus]]
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