Upchurch
Papa Funkosophy
From what I've read of them, I'd have to agree. Scientology is pure capitalism with little interest in helping its followers.Akots said:I'd say scientology. No doubt about it. That cult was designed specificaly to suck people in, wring out anything of value, and toss them away, while still leaving them coming back for more.
Disgusting.
chessmanskeptic
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Yahzi said:
The moderates and light Xians are easy to tolerate. The Fundie's are impossible to deal with!
Beleth
FAQ Creator
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Scientology is worst for its members, but it sounds like it actually has so few members that I don't consider it the worst threat to American or world society.
I think that honor goes to Islamic Fundamentalism. I also think that someone's going to be angry at me for thinking that.
I think that honor goes to Islamic Fundamentalism. I also think that someone's going to be angry at me for thinking that.
Tough call. Some random thoughts on the matter.
Scientology tends to destroy the members, but other cults try to kill non-members too. What was that Japanese one with the Sarin gas in the subway? Aum-Shiro or something?
Heaven's Gate just killed themselves. What about Jim Jones? He had a pretty impressive body count.
Nation of Islam is rather violent but I don't recall much about their actions.
How about Manson with Helter Skelter? That sun one that has had numerous suicides? There was one in Africa that had a whole bunch of fatalities.
But really, right at the moment I'd have to give "top" honors to the cult in charge of North Korea. Hard to top millions starving and nuclear brinkmanship.
Scientology tends to destroy the members, but other cults try to kill non-members too. What was that Japanese one with the Sarin gas in the subway? Aum-Shiro or something?
Heaven's Gate just killed themselves. What about Jim Jones? He had a pretty impressive body count.
Nation of Islam is rather violent but I don't recall much about their actions.
How about Manson with Helter Skelter? That sun one that has had numerous suicides? There was one in Africa that had a whole bunch of fatalities.
But really, right at the moment I'd have to give "top" honors to the cult in charge of North Korea. Hard to top millions starving and nuclear brinkmanship.
corplinx
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Yahzi said:
On one hand you have the Catholic church uber-dedicated to a fearless leader and his henchmen. Fearless leader however is very much a pacifist. I don't see major problems unless we had another outright evil man take the reigns with enough bishops and cardinals supporting him to get his agenda through. I don't think this could happen though in the modern catholic church.
On the other hand you have the decentralized fundamentalist christians. The Assemblies of God, the United Pentacostals, the Southern Baptists, First Baptists, Primitive Baptists, and other fundamentalist sects. They aren't organized or proactive enough to be a real threat. The most they seem to do is cause the occasional gridlock in a school board over evolution. There is the occasional whacko who bombs and abortion clinic but that person is mental to begin with.
corplinx
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Beleth said:
Why be mad? Its a good discussion point. Fundementalist Islam sects are probably responsible for somewhere around 5000 deaths in the past 2 years (rough estimate based on 9-11, Bali, Kenya, varios Israeli civillian attacks). That estimate doesn't take into consideration Chechnya, Sudan, or other places which I am not as familiar with.
However, you can't lump in all of these groups as one. Each has its own members and agenda.
Doh! Yeah, I like that one too though … hehehe meatwad! Who comes up with this stuff?
Sealab 2021 is pretty funny too.
he’s hysterical, but I still like the father the best. He reminds me (a little) of another of my favorite TV characters … Gomez Adams.
Guest
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corplinx said:
I think the intolerant people, in general are the most serious problem facing any society.
Re: Re: Which Cult or Sect is Most Dangerous?
Certainly that, and yes, intolerance is often independant of religion. But some religions, the way they are run nowadays, provide a fertile breeding ground for intolerance. I think the question is, which religion is most openly suceptible to intolerance. Scientology, for example, teaches it's members to be as intolerant of scientists and rational thinkers as possible. This is because if they werent, they'd leave scientology.
There are many religions I think that were beneficial in their inception, but succumbed to corruption over the decades. I vote Scientology because it was NEVER intended to benefit anyone, other than a handful of it's own preists, living in the lap of luxury while their disciples suffer mental and physical hardship.
I will admit that it is not the most influential cult, but it is certainly the most destructive to the individuals it does snare.
Whodini said:
Certainly that, and yes, intolerance is often independant of religion. But some religions, the way they are run nowadays, provide a fertile breeding ground for intolerance. I think the question is, which religion is most openly suceptible to intolerance. Scientology, for example, teaches it's members to be as intolerant of scientists and rational thinkers as possible. This is because if they werent, they'd leave scientology.
There are many religions I think that were beneficial in their inception, but succumbed to corruption over the decades. I vote Scientology because it was NEVER intended to benefit anyone, other than a handful of it's own preists, living in the lap of luxury while their disciples suffer mental and physical hardship.
I will admit that it is not the most influential cult, but it is certainly the most destructive to the individuals it does snare.
Secular-humanistic, Atheistic, communism has by far the highest body count, and holds the potential for similar destructiveness on a world-wide scale. US-UK-Canada-Australia are the core effective force counterbalancing the New World (communist dictatorship) Order the remainder of the world appears to so badly crave.
The cults & sects mentioned so far will never have similar massive destructive capability, imnsho.
The cults & sects mentioned so far will never have similar massive destructive capability, imnsho.
Tricky
Briefly immortal
Before we go getting all political here, I think we should address the "what is a cult" issue (yeah, I know it's been done before). I cannot classify fundamental Baptists or Moslems as cults, since they are both major branches of a major religion. Scientology is probably pretty safe to call a cult, but not Mormons (at least not any more). Al Qaeda for sure, and probably Nation of Islam. Most cults have a single charismatic leader. Also we have to ask if a group must be "dangerous" before being a cult?
headscratcher4
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corplinx said:
Far and away, the Brownies.
I don't feel my weekend is complete until I've watched Sealab 2021. One of the funniest shows I've ever seen.
Er, yeah. Back to cults. I was using the term broadly, but I think that NK counts as it's really a cult based on a single leader, I can't think of any other way to describe a country where a third of it's GDP spent on the military while millions starve and yet the people still worship their "Dear" leader.
I suppose this leaves the door open to Nazism and Stalinism as cults, but my definition is still a work in progress.
Er, yeah. Back to cults. I was using the term broadly, but I think that NK counts as it's really a cult based on a single leader, I can't think of any other way to describe a country where a third of it's GDP spent on the military while millions starve and yet the people still worship their "Dear" leader.
I suppose this leaves the door open to Nazism and Stalinism as cults, but my definition is still a work in progress.
A cult should be defined as a religion with non-divine origins.
Yeah... that'll hold water in this forum... well, let's put it this way; a FULL cult is a religion created specifically to exploit people.
The reason it's such a blurry line between Scientology and fundamental Christianity is because religion invariably requires faith and trust; in both God, and the human executors of the faith. And wherever unconditional faith exists, people can be easily exploited.
Yeah... that'll hold water in this forum... well, let's put it this way; a FULL cult is a religion created specifically to exploit people.
The reason it's such a blurry line between Scientology and fundamental Christianity is because religion invariably requires faith and trust; in both God, and the human executors of the faith. And wherever unconditional faith exists, people can be easily exploited.