Is Islam a Cult?

[Alla Prima]

I don't know the answer which is why I'm posting this thread. Maybe yes maybe no. I don't know but let's see if we can find out.

First up is to decide on what exactly is a cult. By some definitions just about all religions and social groups can be seen as a cult. That's not the kind of cult I had in mind. I'm interested in finding out if Islam rises to the cult level of say, Scientology, Mormonism, Children of God, The Nation of Islam or the Moonies to name a few widely believed to be cults. The dictionaries don't help much so I'm bringing in what I consider to be the best description of a cult that I've found to date.

This from Ali Sina

The following is a description of what cult is:

1. A cult is a religious group with extreme beliefs and practices - beliefs that are often contrary to science and logic but they are believed as "obvious" truth by the cult members.

2. The members of cults often isolate themselves from friends, family and society and use deceptive and unethical recruiting techniques

3. Use manipulative methods to control the minds of followers

4. Venerate a human leader or leaders

5. Recruiting work is performed by all of the members

6. People are not allowed to criticize the leader, the doctrine, or the organization, or read information that is critical of the cult.

7. Members are trained to reject and disbelieve criticism of the cult as lies from Satan.

8. Members spy on one another and report improper activities or comments to leaders.

9. Members are taught to suppress anything which might reflect negatively to outsiders about the cult.

10. The doctrine is absolutist and the ideology is internalized as "the Truth."

11. Members are told to avoid contact with ex-members or critics, even their relatives.

12. Members are instilled with a deep fear about ever leaving the organization, and anyone who does depart is of the devil and sometimes severely punished.

13. Members are emotional controlled and warned of being caught and punished.

14. Disciplinary action is administered by group leaders, which may involve excommunication for such things as questioning organization policy or doctrine.

15. People are encouraged to sacrifice education, career and family interests to server the interests of the cult.

16. Advocate socializing only with other members in the organization and avoiding outsiders.

17. The belief in apocalypse and Dooms Day.


Sina's claim is that all of these traits can be found in Islam. His explanation of this, and the list of traits themselves, can be found here: http://www.faithfreedom.org/oped/sina50218.htm

[3.14]

there to big to call them that

[Jeremiah]

Islam is a religion (not that there is much difference).

[Alla Prima]

Originally Posted by 3.14

there to big to call them that

Argumentum ad numerum is a logical fallacy.

[3.14]

not if its true,
religion status requires a certain number of people before it can be considered a religion and islam got that number a long while ago

for example:
sientology started as cult became a religion and is considered a cult again because some of his actions

[themadhair]

Originally Posted by 3.14

sientology started as cult became a religion and is considered a cult again because some of his actions

Actually, there has never been a point in the history of Scientology where they were not widely regarded as a cult. Them successfully blackmailing the IRS (I'm not joking either) into giving tax-exemption didn't suddenly make them not a cult.

[3.14]

ok they claimed themselfs to be a religion, people just didn't buy it, potato/poteto

[themadhair]

Originally Posted by 3.14

ok they claimed themselfs to be a religion, people just didn't buy it, potato/poteto

There has never been a period in their history where they had positive media coverage.

I use cult to mean any group that, through the use of undue influence on their members, causes great financial/mental/societal harm. Playing the numbers games is pretty pointless when you have groups like the christian brothers buggering the **** out of little boys for example. Any group where such cultist tenancies exist must be labeled as such.

I'm pretty sure there are Islamic groups that would also fit into this use of the word cult, which is a lot more usable as a working descriptive definition IMO.

[3.14]

thats where the term extremist come in

[themadhair]

Originally Posted by 3.14

thats where the term extremist come in

Under how I use the term extremists would be considered cultist.

The reason I use the term as such is because many of the same techniques are common to such groups. This video, while partially parody, is actually phenomenally accurate in the techniques:
YouTube - Mind Control Cults