What is a cult? This is one description- "In the sociological classifications of religious movements, a cult is a social group with socially deviant or novel beliefs and practices, although this is often unclear. Other researchers present a less-organized picture of cults, saying that they arise spontaneously around novel beliefs and practices" Whatever the official meaning, the meaning from a family's viewpoint (when a family member enters a cult) is an experience no less than kidnapping. From a legal aspect it is: exercising freedom of religion and freedom to choose whom they belong to...and that means the "pull" by a cult of a gullible person outweighs a familys love. Religious cults are usually destructive in their manipulative methods, possessive in their intent and with a lust to grow and financially prosper. Ban cults.
Cults should be illegal Depending on definition (which is arbitrary), Every religion is a cult...the only true difference is the number of adherents. Unfortunately our Constitution protects these from prosecution and interference, otherwise I would agree that they should all be deemed illegal even just by tax violations...let alone hate crime problems.
You can still move to china. They're quite good at persecuting christians and muslims. Can we classify liberals and communist as cult members as well ?
I see...so your answer to my commentary concerning the hatred of religions is to spew your hatred at me for stating it? Thank you for so clearly and succinctly verifying the accuracy of my comment. I am not Liberal and do not wish to move to China.
Just to develop a little bit further my point of view : I don't believe in god. Religion aren't for me specifically a problem. The two most destructive ideologies during the 20th century were communism and nazism. They killed in a combined way hundred of millions of people. Political cult are as much dangerous than religious cults. Basically, what's deeply the problem is dogmatism, fanaticism and disrespect of human life in favour of an ideology, religious or not. Beyond that, I think the biggest problem today aren't related to religion : fatherless children, rise of drug use, If you want to ban cult, don't ban only religious cult then, you can ban political cult as well, but that might be more complicated. Personnaly, between M.L King and Pol Pot, my choice is made.
If you believe that a constitution which try to defend fundamental freedom is a problem, there is some countries which don't work on those bases, such as China. China has state anti theism and has been known to use violent methods against christian, muslims and different sect of buddhism such as tibetan buddhism. Basically, that's the application of a state anti theism such as recommanded in this thread.
Thus do I not wish to move to China (amongst other reasons)….Your commentary is much the same as me telling you to move there because they do not allow abortion.
Cults can be religious, self help, political and a lot of other incarnations. Multi Level Marketing aka MLMs aka pyramid schemes can be seen as cults. Unless you define all religions and other secular fan clubs as cults, it might be useful to add the description "destructive" before using the word cult. That means that a cult should only be banned if it is destructive which means it is detrimental to one's well being. What somebody's well being is, is another conversation to be had when deciding which groups you should ban. I think all mainstream Christian churches should be banned if it makes religious mothers think their atheist/converted children are going to hell. It is emotional abuse! Buddhism on the other hand should not be banned.
I don't believe in god. And it's not about atheists but anti theists and globally people with totalitarian goals.
Trumpery is the definition of a cult. You have a huge group of people who fanatically support a despicable man who called for the mass murder of tens of thousands of innocent people, and extreme torture. He can lie and lie and lie and they don't care. He even states that he could kill someone in cold blood and he wouldn't lose any supporters. How many politicians have you seen brag that his own followers love a murderer? The left can get nutty. Trumpers are insanely dangerous. Do we see lefties cheering for cold-blooded murder. No.
I have seen some over the top ridiculous philosophical positions in my days but this is one that tops the charts for illiteracy. Anything that more than one someone believes is the catalyst and foundation for a cult. This thread is literally asking to ban all thought and human life, thats how over the top it is. Deviant is anything someone apparently you feel that should be you would determine is outside what you think should be the social norm. We can start with all atheists and nonbelievers of any flavor, which includes you. You know back to the stone age before we had the lip service of freedom of religion.
I can see making it illegal to force children to participate in religion. I am the first to argue that I was brainwashed by religion throughout my childhood. Before I could even think for myself they were pounding eternal damnation and all of the guilt baggage into my head. It is a form of child abuse. And I was 40 years old before I really started to move beyond the damage done.
They terrorize children with tales of eternal suffering - BURNING IN THE FIRES OF HELL - if you don't obey. Can I tell children that I will beat them with a baseball bat if they don't listen to me? Can I use threats of torture in a basement for years, as a form of manipulation?
we can start with atheists and nones and agnostics right? Thats the solution offered by the OP. Thats the ticket! Post thought police in every house. You could also vote in another Stalin or Mao to clean up any belligerents and nonconformists. Force everyone to be in the nonbeliever religion. Destroy all free thought and any way of life that does not agree with you.