Like, so many people, I have been involved in private conversations regarding the question of fundamental Islam. While conversation can be interesting, it is limiting in individual scope, such that I felt the need to expand the specific subject of cultism to an Internet discussion amongst my circle of friends, et al.
Thus, this Blog discussion desires your participation.
Obviously, there was, initially, a conversation regarding the development of ‘Daesh’ (A derogative term for the illegitimate organization called ISIL), that changed its focus into the question defining a cult.
One friend introduced a suggestion that the numbers of asylum seekers from the Middle East into Canada should be reduced to 10,000 per year and, then, balanced by increasing the numbers of Asians (Specifically from India and China) on the basis that Asian people had a historic antipathy towards Muslims. India’s democratic government allows Islam to flourish ... for the moment. China’s Marxist (Communist) government, otherwise described as “democratic with Chinese characteristics”, seems able ... at the moment, to avoid fundamental Islamic problems. In fact, in my opinion, there is no fundamental Islamic problem in China. The whole Muslim culture is a problem according to the government. It seems that many countries believe that China is correct on this question.
The subject became one of cultism by suggesting that China itself was a cult society. I had to disagree with this misrepresentation. China, as a Communist country, bans all forms of religion (Other than that mismanaged by the CCP) and this creates a belief, to the outsider, that religion thrives underground in small groups resembling cults. In my experience, most Chinese people are very spiritual, almost naive (As may be observed at any Buddhist temple) but not religious in a Christian sense.
Thus, there was a statement that Islam is a cult, to which I disagree. ‘Daesh’ on the other hand, could be described as a cult, because of its religious veneration, sinister practices, misplaced admiration for a particular person, and being fashionable among a particular section of society.
Now, therefore, the question extends to Christianity, is it also a cult? I believe that, even though there are small cults within Christianity, it is a religion ... Islam too. On the other hand, Buddhism would, more accurately, be defined a cult (It does not believe in superhuman controlling powers).
Should cults be banned? Are we all religious in one way or another, or simply spiritual? Is it a matter of defining terms?
Please join the conversation.
