I wrote: > > On a slight tangent, it is somewhat interesting that many Christians > > believe Mormonism is a cult, but we do not hear so much of Islam being > > considered a cult. I wonder why not. Isn't suicide borne out of > > religious devotion a sign of a cult? Would this not make the suicide > > bomber terrorist fringe of Islam also a cult?
And Roland Hechtenberg writes: > Aren't you making a logical leap there? > Assuming that the "suicide bomber terrorist fringe" were an organized > part of Islam, that would make them a sect, byt you write about "Islam > being considered a cult". > Following your logic, you then would also have to write about > Christainity being considered a cult. Thank you for catching my logical error. Yes, if we are to apply the term "cult" to Islam, it would apply only to this "suicide bomber terrorist fringe" and not to the entire religion. The whole "72 virgins" in Islamic heaven thing and the unhealthy obsession with martyrdom certainly sound strongly cultish. It is disturbing that such things appear to be taught even to young children in schools in Palestine. Remember the "Heaven's Gate" cultists? And Jim Jones in Guyana? The former offed only themselves so they seem not to have a great negative impact on society. But the latter and the Islamic suicide bombers killed many innocent children and bystanders, so their acts are much more evil and despicable. Regards, Alan Siegrist Orinda, CA, USA --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Persons posting messages to not_honyaku assume all responsibility for their messages. The list owner does not review messages prior to posting, and accepts no responsibility for the content of messages posted. -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
