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the first amendment only prevents the government from censoring free speech. It doesn't compel them to provide one w/ a listening board.

That's true, but what's happening in this case is that the government is providing a listening board those who agree with them politically, not providing it to their ideological opponents, and not being completely honest and forthcoming about the censorship. Control of information and communication like this is one of Lifton's eight criteria for thought reform which is used judiciously in totalitarian countries to keep the populace under control.

trolling

I do not think it means what you think it means!

I think that has more to do with human nature (like kids play alike) than the religions themselves. If you are inclined to not drink alcohol because of your religion, you may avoid social gatherings where alcohol is all over the place for instance.

See my other comment here for an elucidation; http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3412331&cid=42732145
AND this list of differences between cults and religions: http://www.csj.org/infoserv_cult101/checklis.htm

I was just writing the list from the top off my head, because the GP's post underestimates the danger of cults and the danger that cult members are in.

The doctorates at the Institute for Cultic Studies disagrees with you. Characteristics of a cult:

http://www.csj.org/infoserv_cult101/checklis.htm or http://icsahome.com/infoserv_respond/info_clergy.asp?Subject=Religion+Versus+Cult

That ICSA checklist uses lots of weasel words, making most differences between cults and religions only a matter of degree, and presents no objective way to measure those degrees. Most things in that checklist seem to be characteristic of most forms of Christianity and other major religions. Any good cultist could easily argue that they're a religion according to that list.

>>Garbage. A cult is a religion that a) is small, and b) you're not a member of.

Oh, wait, I take back my above post.

The doctorates at the Institute for Cultic Studies disagrees with you. Characteristics of a cult:
http://www.csj.org/infoserv_cult101/checklis.htm
or
http://icsahome.com/infoserv_respond/info_clergy.asp?Subject=Religion+Versus+Cult

> I'm curious; why wouldn't you confuse it with a religion? What is a 'modern day' religion?

It is called the "Church of Scientology" and they have applied for official government status as a religion.

The line between a religion, and a cult, can be a thin one, but there are differences:

http://www.csj.org/infoserv_cult101/checklis.htm

Concerted efforts at influence and control lie at the core of cultic groups, programs, and relationships. Many members, former members, and supporters of cults are not fully aware of the extent to which members may have been manipulated, exploited, even abused. The following list of social-structural, social-psychological, and interpersonal behavioral patterns commonly found in cultic environments may be helpful in assessing a particular group or relationship. Compare these patterns to the situation you were in (or in which you, a family member, or friend is currently involved). This list may help you determine if there is cause for concern. Bear in mind that this list is not meant to be a "cult scale" or a definitive checklist to determine if a specific group is a cult. This is not so much a diagnostic instrument as it is an analytical tool.

• The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.
• Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.
• Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s).
• The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel (for example, members must get permission to date, change jobs, marry--or leaders prescribe what types of clothes to wear, where to live, whether or not to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth).
• The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s) and members (for example, the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar--or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity).
• The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society.
• The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations).
• The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members' participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (for example, lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities).
• The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt iin order to influence and/or control members. Often, this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion.
• Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group.
• The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.
• The group is preoccupied with making money.
• Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities.
• Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members.
• The most loyal members (the "true believers") feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave (or even consider leaving) the group.

This checklist will be published in the new book, Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships by Janja Lalich and Madeleine Tobias (Berkeley: Bay Tree Publishing, 2006). It was adapted from a checklist originally developed by Michael Langone.

cult (n): A small, unpopular religion.
religion (n): a large, popular cult.

Not true. A cult has many other characteristics.

Here is a checklist:

http://www.csj.org/infoserv_cult101/checklis.htm

A few examples of characteristics associated with cultic groups:

* Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group.

* The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.

* Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities.

* Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members.

* The most loyal members (the "true believers") feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave (or even consider leaving) the group.

Can you honestly tell me that every large, established, religion require all that?

Heck, if it is good enough for CAN, then it is good enough for this place...

The shorter version: libertarians suffer from the same problems as Marxists. They've even got Rand to substitute for Lenin.

Libertarian != Objectivist. And even Objectivists don't meet my definition of a cult.

Since I was in a cult for ten years, though, I am perhaps a bit more careful about how I use the term than are others who haven't been touched by a cult. <wry grin>

Utopian thinking is one very common characteristic of cults, but it's also common outside of cults. There are plenty of people and groups who tend towards utopianism, but who don't use thought reform techniques or otherwise meet the usual criteria for being considered a cult.

I do consider a specific offshot of Objectivism called Neotech to be a cult. Objectivism itself contains a number of cultish elements, but I wouldn't term it a cult. It's just a group of people whose thinking is overly black and white and tends not to let the facts get in the way of a good theory.

Libertarians , on the other hand, are a bunch of independent SOBs who have trouble agreeing on enough issues to form a political party, let alone a cult. ;gt; Some libertarians annoy me, but cultists they ain't.

The shorter version: libertarians suffer from the same problems as Marxists. They've even got Rand to substitute for Lenin.

Libertarian != Objectivist. And even Objectivists don't meet my definition of a cult.

Since I was in a cult for ten years, though, I am perhaps a bit more careful about how I use the term than are others who haven't been touched by a cult. <wry grin>

Utopian thinking is one very common characteristic of cults, but it's also common outside of cults. There are plenty of people and groups who tend towards utopianism, but who don't use thought reform techniques or otherwise meet the usual criteria for being considered a cult.

I do consider a specific offshot of Objectivism called Neotech to be a cult. Objectivism itself contains a number of cultish elements, but I wouldn't term it a cult. It's just a group of people whose thinking is overly black and white and tends not to let the facts get in the way of a good theory.

Libertarians , on the other hand, are a bunch of independent SOBs who have trouble agreeing on enough issues to form a political party, let alone a cult. ;gt; Some libertarians annoy me, but cultists they ain't.

Here are yet more links, regarding the terrorist attack. Only, these links are in response to a question I have ... are we actually dealing with a radical sucide cult here ?

Yeah, I know, sounds wacky. However, considering the planning and fanaticism behind last tuesday's acts ... and considering that the Teliban has about as much in common with Islam, as Heaven's Gate did with Christianity. Are we actually up against a group that preaches taking their lives, along with others, is a path to paradise ?

Here are some links on the subject. Decide for yourself.

Chronology of Suicide Cults
Doomsday, Destructive Religious Cults
Suicide Makes Ten Deaths Among Guru's Followers
More Than 200 Die in Uganda Cult Mass Suicide
Aum and Terrorism
Suicide Cults The End Of The Century
AUM SUPREME TRUTH
A party, prayers, then mass suicide
Lessons to be Learned: Heaven's Gate Tragedy
Cults