Quote:
Originally posted by Rudey
Was questioning of religion and its leaders encouraged and allowed in Christianity?
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Only to a certain point, to be sure. There was quite a bit of debate over all kinds of teachings in the early years, with excommunications being the result when the line was crossed.
And yes, Christianity has had more than it's fair share of forced conversions and burnings of heretics -- the roots of these acts often being as much political as religious.
I'm not sure what you're point is. I've agreed that at least general definitions of "cult" would apply to early Christianity and that a group should not be pejoritively labeled a "cult" just because its beliefs are out of the mainstream. Beyond that, I simply submit that using the very narrow definition of "cult" sometimes employed today -- with implications of brainwashing, extreme control, financial and emotional exploitation, etc. -- there is evidence that that definition can be accurately applied to Scientology.