Ed, I think this article makes some good points but it should also mention the fact that people label religious groups cults because they do not know a better word and also because of concrete abuses, authoritarian structures, excessive devotion to an unreliable living leader etc. Oh, and the style is unencyclopedic and we also need references for it. It seems that you are talking a lot about your personal experiences but I tend to believe what you write. I come from a totally different background and really had a horrible experience due to a cult. Andries 11:05, 13 Mar 2005 (UTC)
If the page must be deleted - because no one, including me, can figure out how to turn it into an acceptable article, then I'll just move it to my, er, "personal polemics page" as suggested. But I have hopes.
With a little effort, I think I can source some of these statements. I'll have to review my notes and/or google up some references. The Unification Theological Seminary has 3 or 4 shelves full of books about "cults", from the anti-cult and counter-cult books like "Snapping" and "Puppet Masters" to the calmer and more methodical sociologists' analyses. Everything I wrote is based on the sociologists, by the way. I'm just sloppy about taking notes.
I'm a generalist. I synthesize what I've read and experienced. Only it's like Thoreau and his "castles in the air": now I've got to build the foundations underneath them.
I appreciate your patience, guys. I can't believe no one's vfd'ed the article already. -- Uncle Ed (talk) 21:57, Apr 11, 2005 (UTC)
Talk pages are where people discuss how to make content on Wikipedia the best that it can be. You can use this page to start a discussion with others about how to improve the " Opposition to cults" page.
Ed, I think this article makes some good points but it should also mention the fact that people label religious groups cults because they do not know a better word and also because of concrete abuses, authoritarian structures, excessive devotion to an unreliable living leader etc. Oh, and the style is unencyclopedic and we also need references for it. It seems that you are talking a lot about your personal experiences but I tend to believe what you write. I come from a totally different background and really had a horrible experience due to a cult. Andries 11:05, 13 Mar 2005 (UTC)
If the page must be deleted - because no one, including me, can figure out how to turn it into an acceptable article, then I'll just move it to my, er, "personal polemics page" as suggested. But I have hopes.
With a little effort, I think I can source some of these statements. I'll have to review my notes and/or google up some references. The Unification Theological Seminary has 3 or 4 shelves full of books about "cults", from the anti-cult and counter-cult books like "Snapping" and "Puppet Masters" to the calmer and more methodical sociologists' analyses. Everything I wrote is based on the sociologists, by the way. I'm just sloppy about taking notes.
I'm a generalist. I synthesize what I've read and experienced. Only it's like Thoreau and his "castles in the air": now I've got to build the foundations underneath them.
I appreciate your patience, guys. I can't believe no one's vfd'ed the article already. -- Uncle Ed (talk) 21:57, Apr 11, 2005 (UTC)
Talk pages are where people discuss how to make content on Wikipedia the best that it can be. You can use this page to start a discussion with others about how to improve the " Opposition to cults" page.