Читать книгу Field Guide to the Wild World of Religion: 2011 Edition - Pamela J.D. Dewey - Страница 18

To the average secular—perhaps atheist or agnostic—observer, the bickering among Christian teachers and groups over doctrines, methods, and styles of authority may seem silly. Not wishing to get into any debate over these “in-house” differences, their concern about religious cults is limited in most cases to those they believe may be actually physically dangerous to themselves or others. A group which is alleged to be involved in physical or sexual abuse of children, or to be in danger of mass suicide within the group, or whose teachings—such as perhaps racial hatred—may possibly lead to physical harm to outsiders, is viewed with alarm. When such groups are profiled on secular cult-watch sites, the emphasis is usually on sharing documentation of those factors of the group’s activities that give evidence of such potential danger.