A cult?

Feshari

Does any of this sound familiar among certain sects of Islam like Sunnism?
I do not mean this as an insult to those who are Sunni on this board. But when I first became Muslim, I felt like they were trying to cut me off from the outside world....

The following is a list of common characteristics of cults.

Limitation of communication with those outside the group. Books, magazines, letters and visits with friends and family are discouraged or even banned.
New members become convinced of the higher purpose and special calling of the group through a profound encounter, i.e. an alleged miracle or the prophetic word of the group.
An explicit goal of the group is to bring about some kind of change, be it global, social or personal.
Use of the practice of self-disclosure to members in the group. In the context of a gathering of the group, converts are encouraged to admit past sins and imperfections, and doubts about the group.
The group's perspective is absolutely true and completely adequate to explain everything. The doctrine is not subject to amendments or question. Absolute conformity is required.
A new vocabulary emerges within the context of the group. Group members "think" within the very abstract and narrow parameters of the group's doctrine. Loaded terms and cliches prejudice thinking.
Pre-group experience and group experience are narrowly interpreted through the absolute doctrine.
Salvation is possible only in the group. Those who leave the group are doomed.

mquran

Salaamun alaikum Feshari wink

I'm afraid I cannot agree completely with this list. While the following

Limitation of communication with those outside the group. Books, magazines, letters and visits with friends and family are discouraged or even banned.
The group's perspective is absolutely true and completely adequate to explain everything. The doctrine is not subject to amendments or question. Absolute conformity is required.
Pre-group experience and group experience are narrowly interpreted through the absolute doctrine.
Salvation is possible only in the group. Those who leave the group are doomed.

are definitely against al-quraan, some other items are not such as

New members become convinced of the higher purpose and special calling of the group through a profound encounter, i.e. an alleged miracle or the prophetic word of the group.

In Islam, we are meant to look at signs our outer and inner experiences in order to build conviction of a higher purpose of all things. However, there's no priesthood to interpret these signs for us.

An explicit goal of the group is to bring about some kind of change, be it global, social or personal.

This is the whole point of islam, change and specifically, EVOLUTIONARY change. Constant growth.

Use of the practice of self-disclosure to members in the group. In the context of a gathering of the group, converts are encouraged to admit past sins and imperfections, and doubts about the group.

Muslims are meant to indeed be pillars of support for one another. Making a clean breast of it is part of this, psychologically speaking. However, this honesty should be safeguarded against those who cannot be trusted for fear of defamation.

A new vocabulary emerges within the context of the group. Group members "think" within the very abstract and narrow parameters of the group's doctrine. Loaded terms and cliches prejudice thinking.

In Islam, the followers adopt the vocabulary and thus the world view of the quran, and thus sees the world through God's eyes. The thinking is not PREjudicial, but is judicial like 'if you attack innocent ppl, you're a kafir' .

thanks and peace.

ThaPhenom

Peace,

Mquran, I think Feshari was trying to focus on Sunnism, not Islam. Actually all organized religions (and sects thereof) display some cult-like behavior...including Sunnism. Some moreso than others.

Feshari

Salaam MQ,

Yes, actually I was referring to sunnism, not Islam in general. lol

mquran

Salaam Feshari )

Ok, well Im just saying that the criteria itself isnt in line with a Quranic criteria. To me, such behaviour (cult-centred behaviour) is 'yahood' behaviour (always translated as jews). Having said that, sunnis fit in extremely well though.

thanks and peace.

Ebad

AS salaam o alaikom,

CULT is the ROOT of CULTure, a lot of so called CULTS are the roots of Developing CULTURES, for instance, we Ebaadu RAHMANI are seen as a QURAAN alone CULT, and i say YUP i belong to a GROWING and DEVELOPING CULTure, but becaue it is not MAIN STREAM yet it is still CULT but when it catch on and insha ellah it will it will be another Level of CULTure in my community.