In previous articles I noted that a number of countries have wisely determined that Scientology is no more a religion than the Mafia is. As I wrote in Scientology is an abusive violent and criminal organization, "Germany views Scientology as a totalitarian organization. And if Germany says it's a totalitarian organization, they know what they're talking about."

Many European nations have already banned the cult from operating within their country. Hopefully in time all sane nations will ban Scientology, Islam, and other dangerous cults. How do we decide between a dangerous cult and a religion? I like the argument offered by the following blogger:

The Lie Politic, What Is The Difference Between A Religion And A Cult?

Another distinction is that while both religions and cults recruit followers and offer strong reasons why one should be a follower, cults quite often preach isolation from all outsiders and, in some instances, the destruction of outsiders. A religion, on the other hand, while preaching redemption or a better existence both now and in the afterlife, typically does not preach the destruction of others and freely accepts others into its womb, even if they are not members of that religion.

Based on these distinctions, the Muslim religion appears to correlate much more closely with a cult than a religion. It is the only “religion” that calls for the death of those of conflicting beliefs. It is the only “religion” that promises vast rewards in the afterlife for blindly murdering those not members of its ranks. And it is the only “religion” that would condemn you to death for even depicting one of its leaders on your etch-a-sketch or for wishing to convert to any other religion. Could it be that a cult based on the self interests of one man of questionable moral values that lived centuries ago led to the “religion” that is the center of terrorism in the 21st Century?

Now let me say that there are both malignant and benign cults. For example, a malignant cult may force women to cover themselves completely in public while a benign cult may be one that believes women should not be naked but rather covered up - with Budweiser bottle caps.

Photo Credit: River Front Times

Sign me up for the bottle cap religion.