I think people are aware of the problems with some sects and that some of them don't know how to criticize adequately, without throwing the baby out with the bathwater and without having kneejerk emotional responses and scapegoating people. These are negatives but even there the underlying desire is to try to address problems that they've perceived.

Even mainstream churches can have problems and abuses. Sometimes it's widespread and common, sometimes not.

To me, it all comes down to being an effective critic rather than a critic whose heart may be in the right place but who is mainly stomping around muddying the water with anger and bigotry. I think it's easier said than done.

[QUOTE=fluffygirl;1019214]I think people are aware of the problems with some sects and that some of them don't know how to criticize adequately, without throwing the baby out with the bathwater and without having kneejerk emotional responses and scapegoating people. These are negatives but even there the underlying desire is to try to address problems that they've perceived.

Even mainstream churches can have problems and abuses. Sometimes it's widespread and common, sometimes not.

To me, it all comes down to being an effective critic rather than a critic whose heart may be in the right place but who is mainly stomping around muddying the water with anger and bigotry. I think it's easier said than done.[/QUOTE]

Well if your heart is in the right place, why would anyone be stomping around muddying the waters in anger? :)

Christ07 wrote:

Well if your heart is in the right place, why would anyone be stomping around muddying the waters in anger? :)

Because people are imperfect. They may have good intentions, they may care, but sometimes they can have a worthy goal in mind but go about it all wrong, or in an irrational manner.