A Wisdom Archive on Reverse Discrimination - History

Some scholars of new religious movements define as apostates specifically those individuals that leave new religious movements and become public opponents against their former faith to distinguish them from other former members who do not speak against their former faith, while others contest such a distinction. Former members of NRMs often see the use of "apostate" as an attempt to discredit them and their statements. Some scholars use the term post-cult trauma to describe the emotional and social problems that some members of cults ...

Read more here: » Apostasy: Encyclopedia II - Apostasy - In purported cults and new religious movements NRMs

Most opponents to cults differentiate between "cults" and "legitimate religious groups". The distinction is not by belief but by actions of a group. Cults are defined as groups which exploit and abuse their members; are often centered around an unreliable charismatic leader; and may use deceitful ways of recruiting and retaining members. Most opponents of cults share the belief that the public should be warned about the actions of such groups and that current members sh ...

Read more here: » Opposition to cults and new religious movements: Encyclopedia II - Opposition to cults and new religious movements - Cult watching groups and individuals and other opposition to cults

Proponents of such policies argue that they bring about a closer equality of opportunities among groups by creating an increase in opportunities for historically disadvantaged groups. The definition or delineation of disadvantaged groups is a tricky matter, as well as the definition of disadvantage itself. For example, a purely race-based definition ignores any advantage or disadvantage from class. In the United States, where most affirmative action is mainly in favor of African-Americans and Latinos, many critics point out that such ...

Read more here: » Reverse discrimination: Encyclopedia II - Reverse discrimination - Effects and criticism

The term reverse discrimination has been criticized by advocates of affirmative action as casting affirmative action in a negative light, without due consideration of its aims. It is also criticized as being politically charged. Opponents of "Affirmative Action" point out that the "reverse" in reverse discrimination indicates that "normal" discrimination is an attribute of "white" people, inherently. Thus, when racial discrimination is targeted at white victims instead on non-whites it is "reverse". This is considered a misnome ...

Read more here: » Reverse discrimination: Encyclopedia II - Reverse discrimination - Criticism of the term itself