Dictionary.com is my favorite online dictionary, especially when used with Firefox.
- a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies. Islam satisfies this. Since religion is used in the definition, so does Christianity, Judaism, Baha'i, etc.
- an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult. Muslims submit to God. Christians place their faith in the Son.
- the object of such devotion. I guess this is used for cult of personality.
- a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc. Sure, see my comments on definition two.
- Sociology. a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols. See comment two.
- a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader. Some people here view Islam as such. Except, Muhammad has been dead for over a millenium now and there is no one leader.
- the members of such a religion or sect. If you want to call it one...
- any system for treating human sickness that originated by a person usually claiming to have sole insight into the nature of disease, and that employs methods regarded as unorthodox or unscientific. No.
Under some definitions, Islam could be considered a cult. By the same token, so would Christianity.
No other religion dictates that non-adherents be given the choice of conversion to it, or slavery by the adherents of it, or death for refusal to convert.
You may be right; it may not be a classic cult. What its radicalized adherents have manifested it as is much worse. When its adherents have as a religious tenet: Death to America/Jews/Israel/Christians/the West, etc, it becomes a malignancy that cannot, and must not be tolerated, nor allowed to grow. It becomes manifest self defense to attack and destroy its radicalized element. Its radicalized element must be excised with prejudice and absolutely eliminated.
No exceptions.