Religions can be cult-like at times, but that does NOT make the entire religion a cult. Hitler was certainly a cult, but I have a friend that believes absolutly everything that the Bible has to say, and she has never tried to force her beliefs onto me.

And I don't believe in "brainwashing", unless said group is threating, blackmailing, or otherwise giving you no choose except to come to believe (or at least say you believe) whatever they tell you. In any other case, you ony believed them because you yourself are weak-minded.