Why do Christians and Catholics rag on Mormons and Scientologists?

This thread proves that even a group of free thinkers can fight over religion and we wonder why it causes so many wars.

I'd like some stats:

Are Americans and Europeans getting more or less religious over the last few decades?

I find it scary that religious groups seem to be getting stronger in fighting for things like "Intelligent Design" to be taught in schools or "Sharia Law" in their neighborhoods...

Sister Pain is looking for you Brad

I'm agnostic but I definitely rag on Mormons and Scientologists all the time but leave all the other religions alone. I guess it's because all the other religions are 'the norm' whereas those two seem much more ridiculous because they're so much different from 'the norm' and are way more recent. When you really think about it though the Mormon and Scientology religions really aren't that much crazier than the more established ones. Religion in general is a pretty uniform concept with the same basic idea.

It's much easier for people to rag on smaller groups of people who believe in less established ideals and are more controversial as well which is why it happens a lot.

Great question though, interesting to think about.