“But all of a sudden, calling a non-Christian religion what it is counts as “bashing.” Nonsense.”
So, if you are a mainstream Christian of some well know denomination, and a group of people claimed that you weren’t Christian because your particular Christian denomination [say Methodist] wasn’t really Christian because you weren’t, lets say, a Baptist, you wouldn’t feel that you were being “bashed” by being called a non-Christian?
“you wouldn’t feel that you were being “bashed””
Well right there you’ve put your finger on it. So-called “bashing” is largely about feeling, not reason. But words do have meaning. If every belief system can co-opt the term Christian and apply it without limit to distinctly non-Christian beliefs, the word loses its meaning. It becomes a mere fashion accessory.
I only ask that people be honest. “Christian” as a label got its meaning from the early followers of Christ, as defined by their written record, the Bible. Along with that label came a body of specific doctrines about God, Jesus, man, salvation, etc. When a much later group comes along with a new and very different set of doctrines and claims the same label, a rational person could see that as creating a set of competing and contradictory claims that would have to be resolved, normally in favor of the first inventor.
Think of this as a patent problem. Someone invents a rocket powered gym shoe and call it a “hotfoot.” Someone else comes along, much later, and invents another version of the rocket gym shoe, using a mix of components, some stolen directly from the “hotfoot,” word for word, and some from other completely incompatible sources. And of course they also call it the “hotfoot.”
Given the above scenario, do you really think it would be “bashing” if the original inventor claimed infringement? Or dilution or confusion of brand or trademark? The original “hotfoot” inventor has a right to keep the original label associated with the original product. If someone comes up with a new product, they can market their product like everyone else, but let them make their own name. That would be the honest thing to do.
It's not about feelings, but facts. And your comparison doesn't work because, as you say, you're talking about varying denominations of the Christian faith. Even with their doctrinal differences, they're all Christian and share the same basic creed. A religion which denies the Bible, and basic Christian doctrine---i.e., saying that God used to be human, and humans will one day be gods---is not, by definition, Christian, though it might say so, and might try to get others to say so, too. This is not hate, nor is it bigotry. It's simply stating what IS.