Mormonism is NOT a Cult

[PattyPryor]

Now many don’t know but I was LDS 2X. I came back to the church. Anyway. I was so bitter before hand but a lot of research has brought me to the fact that after 13+ million members the LDS church is not a cult

They just believe A LOT different than what Catholics do. Nad now I am a Catholic through and through so don’t bash me for thinking this way

I post this because I think this would be a good discussion.

I do believe Jehovah’s witnesses are a cult but thats after series research into it:thumbsup:

 

[lizaanne]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult

Cult typically refers to a cohesive social group devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding culture considers outside the mainstream, with a notably positive or negative popular perception.

Works for me.

~Liza

 

[AgnosTheist]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult

Cult typically refers to a cohesive social group devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding culture considers outside the mainstream, with a notably positive or negative popular perception.

Works for me.

~Liza

In that case every religion is a cult. islam is a cult among catholic majority. catholicism is a cult among muslim majority.

my definition is much simpler:

a cult is a new religion.

a religion is an old cult.

 

[lizaanne]

Well actually, no. The Catholic Church is THE Church Christ left on this earth. It IS the mainstream - everything else is man made and outside that norm.

~Liza

 

[majick275]

Now many don’t know but I was LDS 2X. I came back to the church. Anyway. I was so bitter before hand but a lot of research has brought me to the fact that after 13+ million members the LDS church is not a cult

They just believe A LOT different than what Catholics do. Nad now I am a Catholic through and through so don’t bash me for thinking this way

I post this because I think this would be a good discussion.

I do believe Jehovah’s witnesses are a cult but thats after series research into it:thumbsup:

so what’s the number you have to reach to not be cult? I ask this because you seem to imply that 13M members is the criteria by which you assert mormons aren’t a cult and the JW’s (with only 7M members) are.

to expand on lizanne’s post, when used in a religious context cult could be applied to ALL religions:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult_%28religious_practice%29

In traditional usage, the cult of a religion, quite apart from its sacred writings (“scriptures”), its theology or myths, or the personal faith of its believers, is the totality of external religious practice and observance, the neglect of which is the definition of impiety. Cult is literally the “care” owed to the god and the shrine. By extension, “cult” has come to connote the total cultural aspects of a religion, as they are distinguished from others through change and individualization.

so technically the catholic church actually has multiple cults and anyone who has gone through and LDS temple has definitely experienced a cult.

so then, let’s establish the definition of cult that you wish to use for the purposes of this thread that you have started and then we can better discuss the topic.

 

[ibkc]

Here is a reasonably objective tool for establishing whether or not any group is a “cult”:

Advanced Bonewits Cult Danger Evaluation Frame

I don’t necessarily agree with all of his criteria but it is an interesting jumping-off point.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

By the basic definition

1. 
   *]
   

   a system of religious worship or ritual

   all religions are cults. More recently it has acquired pejoritive overtones and is applied to any religious group of which I disapprove.

 

[BartBurk]

Now many don’t know but I was LDS 2X. I came back to the church. Anyway. I was so bitter before hand but a lot of research has brought me to the fact that after 13+ million members the LDS church is not a cult

They just believe A LOT different than what Catholics do. Nad now I am a Catholic through and through so don’t bash me for thinking this way

I post this because I think this would be a good discussion.

I do believe Jehovah’s witnesses are a cult but thats after series research into it:thumbsup:

I’m an ex-Mormon as well. The only thing that makes it a cult in my mind is the temple recommend requirement. That you have to pay 10% for salvation and to see your kids’ wedding turns it into a controlling cult in my mind. Nobody else that I know of has anything like that temple requirement. Since they hide the temple from the public it would seem to be cult-like as well.

 

[Ghoti]

By the basic definition

1. 
   *]
   all religions are cults. More recently it has acquired pejoritive overtones and is applied to any religious group of which I disapprove.

1. 
   And, technically, all Bible stories are myths (traditional or legendary stories, true or not); all evangelization is propaganda (“that which is to be propagated”); if you have only one of Christ’s wounds, it’s a stigma.

 

[ericmatthews]

i made an account just to post in this topic lol… first off let me tell u a little about myself im 18 became catholic at 17. Now i will say this i get very angry when i hear mormons arent christains or are a cult because my brothers family is mormon and i know what they belive they belive chirst died on the cross for our sins and rose again thats all one needs to beliive to be a christian. I will also say this if we are to know christ’s church by it’s fruits let me tell u than the mormons bear good fruit i have seen few churchs follow christ’s teachings so well. When people i thought were my friends who came from more traditonal christan demantions abandoned me and i was alone who was there for me? My nephew is a mormon and my best friend as well as one of the best people i know

 

[PattyPryor]

I’m an ex-Mormon as well. The only thing that makes it a cult in my mind is the temple recommend requirement. That you have to pay 10% for salvation and to see your kids’ wedding turns it into a controlling cult in my mind. Nobody else that I know of has anything like that temple requirement. Since they hide the temple from the public it would seem to be cult-like as well.

Yes that I have to agree with

As for the above poster. I think JW are more so a cult because they take away all things “pagan” and don’t let kids have birthdays. to me that is odd. I do have to agree the temple is what makes the mormons seem “cultlike”

 

[PattyPryor]

bump

 

[RebeccaJ]

Now many don’t know but I was LDS 2X. I came back to the church. Anyway. I was so bitter before hand but a lot of research has brought me to the fact that after 13+ million members the LDS church is not a cult

They just believe A LOT different than what Catholics do. Nad now I am a Catholic through and through so don’t bash me for thinking this way

I post this because I think this would be a good discussion.

I do believe Jehovah’s witnesses are a cult but thats after series research into it:thumbsup:

I once read an article, I can’t remember if it was written by a mormon or non-mormon, but at any rate, it had some good points. Mostly about how using the term “cult” isn’t a clear way to describe a belief, because the term has so many meanings and connotations.

I don’t generally use it as a way to describe mormonism. However, there are cult-like behaviors in mormonism. The temple being one, especially pre-1990 when the blood oaths were in the endowment. The communist style New Order was cult behavior at its finest. The isolation and theocracy that Young sought to impose was also nothing but cult.

In my head I label that sort of mormon experience that sticks in you, influences your thinking, what you do, how you see the world…I call that “the cult”. Or my brain doing “cult-think”. Cult-think doesn’t happen often for me anymore. Not since I learned of the One True God.

 

[why_me]

Yes that I have to agree with

I do have to agree the temple is what makes the mormons seem “cultlike”

The temple is a special place for worthy lds members. I am enclosing a link about the lds temples:

lightplanet.com/mormons/temples/temple_recommend.html

I don’t consider the temple to be cult-like. Since I have been an inactive member for many years, I can not go to the temple for the simple reason I do not live according to what is required to get a temple recommend. But the temple is not cult-like. It is a different experience that is for sure but the procedure is designed to bring a person closer to god.

The next time there is a mormon temple open house, try to go in and see what it is all about.

 

[why_me]

In my head I label that sort of mormon experience that sticks in you, influences your thinking, what you do, how you see the world…I call that “the cult”. Or my brain doing “cult-think”. Cult-think doesn’t happen often for me anymore. Not since I learned of the One True God.

The mormon experience is a strong experience. I don’t think that it is a cult experience but mormonism does have a powerful message and when a person receives a testimony about its truthfulness, it is difficult to get rid of.

Catholicism can be considered to be a cult too. I know that from my involvement with nuns and priests that good catholics can be seen invovled in a group think. Between reciting the rosary daily, going to confession for venial and moral sins, attending retreats, attending mass every sunday (mortal sin if a person does not go) can be seen as cult-think. I can mention more now that it is lent etc but I think that you know what I mean.

 

[ibkc]

The way I’ve seen some Mormons behave online, with the lying about history and doctrine, and getting angry and defensive when “sacred” doctrines are made public (even if it’s done innocently and not in a debate atmosphere), makes me think “cult” more than anything else. This is observation from over the years and not just this forum.

 

[thomasf]

i made an account just to post in this topic lol… first off let me tell u a little about myself im 18 became catholic at 17. Now i will say this i get very angry when i hear mormons arent christains or are a cult because my brothers family is mormon and i know what they belive they belive chirst died on the cross for our sins and rose again thats all one needs to beliive to be a christian.

Actually, this is not true. One needs to believe in the trinity to be a christian. Mormons do not. They believe in a Jesus that is not the same in being as God the father and the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, they believe Jesus and Satan are brothers, sons of God the Father. And that God the father is just a created being that has reached a higher spritual plane than everyone else, that there are higher gods than him. And that we too, as created beings, can rise to that same level. Believing that Jesus died on the cross for our sins is key, but what good is that if you don’t believe Jesus is one in being with God? What if I believed Jesus died for our sins but was really an alien sunflower from another galaxy? Would that make me a christian? Hardly.

What makes mormonism a cult is the lack of openness about their faith. Ask any protestant about what it means to be part of their religion, what is required of them, they will tell you. Ask a catholic what they believe and what it is required of them in their religion, they will tell you. Ask a mormon, and you’ll get one answer. Ask them again, you’ll get another. Ask them what goes on in their temple, the secret handshakes and temple garments, and they’ll tell you it’s a secret. Ask them about the special underwear they wear under all their clothes. Many will deny it. Ask them about the secret ‘signs’ to get through the ‘veil’ after death. Won’t tell ya. Ask them about becoming their own gods, they’ll deny it. Ask them about polygamy, racism, etc etc and they’ll clam up. It’s not an open faith, it’s like an onion. You have to keep peeling back the layers to get to the truth, and the more you peel the deeper you get. And no one seems to ever have the answers, or is willing to give the answers to you until it’s too late.

 

[RebeccaJ]

The mormon experience is a strong experience. I don’t think that it is a cult experience but mormonism does have a powerful message and when a person receives a testimony about its truthfulness, it is difficult to get rid of.

Catholicism can be considered to be a cult too. I know that from my involvement with nuns and priests that good catholics can be seen invovled in a group think. Between reciting the rosary daily, going to confession for venial and moral sins, attending retreats, attending mass every sunday (mortal sin if a person does not go) can be seen as cult-think. I can mention more now that it is lent etc but I think that you know what I mean.

You misunderstand me. I never had a testimony about the truthfulness of mormonism. What stuck in my head is what I was taught about their false god. It was not a good thing for me.

And no, I don’t see those practices in Catholicism as cult-like. There is a difference in how mormons think compared to Catholics. mormons have to think a certain way or they are not deemed worthy, by other mormons, for a myriad of religious rites and positions. This never occurs in Catholicism.

 

[majick275]

The temple is a special place for worthy lds members. I am enclosing a link about the lds temples:

lightplanet.com/mormons/temples/temple_recommend.html

I don’t consider the temple to be cult-like. Since I have been an inactive member for many years, I can not go to the temple for the simple reason I do not live according to what is required to get a temple recommend. But the temple is not cult-like. It is a different experience that is for sure but the procedure is designed to bring a person closer to god.

The next time there is a mormon temple open house, try to go in and see what it is all about.

it is impossible to “see what it is all about” at an open house. you will not see the clothing, ordinances, films, etc. there nor will anyone be willing to discuss it. Even mormons who go through it for ordinances do net get a manual, there are no classes inside and no one (including the temple president) can speak authoritatively about the meanings of the various elements of it. while we still need to define “cult” for purposes of this thread I find the LDS temple ceremony to be very ungodly. It is certainly far less creepy now than it was pre 1990 but there is still a lot of masonic mumbo jumbo and some definite false doctrine going on in there. if anyone is interested there are a few easily googled sites that give the word for word transcripts of the various version of teh LDS temple ceremony over the years. you can draw your own conclusions then.

 

[nauvoochristian]

Now many don’t know but I was LDS 2X. I came back to the church. Anyway. I was so bitter before hand but a lot of research has brought me to the fact that after 13+ million members the LDS church is not a cult

They just believe A LOT different than what Catholics do. Nad now I am a Catholic through and through so don’t bash me for thinking this way

I post this because I think this would be a good discussion.

I do believe Jehovah’s witnesses are a cult but thats after series research into it:thumbsup:

Patty, I don’t know what research you used because you didn’t say, but whatever it was I doubt it was indepth. I can say this because my husband is a 6th generation former Mormon who didn’t leave Mormonism without years of study. His studies and mine are from Mormon sources the doctrine and teachings of the Mormon Church. Your statement that the Mormon Church is not a Cult that they just believes a lot of different things is false.
I don’t think there is a Catholic or any other Christian person out there that believes the Virgin Mary was the wife of God and that God had relations with her to produce Jesus. Nor is there a Christian out there that believes Jesus didn’t go to the cross for all our sins. That is just two reasons they are a Cult, when in fact I could name six more. You and others need to look into the doctrines of Mormonism. God was not a man who lived on another planet, who became a god. My hopes are that your statements will cause many to check into what the Mormon Church truly teaches about the Catholic Church…it is the whole of Babylon. Does that sound Christian?