Is Mormonism a cult?

Greenhorn · Oct 8, 2011

My sister had a college roommate who believed Catholics weren't Christian and that they worshiped on Saturdays....

printdust · Oct 8, 2011

HejiraHenry said:

Alma said:

Point of Order said:

What's the distinction between cult and religion -- number of followers?
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Here's a useful analytical tool: http://www.csj.org/infoserv_cult101/checklis.htm

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<i>The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.

‪ Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.

‪ Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s).

‪ The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel (for example, members must get permission to date, change jobs, marry—or leaders prescribe what types of clothes to wear, where to live, whether or not to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth).

‪ The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s) and members (for example, the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar—or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity).

‪ The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society.

‪ The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations).

‪ The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members' participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (for example, lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities).

‪ The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt iin order to influence and/or control members. Often, this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion.

‪ Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group.

‪ The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.

‪ The group is preoccupied with making money.

‪ Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities.

‪ Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members.

‪ The most loyal members (the “true believers”) feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave (or even consider leaving) the group.</i>
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This list almost perfectly describes the remaining supporters of President Obama.
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Post of year nomination.

Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!! · Oct 10, 2011

TigerVols said:

Mormons aren't cultists; cultists believe in alien interventions with their cult's founder, and they believe in natural segregation of the races.

Oh, wait.

By the way, are Mormons allowed yet in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes?
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What?
Mormons are allowed in FCA? Really?

heyabbott · Oct 10, 2011

Point of Order said:

What's the distinction between cult and religion -- number of followers?
Click to expand...

Alma said:

Point of Order said:

What's the distinction between cult and religion -- number of followers?
Click to expand...

Here's a useful analytical tool: http://www.csj.org/infoserv_cult101/checklis.htm

****

<i>The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.

‪ Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.

‪ Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s).

‪ The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel (for example, members must get permission to date, change jobs, marry—or leaders prescribe what types of clothes to wear, where to live, whether or not to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth).

‪ The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s) and members (for example, the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar—or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity).

‪ The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society.

‪ The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations).

‪ The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members' participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (for example, lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities).

‪ The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt iin order to influence and/or control members. Often, this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion.

‪ Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group.

‪ The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.

‪ The group is preoccupied with making money.

‪ Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities.

‪ Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members.

‪ The most loyal members (the “true believers”) feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave (or even consider leaving) the group.</i>
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Catholicism is a cult under this criteria. Judaism, otoh, is not. There are either no leaders in Judaism or everyone is, there's no middle ground.

Matt Stephens · Oct 10, 2011

Greenhorn said:

My sister had a college roommate who believed Catholics weren't Christian and that they worshiped on Saturdays....
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Do they also celebrate Bar and Bat Mitzvahs?

Armchair_QB · Oct 10, 2011

Greenhorn said:

My sister had a college roommate who believed Catholics weren't Christian and that they worshiped on Saturdays....
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That's bullshit.

We play Bingo on Saturdays.

Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!! · Oct 10, 2011

Armchair_QB said:

Greenhorn said:

My sister had a college roommate who believed Catholics weren't Christian and that they worshiped on Saturdays....
Click to expand...

That's bullshit.

We play Bingo on Saturdays.
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We just worship Mary.

MTM · Oct 10, 2011

One of my reporters was covering an annual mayor's prayer breakfast and chatting with the speaker before hand.

The speaker asked the reporter where he went to college and the reporter replied "BYU."

The speaker said "oh," then turned and walked away.

I guess the Mormon wasn't Christian enough for him.

SalukiNC · Oct 10, 2011

Would a cult put up a billboard?!

http://denver.cbslocal.com/2011/10/10/mormon-billboards-launch-in-denver-ad-campaign/

DanOregon · Oct 10, 2011

I've always thought the discomfort with Mormonism by some is that it is relatively new, and when you analyze Mormonism, it isn't a whole lot different from other faiths when you think of its origins, really the only thing novel about it is that is a young religion.
Is there anything in Mormonism that is that much more of a "stretch" than any other faith?
There was a point in time when Jesus, Buddah and Muhammed were just guys down the street.

heyabbott · Oct 10, 2011

Mizzougrad96 · Oct 10, 2011

It was a stupid comment.

Perry and the rest of the candidates have been wise "not to go there" with Romney.

I'm not going to lie and say I agree with everything the LDS church does, but somehow I doubt most of us who go to church regularly agree with everything our church does.

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