Mormons, Cult?

Question

Is there any velleity to the theroy that the Mormon faith is just a enormus global cult?

Answer 1

In religion and sociology, a cult is a cohesive group of people (often a relatively small and recently founded religious movement) devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding culture or society considers to be far outside the mainstream.

The Mormons, with their belief in the Book of Mormon as revealed by their leader Joseph Smith, as considered to be outside the mainstream of the Christian faith. So they do meet the definition of a cult. (I will leave it to others to debate whether they are a false cult or not).

Answer 2

I've read all the posts and I can hardly believe my eyes! No wonder Mormons get such a bad rap!! There are so many discrepencies, I don't even know where to start...

First of all, the notion that the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints" is a cult is ridiculous. Many can't even properly define the meaning of a true cult:
Here you go --> http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cult

I'm sorry, but the LDS church is not "extremist" or "radically fundamental" in nature. A majority of the teachings make references from both the Old and New Testament of the Bible. The Book of Mormon is not viewed as a replacement in any way. In fact, it is a testimony that complements a lot of what is already in the New Testament. I don't see how anyone could view that as "outside" the norm or mainstream. Reading the Book of Mormon is the only way to know that for yourself.

Heatherbee's accusations above are either wildly distorted or completely false. What's bothersome is to see how quick some are to feed rumor and opinion into a discussion without first exploring the argument's validity. Not only are you wrong, but you're doing a disservice by painting an inaccurate picture of what Mormons are all about.

The Church welcomes others from all corners of society and various religious backgrounds to join them anytime to observe and/or ask questions, all free from discrimination. The Church has members all over the world including the Phillipines, Fiji Islands, India, France, Germany, England, Brazil, Mexico -- just about anywhere on the map. Sal couldn't be more wrong by believing that the religion is racist in any way. It's the most open-minded one I know. They don't try to lead by instilling fear or God's wrath, nor does it think it's a bad thing for you to attend another church's services. Church leaders are very respectful and sensitive on many issues.

Hopefully, most of you can sense that there is a lot more to the truth than the brief sentiment touched on in this thread. What you see on this site and in the news can be very misleading. Open minds should always research and challenge what they hear before passing judgement about "any" religion.

Answer 3

No validity at all. Only ignorant fools believe that. I've looked throught some of the answers and am amazed at some of the rediculous lies and misleadings people believe about the church. The hilarious part is when all these ignorant fools start saying we are a cult because we don't believe in some of the "core" believes that mainstream christianity believes in. Example: the trinity, the bible is perfect, no communcation from God needed, paid ministry.
I have no idea where where these mislead sould got that ignorant and misleading defintion, but it is mentioned in every single question involving the church. The definition of a cult doesn't even mention christianity.

Here is a definition of a cult:
a cult is a cohesive group of people (often a relatively small and recently founded religious movement) devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding culture or society considers to be far outside the mainstream. Its separate status may come about either due to its novel belief system, because of its idiosyncratic practices or because it opposes the interests of the mainstream culture. Other non-religious groups may also display cult-like characteristics.

In common usage, "cult" has a negative connotation, and is generally applied to a group by its opponents, for a variety of possible reasons.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult

Our basic beliefs are very close to mainstream christianity, we do not oppose society or practices. And we are hardly a small religious movement. Not only that but if we were a cult and evil and all these rumors about us were true than do you really think that the gov't would let us exist? Of course not. The gov't doesn't think were any threat and infact has thanked us on several occastions because of how hard the church works to help the world.

If you look at the last sentence of my definition it states that "In common usage, "cult" has a negative connotation, and is generally applied to a group by its opponents, for a variety of possible reasons."

In usage cult always causes fear and hatred, normally because people always think of satanic cults. Millions, if not billions of people are deliberatly mislead and lied to by our opponents to continue hatred of the church and persecution.
The church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints is the most persecuted church in the USA, if not the world. You might have looked or researched about the persecution the early church suffered , we have suffered the same amount. Satan will not persecute those who worship him, but will persecute those who worship God.

Answer 4

According to the book World Religions & Cults 101 by Bruce Bickel & Stan Jantz, Mormons are the largest cult worldwide. They say that they are Christians, but:
*The Mormon beliefs and practices are far different from Chrisitnaity in almost every way.
*The founder claimed that an angel named Moroni (take away the i & what do you have?) appeared to him and revealed the location of two golden plates that contained an account of the true gospel.
*They believe that the Book of Mormon is God's perfect revelation to man, that all other Bibles are corrupt.
*They believe that God was once a man, and man can become God.
*In the Mormon belief system, Jesus is not God, but the first spirit being of millions of spirit babies, Jesus & Satan are brother.
*Only Mormons will get into the top level of heaven (They believe there are 3 levels.)
This book is a good read, it compares all religions, and their beliefs.

Answer 5

It depends on which definition of cult you're going by. There are many from extremists to just plain old religious people.

If you are trying to say that they are evil, I would have to say that the organization itself has some very bad teachings. However, I'm sure many Mormon people are nice and sincere.

The religion teaches racism on one end and claims Jesus Christ on another end. The two don't go hand in hand so it would have to depend on the individual.

They believe that bad spirit babies from their god wind up being black people. That is a racist teaching. But I'm sure that not all Mormons are racist or even believe or are aware of that teaching.

So, they do fall into some of the definitions for a bad cult organization.

Answer 6

I've never felt like i'm in a cult at any point at all - I joined of my own free will as an adult (my parents arn't Mormons so I wasn't brainwashed at home), I can still do whatever I want - it's really up to me whether or not I follow the council of the Church and choose to be a member. It's deffinately NOT a cult, because it's members are free to leave and join as and when they wish.

Edit: To the poster above me, it wasn't JOE Smith it was JOSEPH Smith, people other than him saw the plates, and it wasn't the angel that helped him translate them. Don't speak if you don't know!

Answer 7

we are no longer a cult people! To be a religious cult skill to branch off of yet another religions traditions and beliefs. We do neither. people do not grant you with motives because there is no evidence that we are a cult. that is only what people say. a lot of people do not trust our beliefs so that they only call us a cult. There are some religions which have branched off people like the FLDS church, which will nicely be yet another clarification why people imagine we are a cult. they might imagine that we branched off of them at the same time as that is any incorrect way round.

Answer 8

by definition, cult:
a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents and/or
a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents

that said, yah, sure, youbetcha, Mormonism is a cult.

and yet so could be any religion.

the thing that makes Mormonism a bit different is the level of indoctrination and the levels of knowledge/secrecy throughout the organization. certain practices and beliefs are not revealed to members until they have reached certain "levels" and proven themselves "worthy."
these revelations include secret names, secret handshakes, and even secret underwear with mysterious markings. mainstream folks would probably say this is a "cult," and as a former member of the Mormon church, i would have to agree!

children are taught doctrine from the time they are small and unable to speak, followed through childhood and young adulthood, throughout life and then even after they are dead.

Answer 9

ALL religious groups are cults. Mormons are just one the weirdest cults. They believe in magic underwear and that a guy named Joe Smith found solid gold plates in upstate New York that were inscribed with divine script and that an angel named Moroni helped him translate them.

No one other than Smith has ever seen these gold plates.

Answer 10

It's a faith that had a history of racism, search it up in the library you'll see what I mean .... They have the courage of mission. But also they added a book to the Bible (i.e. the book of Mormon)
(Revelation 22:18) says, 'I warn anyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues describe in this book.'
A faith not foundationed on Christ is a cult ........
because you are either completely with Him or against Him...