is the mormon religion a cult?

Question

A few days ago some mormon (from the Church of Jesus Christ of Ladder Day Saints) stopped by my house to talk to me about their religion. Not now anything about their religion made me curious to learn, so I allowed them to speak to me. As I listened their we're several things I didn't agree with, especially how they base their church on their families. The way the men kept talking bout that and the kind of things they did in their church services made me wonder if their religion was cult. Does anyone know?

Answer 1

They have a history of being thrown out of houses, communities, and (basically) the entire eastern half of the USA. They use "keywords" to trick people into thinking they are just another protestant branch. But their views are not based strictly on the Bible. In fact, most of their beliefs come from the Book of Mormon, which was supposedly inspired by and angel and written by Joseph Smith (a 19th century American).

I classify them as a cult because they are very exclusive and seem to brainwash every young kid they can get their hands on. They also believe they will become gods with their own planet in the afterlife. Of course, only the men can become a god.....and the amount of children he has on earth will decide how big a planet he rules.

Weird.


____EDIT____

Any church that constantly uses children/family as a selling point is either:

a) using the children as a shield for their immensely screwed up beliefs

or

b) someone in the church is a pedophile

Answer 2

Episcopalians are a cult--and they say so in their catacism (training texts). While a cult can be an unorthodox or spurious belief system, it is also a word used (though not as often) for a distinct religious system. The word comes from a Latin expression for adoration, cultus. The Roman Catholics have a cult of Mary as a deviation from orthodoxy. Some Eastern Orthodox have cult provision for icons, devoted images. Some Baptists and Pentecostals have the King James Version of the Bible as their cultus.

The Mormons start with a premise, Christianity had failed but their extra book and teachings of their originator Joseph Smith were going to correct that. Now if you can believe that after the Assyrians uprooted the northern tribes of Israel, carrying them off, then upon release they all took a boat to the Americas instead of the north shores of Israel, and there they got new inspirations from God and wrote it on golden plates, and buried them until such a time as Joseph Smith would find them and be given special translation skill to write them in English for us before an angel took them away to heaven--well, go for it. But it gets stranger in its history here and there. Still, Christianity has its moments when it has become hardly recognizable from their sacred texts and they needed the likes of an Augustine or John Hus or Martin Luther to shake some awake. Maybe this is an opportunity for you to look at what you believe and why you believe it. That's something good for us all from time to time.

Answer 3

It depends on your definition of the word cult. I asked a question about cults earlier, and this is what I chose as the best answer:

From Sandy

"It is helpful to know what a cult is. One common trait of cults is that members are not free to leave once they become members.

Another common--though not-across-the-board--trait is that members are to give everything they own to the leader(s).

Another common trait is that members are not allowed to associate with whom they choose, and sometimes MUST cut off all contact with former friends and family.

And yet another is that members must submit to the will of the leader(s) or else be punished.

A cult "steals" choices from people.

The Shriners are not a cult. They are a society.

People throw the word "cult" around, and they have no idea what they're talking about. A tiny bit of research would reveal these people's use of the word "cult" to describe certain religions and societies to be erroneous."

I think this was the best definition, and under that, no, the LDS church is not a cult, nor are many other religions out ther.

best wishes.

Answer 4

No, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (The Mormon Church) is not a cult.

Answer 5

No it's not a cult. The people that are saying this no nothing about the religion, and why would you take answers form someone who doesn't know what they are talking about. What is wrong with basing the church on families? The Mormons I know, my friends and I, are all really mature, don't have bad relationships with our families, don't get into arguments as much as other people, &c. At my church, it starts off with mass, and then the adults stay there and the children go to their age groups and rooms with their books and they study, play games and stuff. It's like a typical Christian church except there are classes after mass.

*this next part is directed at the rude answerers*
There are lots of things that were invented by Mormons so I would stop complaining. If you don't like Mormons go throw out your TV, headphone, videogames, CD/DVD technology, radio, electric guitar, repeating rifle, automatic shotgun, zip drive, synthetic diamonds, and avoid traffic lights because they were invented by Mormons. They created techniques to farm out west, making the land livable for people today. Artificial hearts, heart bypass machine and various bionic bodyparts were invented by Mormons. Mormons contributed a lot to science and our technology and you seem to only be contributing your complaining to society.

http://www.adherents.com/largecom/fam_lds_inv.html

Answer 6

Non mormons usually consider it a cult, but I am sure mormom don't think they are. I know non mormoms cannot go into part of their temple in Salt Lake City.

They are very family orientated and believe in making lots and lots of babies. They can be quite persistant in trying to convert you. If you are not interested in their religion, just let them know and they will leave you alone.

Answer 7

We aren't a cult - not any more so than any other church.

What things about our believing in the strength of the Family didn't you agree with? I am just curious because our views on the family are what most people, whether they agree wholey with our Church or not, respect about our religion.

Answer 8

All religions are cults. They just get enough members calling them religions and other people start to also.

Answer 9

Nope

Answer 10

have u noticed the biggest factor of all religions. that men run them & women are told to be seen & not heard. since when does a god have a sex organ hanging between his leg.