Is it illegal for some people to say the goverment says a religion is a cult when it isn't?

Question

I'm responding to anti mormon sies that says Mormons are a cult but I know as a fact that the goverment DOESNT count Mormons as a cult anymore

Answer 1

All religion can be considered a cult. However the major religions in the US or benign and do not inflict pain or abuse their members.
When new religions are labeled cults its because of illegal activities. (marriage to more than 1 person, rape, tax evision, and theft.)

Answer 2

For the very first time I asctually agree with Mormon $ Jesus comment, the government doesnt have a right to make that decision. The christian church however, around which the cults are based, certainly can decide whether a religion is following a man or following god. And unfortunately, sorry to say Mormons pput more faith into the words of jo Smith and the prophets and not the word of god.

Answer 3

The government does not call Mormonism is a cult because so many Mormons are active politically and give a lot of money to candidates. If any politico had Mormonism listed as a cult they would lose a great deal of money.

Answer 4

Who's "The Government"? The Federal Government? Do they have a "this is a cult" website? What's a "cult"? Depending upon how you define that term, just about every religion could fall into it (and religions are only excluded because they've become mainstream and generally don't require you to give up all that you've owned... one of the characteristics of a cult).
M-W Defines "Cult" as
Main Entry: cult
Pronunciation: 'k<
Function: noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: French & Latin; French culte, from Latin cultus care, adoration, from colere to cultivate -- more at WHEEL
1 : formal religious veneration : WORSHIP
2 : a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents
3 : a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents

So heck, any religion can be a "cult."

Answers.com's dictionary defines:

A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.
The followers of such a religion or sect.
A system or community of religious worship and ritual.
The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual.
A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease.

Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing.
The object of such devotion.
An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest.


Under the "extremist" definitions, I don't know how LDS can constitute a cult. They have different views, but they don't require complete devotion to a charasmatic leader, or complete economic or social servitude. Certainly, some of the historical dogma seems pretty silly, but so does a god/man coming out of a virgin, turning water into wine, being nailed to a cross, physically coming to life after 3 days, and then physically being swept up into heaven.
Point is -- I'm not going to cast stones.

Answer 5

No, it is not illegal. It is true though that the Mormon church is a theological cult. Listen to what the others are saying about WHY and you will see the good reasons they have.
It has to do with the contention that the Mormon church is the only true one on earth. The Bible sets forth reasons why this can not be so.

Answer 6

Mormons are a "cult" in a sense. So are all religions.

I wrote an article for Helium about this. Please consider the argument I make that the term "cult" is just a pejorative (i.e. name calling) meant to scare people away from a religion they dislike or possibly even hate.

http://www.helium.com/tm/159769/understand-difference-between-religion

Answer 7

It's semantics.

Even the Catholic religion is calling itself a cult now a days, and calling all "major" religions cults also.

Answer 8

Heck, some people think Christianity is a cult? People do have a right to think what they want to think. what they don;t have a right to do is act upon those thoughts in a way that is detrimental to other people.

I'm guessing you're thinking about filing a lawsuit? Just like almost everybody else in this country.

Answer 9

no. it's legal for them to say that. freedom of speech protected by the 1st amendment. symbolic speech, obscenity, and slander(/libel) aren't automatically protected though (i think...not totally sure) and you can sue for that. hmmmm but i don't think calling Mormons a cult really counts for slander. maybe.....it shouldn't though because it's just an opinion. let it go.

Answer 10

Most religions are cults if you go strictly by the definition of "cult".