Why are Mormons & Jehovah Witness's considered to be Cults?

Question

These two seem to be the most pointed to as spreading flase teachings

Why them?

Do Mormons & Jehovah Witness's say that each other are Cults...or do they get along.

Answer 1

Mr. Piss said:
OK its not just people's opinions or those that don't "understand". These are recent groups that started after the Civil War. They are considered cults because of the history of those organizations the Mormons were followers of Joseph Smith

Truth: Mormonism started before the civil war in 1830 and they follow jesus chirst as their savior.

Kari4nat said: The Mormons have a separate "bible" that was written by a man named Joseph Smith who called himself a prophet. Thats why they are consitered a cult.

Truth: Mormonism believes in the bible as it is translated correctly, the Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants and The Pearl Of Great Price as well as new revelation when the Lords reveals it.

Cristoig said: The Jehovah witnesses are actually believers in the Christian heresy of Arianism and Mormons are a religion believing in millions of Gods not unlike the Hindu and ancient Greek and Roman religions. The Christian faith believes in one Trinitarian God and that Christ had two natures , fully human and fully God.

Truth: Mormonism believes in Existance in many gods but worship only one one...Found in 2nd Cor. We belive in the Godhead..The Father, The Son and the Holy Ghost.

Bonsai B said: The Mormons and J.W's deny the divinity of Jesus.

Truth: Mormonism believes in The divinity of Jesus and is the 2nd member of the Godhead.

As for the Jw's...ignore zorros post...They have their own religion.
I don't call them Cults...
As for Catholics...Protestants came out of Catholicism. I don't think the majority of the worlds christians...who are catholics are cultists.

Answer 2

OK its not just people's opinions or those that don't "understand". These are recent groups that started after the Civil War. They are considered cults because of the history of those organizations the Mormons were followers of Joseph Smith. He had them give their property to "the church" and they all lived together. He would dictate every aspect of how the followers would live their lives and there are accounts where he would break up couples. When engaged couples came to him to approve thier marriage some times he would say that "god" told HIM to marry the girl instead! That's how that whole multiple wives thing started - But it was only the leaders that could get the many wives because they were in on the scam. And it was all the hot wives and daughters they wanted to get their hands on. They also do cryptic ceremonies with heavy occult symbolism.
The Jehovah witnesses started as an end-times cult in the 1800s that believed they knew the date of the Apocalypse which would be a couple years after they started. They believe only a handful of people will get to heaven and they live a very controlled life that forbids them from going to the doctor or celebrating their children's birthdays or Christmas among other things.

That says cult to me. check the sources listed for some real expose.

Answer 3

In religion/sociology, cult is a term designating a cohesive group of people (generally, but not exclusively a relatively small and recently founded religious movement) devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding culture or society considers to be outside the mainstream.

Cult status may come either from a novel belief system, idiosyncratic practices, perceived harmful effects on members, or because of opposition to the interests of the mainstream culture.

James T. Richardson wrote, "This popular use of the term has gained such credence and momentum that it has virtually swallowed up the more neutral historical meaning of the term from the sociology of religion" in 1993.

They don't actively get along - in other words, they don't do family bbq's so to speak, but they do peacefully co-exist. There is a Kingdom Hall and an LDS Church in a small town near here along with a couple of baptist churches, a catholic church, and some polygymast groups. The community pulls together and doesn't seem to care who is what religion.

Answer 4

The World Book Encyclopedia explains that “traditionally, the term cult referred to any form of worship or ritual observance.” By that criterion, all religious organizations could be classified as cults. However, in general usage today, the word “cult” has a different meaning. The same encyclopedia notes that “since the mid-1900’s, publicity about cults has altered the meaning of the term. Today, the term is applied to groups that follow a living leader who promotes new and unorthodox doctrines and practices.”
Anyone who attends a church or religious group where the Religious leader teaches doctrine that is not supported from the scriptures and that means teachings that are backed up by many other scriptures. If they take just one thought out of context. to prove a point. These would be considered cult leaders and you would be in a cult. To see if these two Religious groups are cults you would have to find out what they teach and if your bible is out or in harmony with their teachings, and it would be better to ask directly, because many religious leaders and people presume and assume that they know, but really don't have any idea.
Christianity today is so far away from scriptual teachings that its better to test your own beliefs to see if you are still on the right course. The important thing to remember not what you think is right, but what God's word says. A person should also use several translations to get correct meanings. and at least one in mordern english. It seems to me that no matter who you talk to if they use the bible to support their beliefs and can prove them with the bible then you should be discussing the truth of the bible with them.
If you close your eyes to teachings where you learn something new or something that you didn't know before about God or about his plans for man and for the earth then who looses. For example read Mathew 5:5, Psalms 37:9-11,29 and send me your thoughts. [e-mail]

Answer 5

"Witnesses"... it's a plural noun, not a possessive pronoun.

Anyway, the mormon Church today can't technically be described as a cult anymore (although 25-30 years ago, such a statement would have been accurate), although the Watchtower Society (JWs) technically still can.

In my humble opinion, neither are really 'cults', just fundamentalist non-mainstream Christian sects, like the Amish or the QFs or the Menonites.

JWs say the Mormons are a cult and that they're inspired of the devil for twisting the Word of God. The Mormons say that the JWs grossly misinterpret the Bible. Each feels sorry for the other for being "in error" and the dream of each is to convert the other.

Answer 6

I believe people say JW's spread falsehoods because it is not mainstream Christianity. Lots of people have problems with them not celebrating Christmas and Easter and going door to door. Some people have problems with them because of their Bible which is the same, I have 3 different kinds of Bible from different religions and they say the same thing and as I have been studying with the JW's I reference my NIV bible to be sure it is the same as I am not used to the wording of some things. I also think people have problems with them witnessing to them.

The Mormons have a separate "bible" that was written by a man named Joseph Smith who called himself a prophet. Thats why they are consitered a cult.

I have been studying with the JW's for a few months now and have never heard them call other religions a cult. Every religion thinks they know the truth and does not agree with others. I grew up a lutheran and was taught that catholiscm was an abomination. My family supports me going to the JW's because they arent catholic so what does that say??

Answer 7

Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses are legitimate religions but are not Christian . The fact that they claim some relationship with Christianity is what makes them a cult to Christians. The Jehovah witnesses are actually believers in the Christian heresy of Arianism and Mormons are a religion believing in millions of Gods not unlike the Hindu and ancient Greek and Roman religions. The Christian faith believes in one Trinitarian God and that Christ had two natures , fully human and fully God.

It is interesting that the JW's and Mormons have the same theological origin in that the Mormon religion had a JW as it's first theologian who, it is believed wrote the book of Mormon.

In Christ
Fr. Joseph

Answer 8

I don't think that at all. =/ But I guess a lot of people think this because they have very strong beliefs. And I just KNOW someone is going to answer with "They knock at your door an awful lot!" Which isn't really true. They're just trying to spread their religion. If they're shoving it down your throat, now that's a different story. My mother is a Jehovah's Witness, and it's just a very strong belief system. Whereas some other religions could be considered to have a lack of morals. Basically all religions could be called cults, but these particular ones have been exaggerated in movies, tv shows, novels, etc.

Answer 9

Speaking about Jehovah's Witnesses, they are considered a cult because they reject the trinity doctrine. But uninformed people don't know that the trinity doctrine is not taught in the Bible. I challenge anyone to find one passage of Scripture that says the Father, Son, and holy spirit are all co-equal, co-eternal, and almighty. You can look all you want, but you will not find it.

What Norrisbot below said is an outright falsehood. JW's do not consider any religious group, includin the Mormons, a cult.

Answer 10

One you think of they're cults because of the fact they're strange? First you are able to desire to renowned what strange ability, strikingly strange or unusual. you are able to certainly say this is what the communities reported are. Thats in ordinary terms a private opinion, yet because of the fact the question asks "Why are Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses seen cults?" properly this is because of the fact they're between the only peoples in church that do actually pass door to door to unfold their message. is that this consistently the appropriate element to do? No. they're seen strange because of the fact of their friendliness and their openness to unfold their observe.