Is the Mormon religion a Cult?

Question

I need to get to the bottom of this Please HELP!?

Answer 1

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormonism) is a beautiful Christian religion, not a cult. This very question has been in the news lately; several reporters have pointed out that even the Southern Baptist Convention (a very large evangelical organization in the United States) lists Mormonism under the category "newly developed religions," not "cults and sects." You should be extremely careful when trying to learn about Mormons from others. There are many who hate the Mormons and spread lies, distortions, and conspiracy theories about them. Others think they understand Mormon doctrine because of "what they've heard," but are actually misinformed. I think learning about Mormonism from actual Mormons (from Mormon missionaries, from Mormon members, or from sites created and maintained by Mormons on the Internet) is much better than trusting second-hand information.

Because Mormons are Christian, we believe in most of the things that Christians believe, including:

1) Christ is divine and salvation comes only through Him.
2) The Bible is the word of God.
3) Men ought to love one another.

Mormons are a unique branch of Christianity, however. We are neither Catholic nor Protestant, so naturally we have some different beliefs. Most of the differences are minor. One significant difference has to do with the authority to act in God's name. Mormons believe that soon after the death of Christ and His apostles, the early Christian Church was greatly influenced by Greek and Roman philosophies and political pressures. Despite the efforts of many good men and women, the true Church of Christ was eventually lost because of these outside pressures and internal, man-made changes. Mormons believe that God reestablished the original Church of Christ in 1820 through a man named Joseph Smith.

To learn more about Mormons, visit my site at http://www.allaboutmormons.com !

Hope this helps! Mormon Christianity has changed my life by helping me better follow Jesus Christ. Good luck with your research!

Answer 2

Cult: (a few definitions from dictionary.com)

a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies.

a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.

the members of such a religion or sect.

By that definition just about ANY religion or religions group can be correctly called a cult. Some clubs could be called cults. Some social groups. Gangs, etc.

The connotation of this word, however, is more like a fanatical and secretive religious group. Using this more widely accepted type of definition, we could call the Branch Davidians (of Waco, TX) a cult. They all lived in a private, secret compound, thought their leader was God himself, and eventually committed mass suicide.

So....if Mormons are a cult, so are Catholics, protestants, Baptists, JW's, Muslims, Buddhists, etc.

In a nutshell, no, they're not a Cult by most people's understanding of what a cult is.

Prominent mormons are:
Mitt Romney
Donny and Marrie Osmond
Shawn Bradly (NBA)
Harry Reid (Senate Majority Leader)
Gladis Knight
Steve Young
Jon Heeder (Napoleon Dynamite)
Lead singer of The Killers

........ to name a few.

Answer 3

If you read the Dictionary, you will find that any group, organization, firm, assembly or religion who practices any form of "ritual" is a Cult.
Ritual being anything that is done repetitively which symbolizes expression of love, hate, union etc...

THEREFORE, if the Mormons are a cult, so is anyone and everyone else.

"Cult" is a word that the bigots of the world do not understand the context of, and attempt to place a negative connotation with it. It is nothing more than a slang, and dead word by it's own definition and cannot be used in the context attempted.

Answer 4

To answer that question you will need to do a bit of work on your own to figure it out. I'd start by looking up the definition of a cult.

There are quite a few definitions here http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cult

After you've determined what you feel a cult is, then take a good hard look at the religious practices of the LDS church members. Do they fit the description?

Of course any member of the church will tell you they are not a cult, and anyone who is against the religion will tell you that they are. Apply critical thinking and you should be able to come up with your own answer.

Answer 5

I believe the common idea of a cult is an organization that reprograms you to follow their doctrines and beliefs. A cult would prevent members from leaving.

On a superficial basis the Church converts and changes people. They come to Christ and leave their old life behind. When people join the Church they get a support network of family and friends. The difference is that there is no coersion or force. People leave the church all the time.

Answer 6

If you look up the definition of a cult then that will honestly apply to the mormons.

However, some will say they are and some will say they arent. Its something you just have to figure out on your own whether you believe them to be or not.

Oh and to the poster who mentioned 10% a year....actually you are supposed to give 10% of your income...so most do so at each paycheck, although Im sure there are a small few who do it all at the end of the year.
My parents always found it easier to give 10% per paycheck rather than in one lump sum at the end of the year.

Answer 7

If you are using the dictionary definition, then yes. As is every other religion on earth.

If you are using the common definition, used to insight fear and negative feelings, then no.

Here is a website for you that goes into greater detail about this subject. Enjoy!!

Answer 8

According to the dictionary, ALL RELIGIONS ARE CULTS!!!

But check out Jeff Lindsay's web page below. He has GREAT responses to all the questions you can ask about our faith.

Answer 9

The answers are entertaining. People have more interpretations of the word CULT than they do of Bible scripture.

Answer 10

No it's not a cult...it's a church that preaches the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.