People say that mormonism is a cult. Being a mormon I want to know: why?

Question

Why do people consider mormonism to be a cult?

I am looking for your opinion.

Some people I have talked to have said that it is because someone else told them it was.

Why do people believe that Mormonism is a cult?

Looking for detailed answers!

Okay, I have had about enough. Several answers have included that we "will become gods and dieties and populate planets of our own. THIS IS NOT TRUE! We believe that if we live our lives the way we should, we will be together with our famalies. We believe that if we don't live our lives the way we need to, we will be sperated from them. I could go into more detail, but I think you guys get the point.

Dr. Theo.......I really suggest you visit LDS.org, and find out what we really believe. I think that you will find that all of your arguments are full of hot air.

Dr. Theo, one more thing. In your answer you quote the bible in that no man can look upon the face of god and live. I don't know where you are reading that from but look up Exodus 33:11 and read it. it says that Moses talked face to face with god, as a man to his friend.

SO don't give me that crap. Also, hthe Lord talked face to face with Brother of Jared. So, try reading the ENTIRE Bible before you start quoting it.

Joeseph Smith DID talk with God the father and Jesus Christ, and I suggest you write to the church about it if you doubt me.

Dr. Theo..............State one instance where we have called your church the "whore of babylon" or any such thing. I'd like to find out if you know what you are talking about or if you are just loco

People think thatMormons are cults because they are too restricting do they....? Well, to be honest we are not. It's just that Mormons actually live their religion, unlike most of you. Maybe if you actually TRIED to live your religion, you would find that YOUR religion has a lot of restraints too.

Also...There are large numbers of our church that are inactive, and don't come to church, or don't live the entire Gospel. Do we punish them? No. Do we excommunicate them? No.

The only time anyone is excommunicated is if they have done something severely obscene, such as committing adultery. Also, if you talk to almost any ACTIVE LDS youth if they feel restricted by these so-called rules, most often the answer will be that No, but we feel more free by them. However, there are always those who are the exception.

Also, just really quickly, the church no longer lives the concept of pluralism. There has not been a plural marriage since the U.S. sent Federal troops to tame the "wild Mormons."

Continuing on Pluralism, if you look at Mitt Romney, who actually lives his religion, you will find that he is the only one of the major Republican Candidates that has only had one wife. Joseph Smith himself also only had one wife. All of our profits have only had one wife.

Only the general members of the church had plural wives. Now, unless you are calling one of those splintered off pieces of the church Mormons when they really aren't, you will discover that not a single member of the church currently lives the ideals of pluralism.

Just thought that I would get that cleared up.

Answer 1

The people who do are purely ignorant and did not read the dictionary cults and religions are the same thing... SO for those who call the LDS church a cult, you also are a member of a cult every time you walk through the doors of the church where you worship. Evangelicals are Idiots anyways. Any way The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is no more a cult than any other religion

Answer 2

Mileu Control - Mormons are encouraged to be part of society, not away from it. Mystical Manipulation - I can't think of any examples in the Mormon church Loading the Language - No Doctrine over a Person - It seems to me that this includes all organized religions. Sacred Science - Mormons do believe we have the most truth, but we do believe that others do have some or even a lot of truth. Cult of Confessions - There is a lot that is personal and not shared with the group. Only a few types of sins should be confessed and then only with one or two people, not the entire group. Demand for Purity - The only punishments are related to membership. Dispensing the Existence - Nope.

Answer 3

I hate to say it, but you welcomed this whole can of worms with that question. If you ask why people that X is a cult, they'll say what they've heard, regardless if X truly believes that or not.

There are common themes which always pop up in the debate over whether Mormonism is a cult.

1. Extra-biblical Scriptures. Mainstream Christianity believes in Sola Scriptura. A possible exception is the oral tradition of Catholicism, but even their oral tradition is not canon.

2. Mormonism doesn't endorse the Nicene, Apostolic, or other Creeds. This includes the Mormon perspective on the Trinity / Godhead (3 Personages in 1 God, or 3 Gods in 1 Council?) and the nature of God (is God a Personage of Spirit or a Personage of Flesh and Bone?).

3. Most Mormon sects (including the LdS Church) have a strong hierarchy which mirrors a military organization. Most mainstream sects have more power and authority granted to local congregations.

Other than that, they point to "weird" doctrine and practices of Mormons (especially those living in Utah).

Answer 4

Alot of the answers here are spot on in describing why the LDS religion is considered BY DEFINITION a cult. I personally without any bible verses or LDS doctrine proof think they are a cult. The main reason being because a few years ago I had some missionaries come to my door and challenged me. They told be to read the book of Mormon and SINCERELY prayed about it and the Holy Ghost would tell me if it was true. I was very curious and I read it. It didn't take me very long it was quite interesting. The Holy Ghost did come to me. I have never felt so awefull in my life. It truely was revealed to me that the book was the work of Satan. God did not come to Joseph Smith it was Satan (a wolf in sheeps clothing) Satan is so seductive, just ask Eve she found out the hard way. So did Joseph Smith. Now Satan has 13 million strong. It is very sad. In the book of Mathew God warned us. "false christ and prophets will come and decieve even the elect, but be wary they are ferocious wolves"

Don't Flame me to bad, you asked the question you had to expect these kinds of answers. As a Christian I don't pride myself on answering these questions I would hate for you to think that I or any other christian are throwing stones at you. We aren't I just want you to know the truth. I want you to know the true nature of our Lord. It's not too, late He is so forgiving and so loving you will find that you do not need temples, and special underwear to be with God in the Kingdom of heaven.

Answer 5

Some people feel that the Book of Mormon is just straying too far from the conventional Bible. There are a lot of things in the Morman Bible that are not in anyone else's - and that get you labeled a cult. Come on - Eden in the US, multiple-wives, special underwear, the Bull Bowl, Donny and Marie, bulk purchasing? It is just so far outside the regulation boundaries all the other older Christian denominations label Mormonism cult - a really big successful cult, but a cult non-the-less. This term is applied to all the rarified versions of Christianity, whether your Church says Eden was in the US or your Church says Angels create all forms of combustion - just because you believe what's in the Bible does not mean you are not strange enough to be called a cult.

Answer 6

Anything that is different from what some people believe could be said to be a cult.

If you take the dictionary definition, all religions are cults to some extent. It's just that people have twisted what a cult is to be something that means something bad.

I personally think that people who label others as a cult without the real facts are the ones being close minded and unable to find their own info.

Answer 7

I have researched some 'cults' and non-cult churches, but I have not researched the LDS.

Dictionaries define a cult as 'a theory or practice of relgious worship'. Some people here on YA also do, but most people in the English-speaking world do not, therefore as words are defined by the meaning for the majority of people, the dictionary is mistaken.

There are many different definitions of a cult, but basically a religious cult is one that uses coercion to keep its members in line, or to keep them as members. This can take the form of imprisonment, shutting them off from the rest of the world, constant interference in their daily lives, making them work without pay etc. Not all cults are small, and all the major religions are sometimes practiced as cults (the world's worst currently being Al-Quaida).

Is the LDS a cult? You be the judge!

Answer 8

Technically, every religion is a cult. Cult roughly refers to a cohesive social group devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding culture considers outside the mainstream, with a notably positive or negative popular perception. Often times they claim that their beliefs and definitons are found through 'special' or 'secret' knowledge.

Since Mormanism 'adds' stories and beliefs to the already present Christian ORTHODOXY, in this case would be the 'mainstream', Mormanism would be the 'off shoot' thus cult.

Though with the ACTIVE conversion practices of Mormanism, technically according to the Laws of God, Deuteronomy 13, they would not only be a cult but an abominaiton to the SPIRIT. According to the LAW, conversion is a NO-NO.

Since the notion of converting applies that the god form is NOT everywhere. Under the Law, the SPIRIT is said to tbe EVERYWHERE. If a person or missionary has to go show or tell another about their god, then their god is NOT eveywhere.

Answer 9

Cults add their own rules, distorting the Bible’s message.
Some cults require a specific dress code, special food, or special behavior not mentioned in the Bible. This is in conflict with the Bible’s message which says that the only thing we need to do is get right with God through Jesus. There are many places in the New Testament that tell us we do not have to eat, wear, or do special things. Colossians 2:16 and Colossians 2:20-23 are good examples

Cults distort God’s rules, changing the Bible’s message.
Historically, the first “cult” to do this is described in the Bible books of Acts and Galatians. It was lead by Jews who had become Christians, and in Acts chapter 15, verse 5 they told the other Christians that they needed to keep the Jewish laws and be circumcised. The early church composed a written response to their statements, which is recorded in Acts 15:23-29

Now does this fit in what the Mormon church teaches. Does the bible say Jesus is the only begotten Son of God but Mormons say Jesus is a brother of Satan. Also why do Mormon temples have plenty of masonic symbols, there is so much that does not add up with the bible.

Who do Mormons consider to be higher Jesus Christ or joseph Smith and this should answer the question

Answer 10

All religions that are not Baptist are cults, really. I know because the cult... ah... I mean church... I used to belong to told us so. This Baptist church told us we would be tempting god and allowing satan to work in our lives if we so much as let a mormon or jehovah's witness into our homes. And if you tell them godspeed.... oooooo!!!! I am grown up now and know better: I know that all religions, including Baptists, are capable of becoming cults. The reasons why have already been admirably described in answers above mine, and even demonstrated in answers above mine. You are welcome to believe in a god if you wish, but don't try to coerce others into your way of thinking so that you can have power in numbers and exclusivity from anyone who won't believe. In my opinion, all religion is immature, and it's time humanity outgrew it.
Oh, and now I gleefully greet JH's and Mormons at my door. they usually are a lot nicer than Baptists!