List of things that make Mormonism a cult

[_why me]

Not exactly. The Jim Jones cult did not allow its members to leave once the decision for a mass suicide was put into effect. Many were killed by gunfire and I remember one black woman pleading with Jim not to enact the death sentence that he imposed on the members. It is all on tape.

Oh, but they still had a choice, right? They could still leave if they wanted, couldn't they? Sure, there were consequences for leaving, but people still had a choice!

(I just love using Internet Mormon logic against Internet Mormons. It warms me all up inside).

If I remember correctly some did get out in the beginning of the tempest but most stayed. Thus they were denied the opportunity to leave. All had to die that chose to stay. To my knowledge those who chose to stay had no idea just what 'DAD' (Jim) had in mind.

[_why me]

Anyway, what's this have to do with whether the LDS Church is a cult?

I mentioned mainstream religions because of Scottie's comment on page 7. Mainstream religions (Catholic Church exception) have succumbed to the world. The LDS church has stood firm. Does this make it a cult? No. The LDS has dogma and it expects its members to live by it. As does the Roman Catholic Church.

[_why me]

Well, my friend, mainstream religions have given up the ghost when it comes to educating its members about their perspective faiths. The LDS still have their lessons for children and adults. Now what is interesting is that the Satanic Bible mentions mainstream churches changing doctrine which would be right up satan'a alley since they have become more liberal in enacting their doctrine and in changing their doctrine.

What to do??

The Satanic Bible is tongue in cheek and heavily influenced by Rand's objectivism in the form of individuality and a need to go outside societal dictates.

So Satan would indeed (if you assume LeVay was actually satanically inspired to write the book -- no one else does) hate the LDS Church. LeVay does make a pretty profound insight at the age of 16 (I made this same one at the age of 18;) when he observed men lusting after half naked girls on Saturday night and watched these same men repent on Sunday morning with their families.

The Satanic Bible seems to be just what the world is following at this moment. The Seven Deadly Christian sins seem to be in full florish in the world today. I would say that it is inspired by the devil since it encourages people to follow the more dubious aspects of their human nature.

In fact, after reading it, I can see just who many of the world's leaders are following including not just political leaders but the economic elite as well.

As far as lusting after women or men and then attending church...well....we are human after all. The secret to a happy christian life is not to forget that the human is an integral part of life. We all sin and we all are imperfect. This does not mean we should not go to church.

Be that as it may, the LDS church is not a cult.

[_Jason Bourne]

Then what was the movie I saw back in the 90's? We took our son to Utah to enter the MTC in the early 90's, and we saw a movie what used to be the Hotel Utah but is now the Joseph Smith Memorial building, isn't it? Anyway, that was the movie that made me gag.

Legacy is what you saw. I do not know what the new one is but is called but it is focused on Joseph Smith's life from the leg operation forward.

[_Church Mouse]

...a person is free to leave the church.

For most members, this is a true statement, with the caveat, "but not without complication." The LDS Church generally tenaciously holds onto members, and those who wish to leave generally find obstacles to that process.

"Free to leave" is a complicated statement:
1. There is the freedom to leave the church via excommunication. This is widely-known method, and considered a dishonorable exit method.
2. You are free to leave the church via going somewhere else and no longer attending any LDS functions. This also is widely practiced. It is debatable whether it is an honorable or dishonorable exit method.
3. You are free to leave the church via resignation. The church does not publicize this method, it is not widely-known, and the only reason it is even permitted is due to mid-1980's/1990's lawsuits which enforced the right of individuals to resign without excommunication. This also may or may not be considered honorable, depending on local leadership.

A key feature of Steven Hassan's destructive-cult model is that the organization does not allow a method for members to honorably exit. The LDS church seems to be evolving in the direction of allowing honorable exit methods, but is not there yet. Hassan provides the US military as an example of a very cult-like organization, but exempts it from being a destructive cult because of social standing associated with service and the ability to exit the organization with honor. I would put the LDS Missionary program in a similar category, because it is generally looked upon favorably, and provides a way to exit the program honorably. Within the program, however, it is very cult-like.

Umm, and CogDis7? Don't pretend you know me, my qualifications, or how long I spent teaching infants like you doctrinally-sound LDS principles. Just because I recognize the flaws in the social environment surrounding the faith of my fathers and suggest corrections does not make me a "critic". Enjoy your continued trolling, you incoherent baboon.

[_Some Schmo]

Be that as it may, the LDS church is not a cult.

I would agree with this if you'd said, "Be that as it may, the LDS church is not a cult to me."

It occurs to me that there are many factors that go into an individual's personal definition of a cult and many factors that determine a person's experience with the church. To you and other Mormons, the church is not a cult. To many others (like myself), it most certainly and obviously is.

So yes, it's a pointless semantics argument. I've noticed with many Mormons (DCP chief among them), official cited definitions are of little consequence if they don't vibe with what that person believes. I often wonder what the point of talking to Mormons is at all, given they have their own brand of English, where words only mean church-approved or belief-congruent things.

[_harmony]

. The LDS has dogma and it expects its members to live by it. As does the Roman Catholic Church.

Somebody better tell the Brethren then. They're struggling to define doctrine, let alone dogma.

[_Doctor Steuss]

My list of things that make Mormonism a cult:

1) It is an exclusive system of religious worship and practices.
2) It is a group bound together by the veneration of the same person/deity (for the most part, that is).

<--- Just finished reading Aspects of Religious Propaganda in Judaism and Early Christianity which made multiple (and frequent) reference to the "Jewish cult" and "Christian cult."

[_GoodK]

My list of things that make Mormonism a cult:

1) It is an exclusive system of religious worship and practices.
2) It is a group bound together by the veneration of the same person/deity (for the most part, that is).

<--- Just finished reading Aspects of Religious Propaganda in Judaism and Early Christianity which made multiple (and frequent) reference to the "Jewish cult" and "Christian cult."

I propose a comprimise: everyone has to stop calling Mormonism a cult as soon as Mormons stop calling people anti-mormons.

[_Doctor Steuss]

My list of things that make Mormonism a cult:

1) It is an exclusive system of religious worship and practices.
2) It is a group bound together by the veneration of the same person/deity (for the most part, that is).

<--- Just finished reading Aspects of Religious Propaganda in Judaism and Early Christianity which made multiple (and frequent) reference to the "Jewish cult" and "Christian cult."

I propose a comprimise: everyone has to stop calling Mormonism a cult as soon as Mormons stop calling people anti-mormons.

I have absolutely no problem with people calling Mormonism a cult. It IS a cult.

It’s not my problem if people try to toss personal baggage onto the word.

I do think that the term "anti-Mormon" does get tossed around a bit too much though (the "b"-word is starting to get used a bit much too, in my opinion [i.e. "bigot"]).