Mormon official challenges 'cult' designation

[_Simon Belmont]

You know, I'm pretty sure and David Koresh and Jim Jones could defend themselves the same way you guys defend Mormonism.

"Hey, WE'RE not a cult, cause those things you say are cultish about us apply to other religions too!"

Well, that and the fact that Mormons don't meet any of the criteria for a "cult", especially those from your above list.

It's like porn. I don't know how to define it, but I know it when I see it. There is a difference between porn vs art, just as there is a difference between religions and cults.

Oh, so you decide what the term means?

[_Joseph]

"Oh, so you decide what the term means?"

Ya'mean like you do simmy?

[_Simon Belmont]

"Oh, so you decide what the term means?"

Ya'mean like you do simmy?

I'm unable to determine whether you're quoting someone or saying both of these sentences.

[_Joseph]

Just one among many things you are unable to determine...

[_Jonah]

Well, that and the fact that Mormons don't meet any of the criteria for a "cult", especially those from your above list.

Well, after doing a Google search for "cult characteristics", lets see what the International Cultic Studies Association website says are characteristics of a cult -

- The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.
- Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.
- Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s).
- The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel (for example, members must get permission to date, change jobs, marry—or leaders prescribe what types of clothes to wear, where to live, whether or not to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth).
- The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s) and members (for example, the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar—or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity).
- The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society.
- The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations).
- The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members' participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (for example, lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities).
- The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt iin order to influence and/or control members. Often, this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion.
- Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group.
- The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.
- The group is preoccupied with making money.
- Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities.
- Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members.
- The most loyal members (the “true believers”) feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave (or even consider leaving) the group.


Hmmmmmmmmmm. Nope, Mormons don't "meet any of the criteria for a cult".

Sheeeeesh!!

[_Joseph]

There is a reason Mormons have been run out of many places and thought of as lousy neighbors. Cult is as good a description of the reasons as any.

[_Everybody Wang Chung]

There is a reason Mormons have been run out of many places and thought of as lousy neighbors. Cult is as good a description of the reasons as any.

I honestly can't think of having a worse neighbor than you. I imagine that you are the kind of neighbor that spies on his neighbors and tries to turn them in to the police for imaginary "crimes". I'm sure the local police department has you on their ignore list.

[_Simon Belmont]

Wel, Jonah, let's go through these. I'll put a "yup" by items that are true about Mormonism, and a "nope" by items that aren't.

Well, after doing a Google search for "cult characteristics", lets see what the International Cultic Studies Association website says are characteristics of a cult -

- The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.

Nope.

- Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.

Nope.

- Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s).

Nope.

- The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel (for example, members must get permission to date, change jobs, marry—or leaders prescribe what types of clothes to wear, where to live, whether or not to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth).

Nope.

- The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s) and members (for example, the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar—or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity).

Nope.

- The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society.

Nope.

- The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations).

Nope.

- The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members' participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (for example, lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities).

Nope.

- The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt iin order to influence and/or control members. Often, this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion.

Nope.

- Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group.

Nope.

- The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.

Preoccupied? I don't think so. It's an emphasis, but not a preoccupation so...

Nope.

- The group is preoccupied with making money.

Nope.

- Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities.

Nope.

- Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members.

Nope.

- The most loyal members (the “true believers”) feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave (or even consider leaving) the group.

Nope.

Hmmmmmmmmmm. Nope, Mormons don't "meet any of the criteria for a cult".

Correct.

[_Simon Belmont]

thought of as lousy neighbors.

Actually, you ignorant fool, most non-LDS I've spoken to have nothing but nice things to say about the neighborly attributes of LDS.

[_Jason Bourne]

Jonah

I think Mormonism does meet some of those items you list and some to a greater degree, some less and some not at all. And I think many other religions meet some as well including most conservative Christian denominations.