Servant wrote:I believe Mormonism is a religious cult - a group gathered around the teaching of one specific person which depart significantly from the main group (in this case Christianity) of which it claims to be a part, or the sole representative. Other cults are Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Scientists, Scientologists, Moonies, etc.
And, of course, early Christianity, which gathered around the teaching of one specific person and departed significantly from Judaism, of which it claimed to be a part (and now an extension). "Cult" is a terrible word that functions only as a rhetorical bludgeon. It really just means "religious group I don't like," and this is primarily shown by the fact that you can never come up with a definition that doesn't also include early Christianity. Look into the field of New Religious Movements and you'll find actual research and data that's based on something more than petty sectarianism.
Servant wrote:Mormonism has been rather successful in the Untied States and in certain overseas areas, but it is now in decline.
This is demonstrably false. The Church continues to grow around the world, and new areas are opening up all the time. The rate of growth has slowed, but that rate is still much higher than your tradition.
Servant wrote:I believe that, like Christian Scientists, it will whither away and remain as a small, unimportant component in the over-all American society, a speck in the big picture....unless it it willing to change, as has its sister cult, the Community of Christ.
And since you believe in talking donkeys, what you believe doesn't really mean anything to anyone.
Servant wrote:I believe that in a decade, the C of C will most likely abandon the use of their Mormon-specific scriptures, treating them as "interesting documents" of the past, but of no theological value.
However, one can see a growing movement within Utah Mormonism itself. A group that values research over "official history."
"Official history"?
Servant wrote:Look at Mark Hofmann - he grew up in a rigid Mormon family. No doubts allowed - and he was so driven to expose the truth about Mormon history that he crossed the line into criminal insanity.
Yes, and how many criminals out there grew up in rigid mainstream Christian families and were not allowed to doubt? You've said many times that you refuse to doubt your dogmatism. Do you not see the hypocrisy of these juvenile judgments you're passing?
Servant wrote:Whether this sub-cult within Mormonism is motivated by a drive to expose historical truths, by the use of higher criticism, or by intellectual doubt about Mormon "facts," it is a rising force. One can see it right here on MD. Half the stuff posted here would be anathema on other TBM sites. And what passes for "scholarship" here would be seen as heresy there!
And you say the same of honest and informed Protestant scholars as well. You're a sectarian, Catherine, and sectarians gonna sectarianize.
Servant wrote:I think the New Order Mormons reflect my claim:
http://www.newordermormon.org/ They want to stay in the Mormon cult for family, social, or even career reasons. But this is bound to have an impact on the larger group over time. Perhaps it will bring change. Perhaps it will bring Mormonism more into conformity with historical Christianity - whatever, it's here and it is going to play an important role in the cult's future.
You really gotta get out more, Catherine.