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Forums - Politics - Is Mormonism a Cult?

 

Is Mormonism a Cult?

Yes, Mormonism is a dangerous cult! 42 38.18%
 
Yes, Mormonism is a cult,... 32 29.09%
 
No, Mormonism is not a Cu... 30 27.27%
 
I don't know. 4 3.64%
 
Total:108
EdHieron on 18 June 2012
richardhutnik said:
Chris Hu said:
In my book all organized religions are cults.

In a general sociological sense, that is true, along with any collective philosophical school of thought, that has followers and common practices that make it unique:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult

Now, if one wants to start saying that the negative associations with the word "cult" apllies to all major religions, that is subject to MUCH debate.


Well, when you look at the history of all major religions in the Western World which is basically the same thing as the history of all major cults in the Western world, there are definite reasons to apply negative associations to them.  How many people did the Catholics and the Protestants kill from the beginning of the Inquisition to the end of the witchcraft craze and today how many people have they denied their rights by playing a major role in trying to stop women from being able to get abortions and by keeping gays from being able to get married?



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EdHieron on 18 June 2012
Kasz216 said:
EdHieron said:
Kasz216 said:
No more so then say baptists... and i mean honestly... you could only wish that most religious groups did as much good as the mormon church.

They do a LOT of good, are one of the more active charitable christian groups out there... and seem honestly to generally be a lot more positive and generally nice then people on average.

So even if they were a cult, good for them. We'd probably be better off if there were more Mormons out there.


I wouldn't exactly say that the Mountain Meadows Massacre was a good thing ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Meadows_massacre ), and I'm not sure if there's anything analogous to it in Baptist history.


Well... the inquistion.  Since they branched off from catholics after that.

I mean... seriously... 1857?


I wouldn't be particularly thrilled with the prospect of a Fundamentalist Catholic like Santorum or a Fundamentalist Evangelical like Perry or Bachmann being President either.



Kasz216 on 18 June 2012
EdHieron said:
Kasz216 said:
EdHieron said:
Kasz216 said:
No more so then say baptists... and i mean honestly... you could only wish that most religious groups did as much good as the mormon church.

They do a LOT of good, are one of the more active charitable christian groups out there... and seem honestly to generally be a lot more positive and generally nice then people on average.

So even if they were a cult, good for them. We'd probably be better off if there were more Mormons out there.


I wouldn't exactly say that the Mountain Meadows Massacre was a good thing ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Meadows_massacre ), and I'm not sure if there's anything analogous to it in Baptist history.


Well... the inquistion.  Since they branched off from catholics after that.

I mean... seriously... 1857?


I wouldn't be particularly thrilled with the prospect of a Fundamentalist Catholic like Santorum or a Fundamentalist Evangelical like Perry or Bachmann being President either.


Don't think you have a choice, what considering Obama is the most outwardly religious president since Jimmy Carter.



Runa216 on 18 June 2012
Jumpin said:
Runa216 said:

 Calling Elton John a fag is a hate crime.  Calling a crazy religion (or any religion) a cult is pretty accurate.  

Then you too are responsible for a hate crime. Discriminating based on religion.

how is it a hate crime to have no respect for someone who has not earned your respect?  how is it a hate crime to objectively be against something when you have tonnes of legitimate reasons for it?  how is it a hate crime to disgregard something as silly when the collective you're disregarding as silly is in fact silly and is entirely unable to give any credibility to its claims? 



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Chris Hu on 18 June 2012
coolbeans said:
Chris Hu said:
coolbeans said:
Chris Hu said:
In my book all organized religions are cults.

 

Look up the word cult in a dictionary and guess what you will learn cult=religion.

Even though I've ran into this discussion before, I'll humor you.  My first reply rings even more true after rereading the same definitions I've seen before.

So what exactly is your point you make even less sense then most religious nuts.



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EdHieron on 18 June 2012
Kasz216 said:
EdHieron said:
Kasz216 said:
EdHieron said:
Kasz216 said:
No more so then say baptists... and i mean honestly... you could only wish that most religious groups did as much good as the mormon church.

They do a LOT of good, are one of the more active charitable christian groups out there... and seem honestly to generally be a lot more positive and generally nice then people on average.

So even if they were a cult, good for them. We'd probably be better off if there were more Mormons out there.


I wouldn't exactly say that the Mountain Meadows Massacre was a good thing ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Meadows_massacre ), and I'm not sure if there's anything analogous to it in Baptist history.


Well... the inquistion.  Since they branched off from catholics after that.

I mean... seriously... 1857?


I wouldn't be particularly thrilled with the prospect of a Fundamentalist Catholic like Santorum or a Fundamentalist Evangelical like Perry or Bachmann being President either.


Don't think you have a choice, what considering Obama is the most outwardly religious president since Jimmy Carter.


Bush was far more religious than Obama lest we forget he thought he had some calling from a god that doesn't exist to save the world from Islam, he tried to curtail research into stem cells, and he was elected to his second term because he wanted to deny gays their civil rights.



Kasz216 on 18 June 2012
EdHieron said:
Kasz216 said:
EdHieron said:
Kasz216 said:
EdHieron said:
Kasz216 said:
No more so then say baptists... and i mean honestly... you could only wish that most religious groups did as much good as the mormon church.

They do a LOT of good, are one of the more active charitable christian groups out there... and seem honestly to generally be a lot more positive and generally nice then people on average.

So even if they were a cult, good for them. We'd probably be better off if there were more Mormons out there.


I wouldn't exactly say that the Mountain Meadows Massacre was a good thing ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Meadows_massacre ), and I'm not sure if there's anything analogous to it in Baptist history.


Well... the inquistion.  Since they branched off from catholics after that.

I mean... seriously... 1857?


I wouldn't be particularly thrilled with the prospect of a Fundamentalist Catholic like Santorum or a Fundamentalist Evangelical like Perry or Bachmann being President either.


Don't think you have a choice, what considering Obama is the most outwardly religious president since Jimmy Carter.


Bush was far more religious than Obama lest we forget he thought he had some calling from a god that doesn't exist to save the world from Islam, he tried to curtail research into stem cells, and he was elected his to second term because he wanted to deny gays their civil rights.

Your not argueing religion here.  Your argueing things done because of interpretation of ones religion.  Obama is even more guided by religion, he just has a different interpretation.  "Obamacare" was very much driven by HIS christian convictions.

Bush talked about God every once in a while sure.

Obama's words however are cluttered with religious phrases, terms and ideas... he actually refrences the bible FAR more then Bush ever did.

It's the differnece between somebody who thinks Monty Python is funny and will recall things he likes and someone who refrences it all the time and uses words because he memorized them from their acts.

http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Vote-for-This-Man-John-Fea-02-15-2012?offset=0&max=1



WiiBox3 on 18 June 2012

From Wikipedia

 

Although the LDS Church has never officially adopted a doctrine of soteriology,[67] most Mormons accept the doctrine of salvation formulated by B. H. Roberts, John A. Widstoe, and James E. Talmage in the early 20th century.[68] In contrast to early Mormons, modern Mormons generally reject the idea of original sin.[69] The Fall of Man is viewed not as a curse but as an opportunity.[70]

Mormons believe they must not only have faith and repent but also be baptized (by immersion and by a Mormon priest) and bring forth good works.[71] Mormons consider their weekly Eucharist (the Sacrament) as a means of renewing their baptism and being repeatedly cleansed from sin. Although the grace of Jesus plays some role in salvation, each Mormon must "work out his own salvation."[72] Mormons believe that people not baptized during their lifetime may accept salvation in the afterlife through the Mormon practice of baptism for the dead.[32] Although the Book of Mormon rejected the doctrine of universal reconciliation, Smith later taught that damnation was a temporary state from which the wicked would ultimately escape after they had paid for their sins, to be resurrected into the lowest of three glorious heavens.[31]

Mormonism takes an extreme view of Christian perfection,[73] asserting that through the grace of Jesus, Mormons may become perfectly sanctified and thereby literally become gods or achieve Exaltation.[74] To achieve Exaltation, Mormons must remain obedient to the teachings of Jesus, receive all the ordinances or Sacraments, which includes baptism, confirmation, receive the Melchizedek priesthood (for males), the Endowment, and being sealed to one's spouse.[33] To "make sure" the election of believers, Smith introduced a second anointing ritual,[75] whose participants, upon continued obedience, were sealed to Exaltation.

 

Different from Christianity, but I wouldn't call it a cult.



outlawauron on 18 June 2012
Runa216 said:
Jumpin said:
Runa216 said:

 Calling Elton John a fag is a hate crime.  Calling a crazy religion (or any religion) a cult is pretty accurate.  

Then you too are responsible for a hate crime. Discriminating based on religion.

how is it a hate crime to have no respect for someone who has not earned your respect?  how is it a hate crime to objectively be against something when you have tonnes of legitimate reasons for it?  how is it a hate crime to disgregard something as silly when the collective you're disregarding as silly is in fact silly and is entirely unable to give any credibility to its claims? 

I can't believe I'm reading this. Having no respect is quite different from openly disrepecting and insulting.



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Chris Hu on 18 June 2012
chocoloco said:

As an atheist I have no problem agreeing with this old man:

I like the old man he pretty much told Romey to f*** off in a polite and civilized way very classy.