The average member doesn't even know how "kooky" it is ... they don't "REVEAL" to you the HARD-CORE beliefs until you're so enmeshed SOCIALLY (family & friends) and ECONOMICALLY (business contacts) ... that you're hesitant to leave.
Of course ... I believe that Christianity is an EVEN MORE "INSIDIOUS & PERVASIVE" CULT than the Mormons ... WOW!!
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They are not a cult...I may disagree with the book of Mormon being inspired. everyone on here thinks that everyone who isn't mainstream is a cult...pretty pathetic
While there are many decent Mormons, the Church has morphed into a large, angry, anti-gay advocacy group which seeks to impose its religious beliefs on everyone else. "Treat others as you want to be treated" does not mean "take away the civil rights from law-abiding, taxpaying, gay Americans." Even a child knows this is wrong.
Keep in mind, when I was in the Mormon faith, it was stressed to me as a child that I should not be reading the bible because John Smith had direct communication with Jesus Christ.
Coming from a family who believe that Jesus was God's son and not God himself, I struggled to remain a "good Mormon" until my mom was excommunicated for divorcing a man who we found out later, had conceived a son out of wed lock while marred to my mom.
Yes it was over 40 years ago now and the church now, may handle that situation differently, but the truth is, I continued to read my bible instead of the book of Mormon.
Since the definition of a cult is someone who follows man instead of God...hum...God had the bible written over a period of some 1,500 years, used over 40 men to write the bible, so why would he need to "replace it" or "add to it" threw John Smith?
So you tell me, does this look like a cult? Act like a cult? Walk like a cult?
Then you have your answer.
I was raised in the Mormon church, went through the temple, and went on a 2-year Mormon mission...then shortly after got out for good.
I can assure you: cult.
A former Mormon who doesn't even get Smith's name right is definitely not truth, don't you think? Just saying. Not to mention, since the Bible is taught in Sunday School class from the time they're 18 months now (alongside the other scriptures) and Seminary for teenagers pushes teens to memorize biblical scriptures and study the Old Testament for a year, and the New Testament for a year... not to mention you can get the Bible put with the other scriptures so it's one book and easier to carry around, that all through the Book of Mormon it gives reference to the Bible... how anyone can say they were discouraged from reading the bible is laughable.
Alright, so dictionary wise, a cult is any religion just about. So by that, it is a cult. The question people typically have is whether it's Christian. Again, going by the dictionary, Mormons try to follow Christ, read His words (from the Bible no less!) and so are Christian.
So, is it truth? I believe it is. *shrugs* But many people don't. The burden isn't on anyone here to convince you, but on you to search, ponder, and pray. That means you read the scriptures, read other books, search high and low and study it out for yourself. Then you ponder out questions and ask on those in particular. And then you wait after praying, or you let God direct you. I don't consider personal opinions (even testimonies in my own religion) good enough to consider as a body of proof.
Since I know you'll get a slew of sites for the "Mormonism is bad" group, I'll just give you lads sites. They're slightly harder to find in searches too.
Anyone who says "cult" should be asked to define "cult" and then see if the definition applies to Jesus Christ when he lived.
It does.
Jesus was called a "deceiver" and a "corrupt or" of so called true religion when he lived. He was accused of being of the devil.
So, is it any surprise that it would be any different today?
In his day, there were many opinions of him. He called Peter "blessed" because he did not listen to men and their opinions. It was revealed to him of the Father by power of the Holy Ghost and that is why Peter was blessed. Over and over the Bible cautions people not to rely on the arm of flesh or take their opinions over God's own words to you. He does not give stones to his sincere followers who ask for bread.
Keep the commandments as best you can, search and pray and ask God.
I have loved being a Mormon.
I am surrounded by the nicest people alive.
This is NOT the place to get good answers, dear. Do you have any LDS friends? If not, you can talk to the missionaries and learn about our faith and make the decision for yourself.
I've decided, and I know it's the truth. It's not an easy path to follow, but I'm trying.
I think "here I am" should get the best answer because it made me smile the most.
She goes on and on about her experience having been a believing member of the church and raised as a Mormon.
It all sounds so insightful, except I should tell her, it's Joseph Smith, not John Smith (not once but twice you screwed ta ht one up). Oops, I guess she might not have studied and been so involved after all.
Anyway our church is certainly not a cult. Read the Book of Mormon and decide for yourself if it's truth, I know it is.
Mormonism is a religious cult. It is based on Christianity, but denies many of the core Christian beliefs.
The most important issue for me is in alleging that the "Book of Mormon" must be true because of how you FEEL when you read it. I don't accept feelings as correct verification of truth. Truth is conforming the mind with reality. This is done with the intellect, not the emotions.
Their holy book is the "Book of Mormon", which is alleged to have been given to Joseph Smith, by the Angel Moroni, on golden tablets, and then secretly interpreted, somehow, using some special DE-coding devices. The tablets no longer exist.
The religion was started in the year 1830, by Joseph Smith. He claimed to be a prophet and an apostle of God, and entrusted with the duty of replacing the "corrupt church" with the "real church" in the world.
Jesus is said to be the "god" of this world. We can all be "gods", apparently, by doing particular things, like celestial marriage, etc. Then we will be gods of other planets and other celestial bodies in the vast universe.
Joseph Smith was a charlatan. He kept changing the rules as he went along. I think that he died in gaol, after being involved in a drunken brawl.
There is no historical evidence to support Mormon claims. They are cult-like in that they are not permitted to mix freely with non-Mormons, and are not permitted to read non-Mormon-approved books.
Read carefully, on what they believe, before you embrace their religion.
If you look at the definition of "cult" in Webster's dictionary, you will see that every faith and religion is a CULT.
However, if you mean by cult, "The church down the road that I don't like and don't believe, and I want everyone else to fear and hate them", then, no we are not a cult. Anti-Mormons use that word to get a knee-jerk reaction of "CULT??? OMG!!!! We must DO something!!! before they can reproduce!!!" or something equally stupid.
Have you read the Book of Mormon? That's the first thing you must do.
Mormonism? Cult or Truth?
