Mormonism a Cult?
Well it was bound to happen and it did. Reverend Robert Jeffress pastor at the First Baptist Dallas had to shoot his mouth off (which was very unchristian of him) and call Mormonism (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) a “cult”. Where is the outrage in this country? I mean if he would have called following Mohammad (Muslim) a cult there would be total outrage and a mainstream media firestorm. So where is this outrage and mainstream firestorm now that a Christian religion has been attacked? Nothing, just crickets. So why the attack upon the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints? Is that all opponents have on Romney and Huntsman? Come on for crying out loud, this is a Christian religion with Christian beliefs.
First, the Mormons believe in the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost. The only differences are that the Mormons believe that each is a separate entity. Plus, Mormons believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins upon the cross and He is our Savior.
Second, Mormons believe in wearing temple garments after receiving their endowments in the temple. These are not as some refer to them “magic pajamas”. Let me explain these things better so you can understand them. Temples have been built by the “commandment of the Lord where he could teach, guide, and bless His people. This is shown in Exodus 26-27, 40:35, 2 Chronicles 5:1-14, 7:1-2 (Temple of King Solomon), and Ezra 3:1-13, 6:3 (Temple of Zerubbabel). When Christ was on earth the only existing temple known was the Temple of Herod. Jesus was often found there. Luke 2:40-49 and Matthew 21:10-14”. (http://www.lds.org). Now endowments are special blessings that are done in the temple which worthy members make promises and covenants with God and learn how to return to live with Him. Lastly, the temple garments are worn as an “armor of God” after a worthy member receives their endowments at the temple. These are worn daily and many members are buried with their temple garments.
Third, Mormons believe that Joseph Smith (founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the Book of Mormon) was a prophet and revelator. This does not mean that Joseph Smith is worshipped by members of the Mormon Church, like so many think. Joseph Smith is respected and loved by those in the church for his love of Christ, his interpreting and securing the plates which the Book of Mormon was written from, and for his ultimate sacrifice to bring the words of Christ to all nations, kindred’s, and tongues. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ taking place in the America’s. Since its publication, the Book of Mormon has been part of a great controversy, but has not been proven wrong by the many who have tried to deny its truth. Along with the Book of Mormon, the King James Version of the Bible is used, along with the Doctrine and Covenants which contains revelations given to the prophet Joseph Smith and some additions by his successors in the presidency of the church. So it is NOT true that Mormons do not use the Bible. In fact, this year for Sunday school in Mormon churches across the world, there has been a study of the New Testament. Mormons believe in Jesus Christ and that He is the Savior.
So as you have read Mormonism is not a cult, it is a Christian Church by all rights. Mormons may have different ways of doing things but what it really comes down to is that the Mormons believe in the Father, Son, Holy Ghost, the King James Version Bible, the Ten Commandments, faith, hope, and charity. Yes, there are certain things that are different, but what really matters is the fact that Mormons believe like all other Christian churches believe in the basics of Christianity and that is that Jesus Christ came here to earth to die for all of our sins so we may be resurrected and return to our Father in heaven. I hope this clears some of the misconceptions of the Mormon Church and if you want to learn more facts about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints please go to www.mormon.org or to www.lds.org. By the way, if you were wondering, yes I am a Mormon.
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22 Responses to Mormonism a Cult?
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Here are the characteristics of a cult:
• Small? The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) has 14 million members in 132 countries. In America, there are more Mormons than there are Presbyterians or Jews.
• Excessive devotion? Mormons are devoted to the Savior, but in appropriate measure He would approve of.
• Unethical techniques? Ask the pie-throwers to name one.
• Control by isolation? Even if Mormons wanted to, this would be impossible with 14 million members in 28,000 congregations throughout the world.
• Control by threats? Again, evidence? Mormon missionaries may be exuberant, but do not threaten.
• Dependency on the group? The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) is just the opposite. Mormons want members to be self-reliant and independent so they in turn can help others.
• Powerful group pressure? Only if that’s the way the critics prefer to define love.
• Strange? Guilty as charged. Mormons plead guilty to all the strange things that were done by Christians in New Testament times that were lost during the great falling away in the aptly named Dark Ages, among them temple worship, theosis, vicarious baptism for the dead, definition of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit as separate but united in purpose, salvation requiring both grace and obedience to commandments, prophets and apostles, unpaid clergy, and continual revelation to guide His Church.
Mormons’ theology is based on New Testament Christianity, not Fourth Century Creeds. For example, the Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) views on Baptism, Lay Ministry, the Trinity, Theosis, Grace vs. Works, the Divinity of Jesus Christ comport more closely with Early Christianity than any other denomination. And Mormons’ teenagers have been judged to “top the charts” in Christian Characteristics by a UNC-Chapel Hill study. Read about it here:
http://MormonsAreChristian.blogspot.com
Those who would denigrate the Church of Jesus Christ (LDS), usually are mis-informed because New Testament Christianity is closer to Jesus Christ’s teachings than Fourth Century Creeds. Mormons have a better understanding of Christianity than any other denomination, according to a 2010 Pew Forum poll:
http://www.pewforum.org/Other-Beliefs-and-Practices/U-S-Religious-Knowledge-Survey.aspx
11 of the signers of the Declaration of Independence (including several presidents) were non-Trinitarian Christians. Those who now insist on their narrow Trinitarian and salvation only by grace definition of Christianity for candidates for public office are doing our Republic an injustice.
Will the real cult please stand up!!
Beware there is a dangerous cult trying to control our nations presidential process by misleading the electorate. They claim to be a bible believing Church that believes the Bible to be inerrant. They also believe a doctrine that states only the Bible should be consulted when religious truths are sought after; they call this belief “Sola Scriptura”. Or by scripture a lone is doctrine determined. They say the Bible contains all knowledge necessary for salvation and holiness.
They determined that the Bible was inerrant (contains no errors) by voting in conference a few years ago. In America we determine may things by voting however, in the Bible religious doctrine is never determined by common suffrage. God reveals his will and his doctrine by revelation. Acts 10 demonstrates this very well. In the Church of Christ (as taught in the New Testament) God’s will came from the top down not from the bottom up. It is God’s church not mans. What if the vote would have gone the other way would the Bible suddenly become errant?
I would say this cult is trying to confuse the electorate with this extra biblical teaching. After all they claim that others who teach doctrine beyond the bible are cultist. Who is the real cultist after all?
Now who got to vote on the issue? Well delegates did and how were the delegates decided upon? Why it was by who ever paid the most money to their national headquarters. Can anyone out there find a justification for such double dealing in the New or Old Testaments?
Sola Scriptura also went out the window when the nature of God was decided upon three hundred years after the death of Christ. This church accepted a creed forced upon the Church by an emperor who’s hands were soaked in blood. It was fraught with Greek pagan teachings and concerns. Yet they say any church that does not believe this contorted, illogical creed is a cult. They believe the Bible says it all but go way beyond what the Bible teaches when they accepted this creed. Would real cult please stand up?
One could go on and on about the doctrine contained in the Bible that this cult as dropped as unnecessary and no longer useful. But you get the idea.
PS There no formal creeds found in the New Testament. Where I wonder did the idea of creeds come from?
@Stephen Buck You sound crazy an I have no clue what group you are trying to represent, other than it is not the Catholics. I’m not even sure what your point is. Just thought you should know, in case you wanted to calmly re-think and clarify whatever it is you are trying to say.
A “cult” is basically any religion that fundamentalist Protestants don’t happen to like. As for me, I rejected the teaching of the right wing fundamentalists long ago. Their continual degrading and belittling of the individual – coupled with liberal doses of unexplained guilt – alienated me as a American and a human being. Their Doctrine of Original Sin (wherein we are asked to blindly accept guilt for Adam’s transgression) contradicts the American concept of justice (wherein we are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law).
Their continual harping on how we are “by nature evil”, “totally depraved,” etc. promotes an attitude of little more than self-hatred- an attitude which is psychologically unhealthy (especially for young children), I don’t care how “Christian” it may be!
Becki, I don’t know where you’ve been for the past two weeks, but there definitely has been a “mainstream media frenzy” over Pastor Jeffress’ remarks. Among the scores of articles, editorials and blogs discussing the issue, an important one you may have missed is a thoughtful explanation from Dr. Albert Mohler on why Mormonism does not fit the definition of “Christian.” Here is a short excerpt:
“From a Christian perspective, Mormonism is a new religion, complete with its own scripture, its own priesthood, its own rituals, and its own teachings. Most importantly, those teachings are a repudiation of historic Christian orthodoxy – and were claimed to be so from the moment of Mormonism’s founding forward. Mormonism rejects orthodox Christianity as the very argument for its own existence, and it clearly identifies historic Christianity as a false faith.
“Mormonism starts with an understanding of God that rejects both monotheism and the Christian doctrine of the Trinity…Furthermore, Mormonism teaches that we are now what God once was and are becoming what He now is. This is in direct conflict with historic Christianity.”
You can find the rest of his column in the “On Faith” section of The Washington Post. You may choose to disagree with Dr. Mohler, but his article should be recognized as a thoughtful explanation (not an attack) that will further your understanding of how Christians approach the question of Mormonism’s place in the religious landscape.
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@Sharon.
The article you linked to does what all the “Mormons aren’t Christians” people do. It confuses terminology. Christian, historic Christian, Biblical Christian, orthodox Christianity, historic Christian orthodoxy, etc. Those do NOT all mean the same thing, but he treats them as if they do. He treats them as if they all mean “PROTESTANT Christianity”.
historic Christianity – his “history” only goes back to a few hundred years A.D.
Biblical Christianity – He assumes there HIS interpretation of the Bible is the only one that qualifies as “Biblical”.
orthodox Christianity – Does being orthodox or not make you Christian? And what to do when what is and is not considered orthodox changes, as it has over time? Change to conform to what is considered the orthodox version of truth, or stay firm in the actual unchanging truth?
The article really just lays out the assertion that Mormons are not part of EVANGELICAL or PROTESTANT Christianity. And, as the article alluded to, we as Mormons fully agree.
Meant to say:
He assumes that [not there] HIS interpretation of the Bible…
Sharon,
Don’t miss the point that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints worship the Biblical Jesus; the one taught by First Century Apostles, not Fourth Century political appointees of Emperor Constantine. So, when you write about Chrisitan Doctrine of the Trinity, you write of a doctrine crafted by crafty men who voted on the nature of the Godhead. Voting on a doctrine does not make it the Gospel.
If one searches the New Testament, he will find that the Nicene Creed is not supported by any of the writers of the Gospel or the rest of the scriptures. Therefore, when critics use the term “traditional” Christianity, that tradition began some three centuries after those who walked with Jesus wrote otherwise.
Sorry Dave, didn’t mean to confuse anyone. My gripe is that there is much misdirection during the primary season now in progress. Actually I thought it was quite apparent that I was referring to the Persons like Dr. Jeffress. He and his constituents are calling Mormons (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) a cult religion because of doctrine he believes to be extraneous to the Bible. The fact is that he also believes a creed (the Nicene Creed) that does not have a reasonable explanation within the Bible. Likewise his Church (I am sure you can figure it out) has determined doctrine (as in the case of the inerrancy of the Bible) that is foreign to the Bible’s history and teachings. It is easy to call out the word cult, cult, cult but he and others are also believe in doctrine that cannot be support within the Bible. Many other beliefs have been abandoned by creedal religions such as his. If this explanation does not do it for you Dave, I suggest you study out the issue a bit more.
An interesting set of qualities of a cult is listed above. I wonder who wrote the list. Certainly no expert on cults.
The Mormon church IS a cult by several measures published by cult expert Steven Hassan and others. If Mormons will honestly evaluate their faith against his list of qualities even they will agree.
It is here: http://freedomofmind.com/bite/
A few of the qualities listed:
- Individualism discouraged; group think prevails (Go to a Mormon Gospel Doctrine class)
- Rigid rules and regulations (Look at the Handbook of Instructions (both volumes))
- Deliberately holding back information, distorting information to make it acceptable, outright lying (Ask about how the Book of Mormon was REALLY translated (a peep stone in a hat), ask about the Man God Doctrine (President Hinckley said in a national news interview “I don’t know that we teach it,” yet it is core doctrine that man can become a God); ask about Joseph Smith’s polygamy.)
- Access to non-cult sources of information minimized or discouraged (Ask about the sin of reading “anti-Mormon” material)
- Compartmentalization of information; Outsider vs. Insider doctrines (Ask about the “sacred” nature of temple teachings that only members who have been faithful and pay 10% of their income have access to)
- No critical questions about leader, doctrine, or policy seen
as legitimate (again, go to a Mormon meeting and ask about the nature of the Book of Abraham, about blacks being denied full participation until 1978, about Brigham Young’s “blood atonement” doctrine, about Proposition 8, or any other doctrine or history)
- Make the person feel like if there are ever any problems it
is always their fault, never the leader’s or the group’s. (see above)
The fact is, Mormonism is a cult.
And as to the 14 million members comment above? Ask how it is determined. Only about 45% or Mormons attend church.
Tornogal,
I have to wholeheartedly disagree with your list and your analysis. Having spent years as a Mormon and one who has come across numerous anti-Mormon tracts and anti-Mormon commentaries, I have to say that your list looks like it was pulled directly from the tired talking points in the anti-Mormon echo chamber. I have always found this a little ironic, because so many anti-Mormons are afraid to ever acknowledge and discuss the real doctrines of the Mormon church, but would rather provide the same bullet points that are either untrue, taken completely out of context, related to statements that are not historically relevant and are not part of the Mormon canon, and are grossly embellished and given solely for shock value.
When attempting to shift topics or discuss those things that Mormons truly believe and practice, the anti-Mormons refuse to listen or discuss these points. Unfortunately, many of the anti-Mormon rhetoric is taught in actual anti-Mormon classes at certain churches and organizations. I find these facts somewhat ironic when the words “cult” and “free thinker” get tossed around.
As to your points:
1. Individualism is not discouraged. You should come to my congregation where people come from all walks of life and socio-economic backgrounds. There are people who are democrats and republicans. Some are from traditional family units, and some are hard-working single moms. There are many good people, and we are struggling together as we pass through life’s many challenges. As to like-mindedness in Sunday School class, wouldn’t you expect individuals belonging to the same organization to have similar beliefs? Isn’t that what’s you’d expect from people who “belong” to any organization? Isn’t that what’d you get in any other church?
2. Rigid rules and regulations in the church’s handbook? These books cover some points of doctrine that have little to do with rigidity, and are no different than other treatises used by other faiths. A good chunk of the books pertain to benign materials, such as insurance liability at chapels and the need for children to fill out parental release forms for field trips. The books also talk about the organizational structure of the church, such as for Sunday school and young adult groups. How is this hostile, rigid, or different than what takes place with other organizations?
3. Deliberately holding back information? Really? Are you telling me any of the topics you mention, and others, are off limits to Mormons?? Have you read anything in BYU Studies, or FARMS, or the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies? What about recent books that have gotten a lot of attention which have been published by Mormons, such as Bushman’s book. These points have been addressed and discussed among Mormons for decades. As to your reference about President Hinckley saying,”I don’t know that we teach it,” would you please explain to me how the underlying teaching is an actual part of the Mormon canon (has it been canonized by a sustaining vote of the church and is it included in the Standard Words), would you please explain to me when it was last taught by a general authority of the church at General Conference, and could you please tell me what Sunday School manual uses the underlying quote for purposes of church instruction? I’m sorry, but I think your statement is disingenuous.
4. Access to anti-Mormon literature is discouraged, but it is not forbidden. Believe me, because I’ve seen it all over the years. Punitive measures won’t be taken against a Mormon, as you seem to imply, if a Mormon reads certain materials that are against church teachings. You indicate that your assertion is indicative of cult-like behavior. What would you say about preachers of other faiths who distribute a list of black-listed Mormon books to their congregants, as frequently happens? Is it little wonder that so much information about Mormons is incorrect when people are told never to review Mormonism’s primary sources?
5. Mormons are never told not to explore certain questions of history or faith. As explained above, scholars have been addressing many of these issues for some time. It appears, however, that you seem to have an issue with Mormons who may not put so much importance on things that YOU think are important but which are not relevant to Mormons. Blood atonement, for example, has been a favorite anti-Mormon trope for years. Mormons don’t care about it because it was never a part of the Mormon canon and has not been a topic of discussion for many decades. Your mention of blacks and the priesthood is a nice way to throw in a bit of racism into the equation. Rather than provide an explanation (I have already gone on too long), I direct you to blackmormon.org. I am sure you will find that things aren’t quite like you want them to seem.
6. I have no idea what you are referring to when you mention individual fault versus group fault. Mormons have never held themselves out to be perfect. We believe that we all are here on earth to learn and grow. We also feel that family units and church members are helpful as we try to improve ourselves. As I said, though, we are not perfect.
Lastly, if only 45% (what is the source of that figure?) of Mormons attending church means that the Mormon Church is a cult, then all churches are cults. Name me any other denomination that has such high attendance.
As far as Mr. Hassan is concerned: Because one person labels a particular group a cult does not make it a cult. As you may have read many persons and religions at the time of Christ called is follower’s cultist. Hassan writes with a distain for just about everybody. His list is written for someone like you that needs reassurance. The National Council of Churches does not consider The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a cult. If everyone in the world called Christ and imposter that would not make it so. As has been noted above you may qualify as a member of a cult. Certainly Catholics may refer to Protestants as a cult also.
Some of things you noted are silly.
Mormons plagued by individual discouragement. Do you remember 80,000 LDS members crossing the plains after being driven out of three different states, building a vibrant community in the desert? They were not discouraged, they were filled with courage.
A Gospel Doctrine class is full of persons with all different kinds of views. I encourage anyone who doubts that to attend an adult Sunday School class at a local LDS Church.
We have the same “rigid” rules in the LDS church as outlined in the Bible. If that is too rigid for you, you better stay where you are.
You must certainly not be speaking about Mormons when you say we hold back information about our history or our doctrine. As far as the hat goes, it was simply used to keep the light out of his eyes while translating the Book of Mormon. The peep stone you refer to is officially called the Urim and Thummim. There are several verses that teach about its power in the OT. Some of them are Ex.20,Lev.8, Num.27. If you would like to know more about it and how Joseph Smith received it go to Mormon.org.
Of course we believe that man may be exalted in the hereafter. So do many others. Try looking up Theosis on any good search engine. Christ challenged us all to be perfect like his Father in Heaven was perfect. Are you saying ignore the teachings of Jesus? Orthodox Churches have held the same belief for a thousand years or more.
Joseph Smith did have more than one wife. So did Abraham. NT says he will be in heaven, will you?
This information and much more is common knowledge for almost any LDS person. Have you personally study any of this out or did you just accept Hassan’s word for it. I would not trust him if I were you.
I just read your anti mormon material and much, much more. Most of it is just a repeat and has all been answered before. Remember: mormon.org.
Members are free to read what they wish too.
Brigham Young’s blood atonement sermons are not the doctrine of the Church it was simply his musings. People do that all the time. You may have some thoughts on a subject and later you corrected your thinking. That is what B. Young did.
On proposition 8 most voters in Calif. agreed with the Church. By the way what was your proposition on gay marriage?
Did Joseph Smith teach that he was infallible? No!!! If you or Hassan knew the Prophets real history you would know he confessed his sins many times and regretted them greatly. Paul did the same thing. Rom.7
Your conclusion that mormon’s are cultist is without foundation. You have been taught by a very biased person.
What I find most absurd about the whole “Mormonism is a cult” backlash is that so many of those who object to this conclusion seem to consider the accusation to be something that Christians have recently concocted simply to try and subvert Mitt Romney’s presidential candidacy.
Nothing could be further from the truth. The designation of Mormonism as a cult is nothing new.
Christian writers have openly included Momrmonism in their books and pamphlets for decades labelling it as one of the major pseudo-Christian movements. The shock that so many secularists and liberal church-goers are displaying over the recent media attention to the designation simply shows that these people have never bothered to read those publications. For instance, the book “The Kingdom of the Cults”, written by Walter Martin, clearly presents Mormonism as a cult. The book is just one example of MANY. It was originally published in 1965 and it (along with all the MANY others) has been sitting on the shelf for almost 60 years now, patently ignored by those who now just can’t understand why any Christian would “suddenly” say such a thing.
Those who had put their heads into the secular or liberal sands, have simply been awakened to some very old news by the recent headlines.
The fact is that Mormonism has from its very beginning advocated un-biblical teachings (polytheism, works-based righteousness, etc.), claimed that it is exclusively the only true religion, and labelled ALL non-Mormon churches as being false and corrupt. The theological framework for the movement is based on the shaky foundation of supposed extra-biblical revelation (Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, etc.). Such revelation is claimed to be on an equivalent authoritative level with the Bible (King James Version only), but they are in practice actually given precedence over the Bible, allowing their adherents the liberty to extract Biblical verses out of their contexts, and to reinterpret them in order to bring them into agreement with accepted Mormon theological positions.
It seems that the critics of those who designate Mormonism as a cult have either a double standard when it comes to exactly who is “attacking” who, or more likely a lamentable ignorance of the historical and theologically antagonistic outlook that Mormonism has had toward those who uphold the singular authority of the Bible over later suspect pseudo-revelation.
JMG