Sunday, February 12, 2012

Mormonism Not a Cult?

This is what passes for 'proof' that Mormonism isn't a cult in Austrailia:

I am going to quote pieces and then post my responses. My responses will be italisized.

THE Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) is not a cult but a recognised religion with more than 14 million members.

Incorrect! The church 'claims' 14 million members. More than 60% of that number are inactive or no longer attending Mormons. For example, there are large numbers of 'members' that are listed on the church roles, but haven't attended or 'paid tithes' in generations. They for whatever reason are either intimidated (job, family etc.) into staying 'members' or just haven't felt the need to actually have themselves removed from the roles of membership. ALSO, the Church claims ALL people babtized posthumously as 'members'. Not a real accurate accounting there.

 It is not "an 18th century religious scam" but the result of the answer from God to a sincere prayer.

Again Incorrect! Joseph Smith was CONVICTED of "glass looking" (looking for buried treasure in the ground through a 'glass') when no treasure was ever found, he would claim that it "slipped away". The folks he scammed were quite justifiably irritated. Incidentally, the same 'glass' he used to look for buried treasure is the same 'glass' he used to 'translate' the BOM. Yes, folks the Urum and Thumum! Also, the BOM was first published as FICTION and when Joseph Smith FAILED to sell it "by Joseph Smith" he concocted the "religion" of Mormonism to 'sell his book'.

The church did not forbid African Americans from joining, although for a time African Americans were not able to receive the priesthood.

Partially true. The churh did not forbid African Americans from joining, it did however, forbid them from holding the priesthood or leadership roles in the church until the 1970's when the church was pressured by the US Govt. to change it's policies or LOSE it's Non-Profit status. African Americans were ONLY allowed to hold the priesthood for economic reasons INSIDE the church, NOT because God "felt that they were ready" etc. but so that the church could continue to draw MILLIONS in profits from it's followers and PAY nothing in taxes etc.

Matter of fact, in the first edition of the Journals of Discourses, then president Brigham Young stated that: "No Negroe shall ever hold the priesthood in Gods restored kingdom". Really brother Brigham? Really? Hmm. Guess God changed his mind, he does need that $$ afterall.

Isn't it great how this passes for 'proof' that mormonism isn't a cult?

Let's list some definitions of a cult and see if the LDS Church isn't one? The checklist I am using can be found here:

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.

Check!

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

Check! Try questioning the Church with a member and see what happens.

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).


Ever go to Sacrament meeting? Ever have to do your "volunteer work"? How about the 'sessions' in the Temple? .... CHECK!

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).


Let's see... WOW, General Conference (earrings prophesy) Every meeting you attend as a Mormon? CHECK!

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).

Know what? I don't even have to say anything here. If you know anything about the Church, this one sticks out like a sore thumb! CHECK!

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

Just read the post above again and see if you don't see it for yourself?

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

Joseph Smith, Brigham Young? Ummm. CHECK!

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).

Mountain Meadows Massacre anyone? Bishops interviews? Fast offerings? CHECK!

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.

If you were ever Mormon you know this one ALL TOO WELL. The entire life of a 'member' is built on guilt and peer pressure. As a Mormon, you do EVERYTHING possible to appear the way you are told to, to the members and your Bishop.

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.

If you are a member, leave the church and tell your family you are doing so and see what happens. You will find yourself ostrasized and left out. I KNOW I have done this and many other former mormons have done this.

The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.

Missionaries? Every Sunday you hear about how "every member is a missionary" and consistently you are told to go out and find new members to bring into the church.

The group is preoccupied with making money.

This one is obvious. Just try NOT paying your tithing and see what happens with the Bishop. You will LOSE your Temple Rights and of course be called into the Bishop's office to discuss YOUR personal financial situation with someone that just wants your 10%. My own sister in law was told to pay her tithing EVEN though that would cause her to get BEHIND on her mortgage. The church would rather it's members were homeless than lose 10% from one member!

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


Oh, it's all 'volunteer' work but you will be expected to spend the bulk of your free time NOT with your family but doing 'work' for the church!

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


This is true, UNLESS you are out proselyting for new members, then it is acceptable.

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.


Again, try leaving and see what happens. I have known people that when they left the church, lost their jobs, their homes and in several cases their spouses and children to the CHURCH.

By my count, it SURE looks like the Mormon Church qualifies as a cult! If you can disprove this, please feel free to. IF you agree with me, feel free to repost this EVERYWHERE. (A little credit would be nice though).

We all need to fight to expose this cult for what it is. A family ruining, money sucking group of fakes and frauds stealing from hard working people the world over. Expose them for what they are!

If you are considering joining them, DON'T do it. Stay away, you will be happier in the long run.







14 comments:

  1. In addition to teaching that blacks would never hold the priesthood, the early church leaders also taught that a black person or Chinaman could get into the celestial kingdom IF he was extremely penitant, BUT even then he would be a servant to the whites in heaven.

    And I thought I would add a little to your response to the point about church leaders dictating how to think, act, feel and who to date and marry, and what to wear...

    Mormons are taught to only date and marry within the faith, and only after they turn 16. Young women are strongly encouraged to marry a returned missionary. Mormons are told what to wear right down to their underwear. Clothing should be modest. No showing your cleavage, girls! And shorts no higher than the knee. And Mormons are taught that if they don't have as many children as they possibly can, that they are being selfish. Get married and pop out the kids! If you wait to get an education first, you are a selfish and faithless ****!

    I personally know people who have left the church and lost everything because the Mormons took it all away. Then they make an example of them saying, "See? That's what happens when you turn your back on god!"

    The LDS church is a cult. Every single item on that check list fits it perfectly. They can justify and rationalize all day long but it doesn't change the facts.

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  2. I hope that ONE DAY everyone will see and understand this. Thanks 411 for stopping by!

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  3. i am a Mormon but i don't see how we can be a cult we believe in our beliefs as do other religion's people say were a cult but i don't see any proof.

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  4. Ok Anonymous, Here is where we "pull the blinders off". If you can answer no to the following then Mormonism is NOT 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.

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

    The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.

    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).

    If you can answer no, to just these three I would agree with you. Sadly, I don't think that you can answer no honestly. Take the blinders off and THINK. I am sure if you do, you will see it too....

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    1. well let see the part about members encouraged to live and/or socializing only with group members is not true i talk to my friend who are not in the church and the bishop doesn't care nor does anyone else. and the part about preoccupied with bringing in new members true but not true we don't force anyone to join i wasn't born in the church my best-friend told me about it and then the missionaries started teaching me and i choose to be baptized. and about dating we follow the ten commandment and the part about date is that we shouldn't date before 16 but if we do date before 16 they don't make us break up or anything like that. we can work anywhere we want they don't tell us where to work or if we can change jobs. and another no to the clothes to wear i can wear what ever i want so can the others. another no to where to live they have never told me where i should live. it is said in the ten commandments that we should have children but if you don't it doesn't matter its up to you. not so sure to whether they tell you how to discipline your kids but i know the rest now there's you answer you wanted to see what i had to say now ill be waiting on your reply ill check this again asap good-bye for now

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    2. Ok. So let's take this one step at a time. Your first point: The key word in that sentence is ENCOURAGE. And being a former Mormon I can tell you, you ARE ENCOURAGED to only associate and live with people that SHARE the same beliefs as yourself. You are however ALSO encouraged to RECRUIT your non-believing friends to join which of course goes to the Bringing new members point. You are ONLY encouraged to associate with non-members in a Missionary (fellowshipping) type role. When did I say anything about dating? Unless you are of course lost here. You are VERY mistaken if you don't realize that the Church MANDATES that you wear VERY specific UNDERWEAR. (did you miss that one?) also, you cannot get into the private club (temple) if you don't wear them and DRESS according to their code of dress.

      I think you missed a few of the points.

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    3. no i am not missing a few points i live in Australia and everything you just said is un-true and you said about dating where you said you have to get permission to date.

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  5. Anonymous, I never once said you have to get permission to date. I did however say that you are encouraged to only date within your religion. If you think that is incorrect, correct me.

    Also, you state the everything I said is un-true? Really? Rather than just making blanket statements, PROVE ME WRONG! I am happy to listen if you have a VALID argument or can prove your case. Just saying YOURE WRONG isn't going to cut it kiddo.

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  6. ok what ever I've had enough but one thing at the very top of the page underneath the big smiley face you said there This is what passes for 'proof' that Mormonism isn't a cult in Australia is that true that its not a cult here or you just saying that

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  7. I am not sure what you mean? I personally think that Mormonism IS a cult, just given the facts that I laid out in the original post. Under the banner on the main page I do talk about surviving with LDS in laws. Is that what you are referring to?

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  8. i just mean what it say under the smiley face but anyway is what your telling me is that mormon's are a cult and i should leave the church

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  9. I am saying in my opinion, ALL religion is cultic and I am using Mormonism as an example of that. Should you leave Mormonism? I don't know. I wouldn't presume to tell you whether or not you should do that. That is something you need to decide for yourself. If YOU find it fulfilling and are good with everything the church offers you, feel free to do what you like.

    I, though, cannot and will not support a cult.

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  10. What so in your word's your saying that "ALL CHURCH'S" are cults so you support no church is that what you are saying.?

    .Cause i say Mormon's aren't a cult i been apart of the church since last year.
    .not once has the bishop asked me to pay tithe's they do say you will get blessing's for paying tithe's but never say you have to.
    .we have commandment like you would know but.
    if you follow them you will be blessed by heavenly father but if you don't follow them you want get blessing's doesn't really say that Mormon's are a cult just have different belief's to what other church's have.

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  11. Yes, that is what I am saying. All religion is the same. The only difference is their individual 'dogmas'.

    You can say and feel what you like. I am not here to change your mind. I only post my opinions here. If you wish to continue to debate, I am willing. If not, that's fine too. I have no intention of changing anyones mind, only to hopefully open it a bit.

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