Mormonism: is it a cult?

[Al B. Sure!]

The 10% tithe is not unusual for religious institutions though. What is unusual, however, is the seemingly corporate structure of the Mormon church and I'm curious what the tithing money is spent on... I mean there's so many Mormon advertisements, for one. It's like the donations get spent on marketing to increase the pool of 'customers' paying for salvation.

In Islam, for example, Zakat is 2.5% and it's specifically given to the poor. While in times past it was usually given to the authorities to distribute to the poor (in fact, as an aside, the only taxation permitted in traditional Islamic law is re-distributive taxation to help the poor), a Muslim does not give it to any 'church' body, unless he so chooses.

[Whoha]

This happens because the USA has no institution for crushing new heresies

Generally real cults will do something incredibly foolish and run afoul of the law in other ways.

[Ben Kenobi]

Interesting split. I find myself voting with the folks I usually don't vote with.

I've had some long associations with Mormons, one of my mother's closest friends is a member and her husband gave the eulogy. Her family and mine grew up together, and my mother grew up next door with their mother, which makes two generations.

Couple of my concerns with Mormonism -

1. The Book of Mormon. That's a big one for me. Christians are not supposed to add to scripture, and writing your own book speaks volumes of where your religion stands in relation to everyone else.

2. Assertions of divine revelation, not shared by others, documented only to your followers. Documented in a fashion that is contrary to how scriptures have been distributed in the past, and reluctance to share the original documents. What do we have to corroborate any of the claims made by Joseph Smith?

3. Insularity of temple ground. Non-mormons can't go there. That's a really big tell-tale sign to me.

4. Teaching that God was once a man, and that man can become God over time.

Those are the four things that have me put Mormonism in the same bin as the Witnesses and other cults.

[Asher]

To be clear, the only reason you think mormonism is a cult is because you find it at odds with your cult.

[SlowwHand]

I saw that coming from a mile away.

[Al B. Sure!]

3. Insularity of temple ground. Non-mormons can't go there. That's a really big tell-tale sign to me.

Really?

[Aeson]

The 10% tithe is not unusual for religious institutions though. What is unusual, however, is the seemingly corporate structure of the Mormon church and I'm curious what the tithing money is spent on... I mean there's so many Mormon advertisements, for one. It's like the donations get spent on marketing to increase the pool of 'customers' paying for salvation.

In Islam, for example, Zakat is 2.5% and it's specifically given to the poor. While in times past it was usually given to the authorities to distribute to the poor (in fact, as an aside, the only taxation permitted in traditional Islamic law is re-distributive taxation to help the poor), a Muslim does not give it to any 'church' body, unless he so chooses.

The tithing is optional. There is another offering which is "fast offerings". One Sunday a month the family fasts, and they give the money for the meals they miss (or some estimation thereof) which goes to feed the poor.

The LDS church has a very extensive welfare program for poor members of the church. It also sends a lot of goods to poorer countries.

They have a lot of farms/orchards which are part of the welfare program. Sometimes these may be profitable though.

Marketing like you said. Commercials and free Book of Mormons and Bibles). Lots of missionaries receive some help from the church, though families try to support their own missionaries when possible.

They also build lots of churches and temples.

[SlowwHand]

Most churches are open to the public, Alby.

"Fast offering" is a good idea. Easy to keep in mind that while you don't eat for a day, some don't eat for days.

[Al B. Sure!]

What's with only Mormons can enter the physical church? What's that about?

[Ben Kenobi]

To be clear, the only reason you think mormonism is a cult is because you find it at odds with your cult.

So your assertion is that my opinion on Mormonism has changed from when I was an Evangelical Mennonite to now?

[Asher]

What's with only Mormons can enter the physical church? What's that about?

Same reason Scientology has phased introduction to the cult. It can be off-putting unless you are worked into a system in a systematic way.

[Asher]

So your assertion is that my opinion on Mormonism has changed from when I was an Evangelical Mennonite to now?

My assertion is your opinions change as often as you cry yourself to sleep. You've no coherent thought process or, really, any sign of real brain activity to speak of. Your opinions need not be logical or consistent, they frequently just...exist.

[Tuberski]

The 10% tithe is not unusual for religious institutions though. What is unusual, however, is the seemingly corporate structure of the Mormon church and I'm curious what the tithing money is spent on... I mean there's so many Mormon advertisements, for one. It's like the donations get spent on marketing to increase the pool of 'customers' paying for salvation.

In Islam, for example, Zakat is 2.5% and it's specifically given to the poor. While in times past it was usually given to the authorities to distribute to the poor (in fact, as an aside, the only taxation permitted in traditional Islamic law is re-distributive taxation to help the poor), a Muslim does not give it to any 'church' body, unless he so chooses.

they build a lot of gaudy temples all over the world.

Yours is going here:

http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/philadelphia/aerial/

ACK!

[Egbert]

My assertion is your opinions change as often as you cry yourself to sleep. You've no coherent thought process or, really, any sign of real brain activity to speak of. Your opinions need not be logical or consistent, they frequently just...exist.

I can assure that none of that is needed to post on the Poly OT. All opinions need to do is ... exist. Just post away without any of that nonsense about logic, reason or brain activity. I do that all the time.

[Al B. Sure!]

they build a lot of gaudy temples all over the world.

Yours is going here:

http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/philadelphia/aerial/

ACK!

They're building it ACROSS THE STREET from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Cathedral of Peter and Paul?