Mormonism: is it a cult?

[Asher]

It's not manipulative if no one cares about or follows the rule.

What on Earth makes you think most mormons do not follow that rule? LDS members are not Catholics -- many of them actually care about their religion and follow its tenets.

I know at least one person who has been excommunicated and shunned by his family, and that's a small sample set. I've not heard of anyone excommunicated who still had regular contact with their family...

[Asher]

According to the Church Handbook of Instructions, the purposes of church discipline are (1) to save the souls of transgressors, (2) to protect the innocent, and (3) to safeguard the purity, integrity, and good name of the church. Excommunication is generally reserved for what are seen as the most serious sins, including committing serious crimes like murder or child abuse and incest; committing adultery, polygamy, or homosexual conduct; apostasy, abortion, teaching false doctrines, or openly criticizing LDS leaders. A 2006 revision to the Church Handbook of Instructions states that joining another church is also an excommunicable offense, however merely attending another church does not constitute apostasy.

Nope. Not cultlike at all. Just DON'T QUESTION THE LEADERS!!!!

[Al B. Sure!]

All religions are nonsense. The difference with Mormonism (and Jehovah's Witness-ism and Scientology) is that they are such recent creations so their BS is so much more obvious. In 1000 years, Mormonism will be as respected as Catholicism is today. Unless humans wise up and stop believing this nonsense.

I am intrigued why the answer "Yes" in the poll is followed by "I'm an ignorant ****head". What's that about?

[Asher]

All religions are nonsense. The difference with Mormonism (and Jehovah's Witness-ism and Scientology) is that they are such recent creations so their BS is so much more obvious. In 1000 years, Mormonism will be as respected as Catholicism is today. Unless humans wise up and stop believing this nonsense.

I am intrigued why the answer "Yes" in the poll is followed by "I'm an ignorant ****head". What's that about?

HC claims DaShi was an ignorant ****head for thinking Mormonism is a cult.

[Tuberski]

IIRC Mormonism got its start when Joseph Smith saw some stones, in which he "saw" words from God that no one else could see, then "transcribed" these into a manifesto manuscript that became the Book of Mormon. Jesus Christ himself appeared to him.

Once he assembled a large group of followers, he fled to the remote areas of Utah where he could exert more control and have less outside influence over his followers.

Does this kind of MO sound familiar?

No, he prayed about it and the angel Moroni, told him about the "golden plates" that no one ever got to see, except a lucky few.

He never made it to Utah, he was murdered by a mob in Carthage, Illinois.

Brigham Young led them to Utah.

ACK!

[giblets]

People excommunicated from the LDS church are not to have any contact with members of the LDS, including family.

Anyone want to claim this is not cultlike?

It is very cultlike. It's also something a lot of religions don't do.

[Asher]

No, he prayed about it and the angel Moroni, told him about the "golden plates" that no one ever got to see, except a lucky few.

He never made it to Utah, he was murdered by a mob in Carthage, Illinois.

Brigham Young led them to Utah.

ACK!

Thanks for the clarification.

[Al B. Sure!]

What's with excommunication in general? So Mormons, Catholics, and who else practice excommunication? Do Protestants?

[Asher]

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

[Asher]

This is Pope Gregor in an excommunication hoedown:

[Al B. Sure!]

I was not aware that the Jews have a version of excommunication themselves, called the Cherem.

Interesting.

[Tuberski]

Thanks for the clarification.

Born and raised in it, but never pushed by my parents who didn't and don't go to church.

ACK!

[Aeson]

Some fact checking:

Homophobia. You got one right.

Excommunication doesn't cut anyone off. The only difference is if you go to church (you can still go to church) you can't take the sacrament. If someone shunned their own family member, that would be against LDS doctrine. Exactly opposite of it in fact.

Mormons aren't required to serve missions.

Garments (the underwear) is not meant to literally protect a person from harm. There are some stories where it is claimed it did protect a person. It's not doctrine. They are simply to remind the wearer to follow the teachings of Christ without being obvious (like a nun's habit or priest's robe).

Caffeine... true. You aren't supposed to drink caffeinated beverages. Almost everyone does.

The stones were set into glasses to help with reading/translating. The actual content of the BoM was supposedly written on metal plates.

[Aeson]

As Tuberski said, Joseph Smith never made it to Utah. Joseph Smith wasn't moving them there either. They were in Missouri, which they had chosen for a home, when Joseph Smith was killed. (At that point the Mormons split. Most followed Brigham Young to Utah and are the LDS Church usually referred to as Mormons. Others split off and became other sects.)

[Asher]

Some fact checking:

Homophobia. You got one right.

Excommunication doesn't cut anyone off. The only difference is if you go to church (you can still go to church) you can't take the sacrament. If someone shunned their own family member, that would be against LDS doctrine. Exactly opposite of it in fact.

I'm well aware of what the official church policy is on it. You'll note that they always shove the "blame" for excommunications to the local churches, not the LDS itself. The local church handles all aspects of it. I know of one boy personally who was excommunicated and told not to be in touch with his family or anyone from his church. One of the official reasons for excommunication is to protect family from sin -- they thought his homosexuality was a sin, and accordingly they "protected" the family from the sin with excommunication and made it clear to the family that he is to be cut off from all contact until he repents, etc.

Mormons aren't required to serve missions.

Yes, they're "not required".

If they're not required, how come every single mormon I've ever met has done them? They're technically "not required", I know, but you're leaving out the ramifications of not doing it.

Garments (the underwear) is not meant to literally protect a person from harm. There are some stories where it is claimed it did protect a person. It's not doctrine. They are simply to remind the wearer to follow the teachings of Christ without being obvious (like a nun's habit or priest's robe).

I've heard both, which to me implies it's left for the interpretation of the cultee. FWIW, Wiki says both.