Congrats on learning how to use wiki. Now, boy Dayton, try and actually apply some analysis. Use what you now know about cults and what you know about the LDS to construct an argument showing that the LDS is a cult. Here, I'll give you a template: The LDS church is a cult b/c [x] LDS policies fit the description of [y] requirements of cults.
You know the definition of a cult, right? you should be able to tell us why they aren't a cult, they fit the definition after all.
You made the claim. Now try and back it up, boy Dayton. Try and actually apply some analysis. Use what you now know about cults and what you know about the LDS to construct an argument showing that the LDS is a cult. Here, I'll give you a template: The LDS church is a cult b/c [x] LDS policies fit the description of [y] requirements of cults.
No. You made the claim that the LDS was a cult. I asked you how it was different from any other organized religion. You responded with a wiki link. So once again, try and put a rational argument together boy Dayton. Use what you now know about cults and what you know about the LDS to construct an argument showing that the LDS is a cult. Here, I'll give you a template: The LDS church is a cult b/c [x] LDS policies fit the description of [y] requirements of cults.
No, boy Dayton, that is not how it works. You made the claim. Now try and back it up. Try and actually apply some analysis. Use what you now know about cults and what you know about the LDS to construct an argument showing that the LDS is a cult. Here, I'll give you a template: The LDS church is a cult b/c [x] LDS policies fit the description of [y] requirements of cults.
Actually, boy Dayton, I do see the difference between the LDS and cults. You are claiming equivalency. And if you'd like me to see equivalency then you can help me. By showing it. Use what you now know about cults and what you know about the LDS to construct an argument showing that the LDS is a cult. Here, I'll give you a template: The LDS church is a cult b/c [x] LDS policies fit the description of [y] requirements of cults.
The Mormon church was established in 1830, making it 188 years old. There are approximately 6 million Mormons in the United States, and a total of roughly 15 million worldwide. There are openly Mormon congressmen, a former Presidential candidate, and officially recognized Mormon chaplains in the United States military. Whether or not you personally consider it a cult, it's got all the markings of a large, organized religion. That link you posted from Wikipedia, about cults? Yeah, almost every religion starts out that way, but over time, and in increasing membership, they begin to find roots. Christianity started out as one man and a handful of followers who irritated the hell out of the local religious authorities. It could have very well died off and been nothing more than a doomsday cult, but it didn't. Time and swelling numbers tends to legitimize things.
They are focused on one or two major figure heads, Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. Their dedication to those two individuals is almost equal to their devotion to high father (they almost exclusively refer to god as high father out of some weird doctrine). They break away from the orthodoxy of most christian sects. Most notably, the belief that Jesus came to the Americas and Joseph Smith seeing golden tablets that nobody else saw. Do I have to refer you to the South Park episode that spells it out pretty well? They have a strict adherence to certain practices and again a strong devotion a charismatic leader. Scientology has a lot of members and presumably will grow, but I still don't consider them a religion, do you? Mormonism is not too different than Scientology.
Strictly in my opinion, I don't think the Mormon (LDS) church would qualify as a "cult" due to the fact that they do not revere a currently living person on Earth as a deity or something similar.
The afterlife makes life and death kind of blurry. Elohim (Mormon God), Jesus, and Joseph Smith are supposed to meet you in Heaven, and they decide if you get your own planet or not. If Joe is hangin' with God and Jesus literally at the cool kids table, that's pretty much a deity.
No I didn’t. Jesus didn’t claim to be son of god and then when questioned about it he said, “hey look, it’s Elvis” and then ran off when everyone turned away.
Yep. "So Pilate went back into the governor’s residence, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 34 Jesus replied, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or have others said it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own people and your chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my servants would fight to prevent me being handed over to the Jewish authorities. But now my kingdom is not from here.” 37 Then Pilate said, “So you are a king!” Jesus replied, “You say that I am a king. I have been born and have come into the world for this reason—to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." - John 18:33-37
On the contrary; I believe the church to be a cult. But the examples you used are weak in making your argument.
It certainly started as a cult. Of course just about every religion started as a cult but the difference is the origins of Mormonism were clearly documented in real time so its cult origins are indisputable. Now? Probably it is no longer an actual cult tthough like all religions it retains vestiges of its cult origins.