Aldebaran wrote:

Perfect Violation wrote:

Aldebaran wrote:

Perfect Violation wrote:

I'm sorry, but this Mormon=Cult thing is just plain stupid. People need to stop being so ignorant, and start learning to be accepting of other beliefs.


Your are setting up a straw man with your critique of the analysis. If you had read the entire article (which I assume you did), then you know that not any one thing on that list classifies a group as a cult.

Cults exhort a high degree of control over it's members Physical Behavior, access to Information (which may be critical or contrary to the organization), Thoughts & Emotions.

Reading that analysis you will see that the Mormon church DOES INDEED exhibit many cult-like qualities, and thus a good arguement could be made that the LDS church is a cult.

http://www.rationalrevelation.com/library/bite.html


Reading the analysis would lead me to believe that all organised religions are a cult, if those are the defining factors. Are you prepared to say that?


Absolutely not. I would say however that all religious have at least some cult-like properties.

Mormonism compared to most other mainstream religions is much more extreme in it's control of it's members, in fact I would say it's pretty close to Scientology in that regard.


I would have to give the more extreme in control award to the Witnesses, personally.

I'm not Mormon. I don't even believe in God. I just don't see why someone would want to try to connect a word that is very derogative to something that clearly makes millions of people happy. And is that not what religion should be about, finding happiness and a personal relationship with the god of your choice?

Point out one doctrine that you believe in that is found in the bible that is different than Mormonism and I will show you how you have altered the teachings. second traditional orthodox Christianity cannot even claim authority was given to them by Christ to create their own church's or to interpret the bible Amos 3:7 says that God will do nothing but reveal his secrets unto his servants the prophets. third the only church besides Mormonism that can trace authority is the Roman catholic church. Fourth I am sure that if you sat you down in the same room as someone else in orthodox Christianity, that is in a different sect than you are in, you would find disagreements in your interpretations of the bible which would further discredit that silly statement by Jan Van Baalens. by the way who left him in charge of classifying anyone as a cult. did he get is authority from God or men, or maybe it was the devil.

I will point out the contradictions in your scriptures, and explain them if you can...lol!

One God
Book of Mormon
* Alma 11:27-39, 44
* 2 Nephi 31:21
* Mormon 7:7
* 3 Nephi11:27
* Testimony of Three Witnesses

Plural Gods
Doctrine and Covenants
* Section 121:32
* Section 132:18-20, 37

God is a Spirit
Book of Mormon
* Alma 18:26-28
* Alma 22:8-11

God Has a Body
Doctrine and Covenants
* Section 130:22

God Dwells in Heart
Book of Mormon
* Alma 34:36

God Does Not Dwell in Heart
Doctrine and Covenants
* Section 130:3

Creation - One God
Book of Mormon
* 2 Nephi 2:14
* Jacob 4:9
Pearl of Great Price
Book of Moses
* Chapter 2

Creation - Plural Gods
Pearl of Great Price
Book of Abraham
* Chapter 4
* Chapter 5



God Cannot Lie
Book of Mormon
* Ether 3:12
* 2 Nephi 9:34

God Commands Lying
Pearl of Great Price
Book of Abraham
* Chapter 2:22-25

God's Word Unchangeable
Book of Mormon
* Alma 41:8

God's Word Can Change
Doctrine and Covenants
* Section 56:4-5

No Pre-Existence of Man
Book of Mormon
* Jacob 4:9
* Alma 18:28, 34-36

Man Pre-Existed
Doctrine and Covenants
* Section 93:23, 29-33
Pearl of Great Price
Book of Abraham
* Chapter 3:18, 21-23

Death Seals Man's Fate
Book of Mormon
* Mosiah 2:36-39
* Alma 34:32-35


Chance After Death
Doctrine and Covenants
* Section 76:106-112
* Section 88:99



Heathen Saved Without Baptism
Book of Mormon
* Moroni 8:22-23
* 2 Nephi 9:25-26
* Mosiah 15:24-27

Baptism for Dead
Doctrine and Covenants
* Section 128:5, 17-18

Heaven or Hell
Book of Mormon
* 2 Nephi 28:22
* 1 Nephi 15:35
* Mosiah 16:11
* Mosiah 27:31
* Alma 41:4-8
* Alma 42:16

Three Kingdoms in Heaven - Most Saved
Doctrine and Covenants
* Section 76:43, 70-112

Murder Can Be Forgiven
Book of Mormon
* 3 Nephi 30:2

No Forgiveness For Murder
Doctrine and Covenants
* Section 42:18

Polygamy Condemned
Book of Mormon
* Jacob 1:15
* Jacob 2:24
* Jacob 3:5
* Mosiah 11:2

Polygamy Commanded
Doctrine and Covenants
* Section 132:1, 37-39, 61




Against Paid Ministry
Book of Mormon
* 2 Nephi 26:31

For Paid Ministry
Doctrine and Covenants
* Section 42:71-73
* Section 43:12-13
* Section 51:13-14

Corrupt Churches Promise Forgiveness For Money
Book of Mormon
* Mormon 8:32

Church Members Who Tithe Will Not Burn
Doctrine and Covenants
* Section 64:23

Adam in America
Doctrine and Covenants
* Section 107:53
* Section 116:1
* Section 117:8

Adam in Old World
Pearl of Great Price
* Book of Moses 3:8, 10-15




Your own Scrptures contradict each other,That is why it's not of God and your Sheeps clothing are your Good Works, But the Doctrine Joseph Smith taught is the Wolf!


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Ok Grizz, I know you are probably a troll of some type, and I shouldn't respond, but you ARE aware that the bible is also full of contradictions and inconsistencies, right?

Perfect Violation wrote:

Ok Grizz, I know you are probably a troll of some type, and I shouldn't respond, but you ARE aware that the bible is also full of contradictions and inconsistencies, right?


In relation to cults though, the bible is accepted by Billions, where the lds faith and scriptures only millions, a sort of inherent part of cults is they are a much smaller populous than the main stream hence bible and its religions are mainstream, lds (and others) are cults. This is simple the thinking of some in our country.

Perfect Violation wrote:

Ok Grizz, I know you are probably a troll of some type, and I shouldn't respond, but you ARE aware that the bible is also full of contradictions and inconsistencies, right?



Nope! God does not contradict himself...I suggest you study up on that, and not Just let somebody tell you it contradicts itself!


http://www.inplainsite.org/html/alleged_bible_contradictions.html

theTruth wrote:

Perfect Violation wrote:

Ok Grizz, I know you are probably a troll of some type, and I shouldn't respond, but you ARE aware that the bible is also full of contradictions and inconsistencies, right?


In relation to cults though, the bible is accepted by Billions, where the lds faith and scriptures only millions, a sort of inherent part of cults is they are a much smaller populous than the main stream hence bible and its religions are mainstream, lds (and others) are cults. This is simple the thinking of some in our country.


So at some point, the masses would not have believed in the bible. Doesn't that mean that Christianity started as a cult?

Again, I'm not trying to defend one religion or another. It is only my wish that we learn to be tolerant of eachother, and accept that people can have different beliefs and lifestyles and still celebrate the things that make them similar.