Posted on 11/12/2011 10:43:37 AM PST by Saundra Duffy
Some public figures have labeled the Mormon church as a cult. Most recently, ABC News reported that Dallas Pastor Robert Jeffress applied such a label in an interview following a political gathering where Jeffress introduced a political rival to Mormon candidate Mitt Romney.
Use of such a term to describe Mormonism is highly offensive to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Cult carries the connotation of dangerous, even violent groups whose beliefs are irrational and whose practices are immoral and lawless (Koresh and the Branch Davidians, Heavens Gate, Aum Shinrikyo, and The Peoples Temple are all prominent examples) . The term cannot be applied to Mormons unless it is so broadly defined that its use could be applied to virtually any religious body.
Like racist language, the use of the word cult to describe a religion usually tells us very little about the religion, but a great deal about the person using the word. In short, it tells us only that the person using the label cult doesnt like the religion in question, or thinks it is illegitimate. Bryan Wilson, a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, and a noted sociologist of minority religions noted:
(Excerpt) Read more at mdl.org ...
Do you believe in religious freedom?
Whether you approve or not, "all are precious in His sight." And that includes Mormons.
You included me. Sorry if your mis-clicked.
Yet another FReeper who condemns me to hell.
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Just ONE???
There are 50,000 Mormon Evangelists waiting to knock on my door and condemn me to Hell bacause I wont renounce the LORD Jesus Christ and join the Mormon cult...
Why arent you here as my “Christian Defense League” ???
HELP !!!
No problem. It happens all the time (to other people not me of course).
I believe Rush would call it “using absurdity to highlight the absurd.” Saundra’s post is timely and relevant - debating where LDS stands (or doesn’t) in the Christian spectrum is one thing; comparing it to Jonestown or that Heaven’s Gate is quite another.
A case could be made, lawyer, that you're all just plain nuts....and that goes for Romney too.
He threw down the gauntlet to the Christian churches, they picked it up and his mormon followers have been whining about mormon haters ever since when they get their behinds handed to them in any debate
That post is a keeper, RDB.
though I wont ever be (and never have been) a Mormon myself.
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Grasshopper you aint dead yet...
Just wait a few years...
Dont forget the all out support for the fLDS and polygamy...
Candidate Romney must be having a real bad week...
ROTFL...Thanks Sandy, for bringing the hateFULL mormons out of the woodwork for a change...everyone can see just where the "persecution card" is played the way Obama plays the race card.
that’s true, and if you have to post pics like they want on the side of a cigarette pack, i just hope you get my good side, but, use Doctor Raoul instead from when we welcomed Rudy in Tuxedo, NY
But kid you failed to tell us what you think Mormons believe ...
Worshiping a false god cannot be part of any useful definition of the word cult
. Otherwise, all religions except mine would be cults.
All good points, but Mitt Romney will never be President of these United States.
Cults are typically characterized by:
a) A "new" truth after the completion of the Canon of Scripture.
b) Non-Biblical source of Authority.
c) Another Jesus.
d) Rejection of Orthodox Christianity.
e) Non-Biblical teaching on the nature of God (Rejection of the Trinity).
f) Changing Theology.
g) Strong authoritarian leadership.
h) Salvation by Works.
i) False Prophecy.
It might be noted that nearly every denomination lasts for about 200 years with orthodox doctrines and then nearly all of them have a faction which slips out of fellowship by succumbing to extended doctrine a bit further than what has been provided in Scripture by His Word. Even amongst rather orthodox denominations, while the bulk of their doctrines are sound, some discerning bits of doctrine arise differentiating that denomination from another and causing fracture within the Body of Christ. Such mainline denominational differences are not sufficient to bring upon the label of "cult" although they might be properly described as 'extra-Biblical' or unorthodox in their interpretations.
Such believers who slip into those areas aren't getting away with anything, for they merely fall out of fellowship and other indicators arise regarding their degeneration from sanctification. The only true thinking is that which concurs with God the Holy Spirit, which He uses to grow the soul and spirit of the believer in fellowship with Him.
What does this thread have to do with supporting Romney’s candidacy?
What does this thread have to do with supporting Romneys candidacy?
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Romney is real nervous about the debate tonight...
When you have only a one-note message, any excuse [or no excuse at all] to air your grievance will do.
They Shoot Mormons, Don't They? Religious Bigotry, alive and well today
Kid dont send my anymore unsolicied FReepMails...
If its worth saying say it to my face in the threads...
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