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Hey, Who Are You Calling a Cult?
Belief.net ^ | Orson Scott Card

Posted on 05/06/2008 10:06:47 PM PDT by sevenbak

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To: dangus

Yeah, I didn’t know that until Mitt ran, and all the hubbub.

Here’s an interesting and long list of famous Mormons.

http://www.famousmormons.net/


61 posted on 05/07/2008 6:51:18 AM PDT by sevenbak (1 Corinthians 2:14)
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To: dangus; the808bass; zerosix; sevenbak; colorcountry; P-Marlowe; Utah Binger; Degaston; SENTINEL
I’ve heard that the Mormon religion requires practicing Mormons to divorce their spouses (and, of course, seek custody of kids) if the spouse leaves the religion. This is in stark contrast to Catholicism, which forbids such divorce, and charges the faithful spouse to inspire reconversion back to the church through faithful love in the marriage. Further, Mormon friends are to shun the apostate; And what friends would an apostate Mormon in a marriage have besides Mormons? Non-Mormon must be excluded even from witnessing Mormon marriages.

There are enough strange doctrines in mormonism. Some of what you post is true some is not. Sevenbak's reply avoids answering your questions.

"I’ve heard that the Mormon religion requires practicing Mormons to divorce their spouses (and, of course, seek custody of kids) if the spouse leaves the religion. This is NOT a "doctrine" as such. However, there are many stories posted on web sites that indicate the individual who leaves the mormon church is divorced by his/her mate so that the other party may "find eternal marriage with a different "worthy" (as defined by mormons) mate".

" Mormon friends are to shun the apostate; And what friends would an apostate Mormon in a marriage have besides Mormons?"

Again, NOT official doctrine. However, this is a practice that occurs as those of us who are former mormons can personally verify. I do not know of a mormon leader advising against the practice of shunning, since "worthy" mormons are required to answer "temple recommend" questions in order to be allowed entry to their temples, such as No. 7 below. "Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?"

One must take part in performing ordinances only given in these temples as a requirement for "exaltation", mormonism's version of what Christians see as Heaven. As an aside, these same ordinances are performed by proxy for the dead in the temples

"Non-Mormon must be excluded even from witnessing Mormon marriages." True. Not only "non-mormons" but the mormons who fail the entrance test described in the temple recommend questions below, are refused entry to the weddings of friends and families, including parents and children of the couple. The practice has been for those excluded from the ceremony to wait around to be included in the family pictures following.

TEMPLE RECOMMEND QUESTIONS

1 Do you have faith in and a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost?

2 Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Christ and of His role as Savior and Redeemer?

3 Do you have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel in these the latter days?

4 Do you sustain the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and as the only person on the earth who possesses and is authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? Do you sustain members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local authorities of the Church?

5 Do you live the law of chastity?

6 Is there anything in your conduct relating to members of your family that is not in harmony with the teachings of the Church?

7 Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

8 Do you strive to keep the covenants you have made, to attend your sacrament and other meetings, and to keep your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?

9 Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen?

10 Are you a full-tithe payer?

11 Do your keep the Word of Wisdom?

12 Do you have financial or other oblgations to a former spouse or children? If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations?

13 If you have previously received your temple endowment:

Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple?
Do you wear the garment both night and day as instructed in the endowment and in accordance with the covenant you made in the temple?

14 Have there been any sins or misdeeds in your life that should have been resolved with priesthood authorities but have not been?

15 Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord's house and participate in temple ordinances?

62 posted on 05/07/2008 6:52:08 AM PDT by greyfoxx39 (FLDS.... making babies with children because their God wants earthly bodies for spirit babies.)
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To: dangus

Is she married to a Mormon? I was just pointing that out because Larry King is an unbeliever.


63 posted on 05/07/2008 6:52:45 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If you aren't part of the solution, there is good money to be made prolonging the problem.)
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To: AppyPappy

Yes, she’s LDS.

I too have siblings who are not members of the church. There are “mixed marriages” so to speak in my own family.

My son’s best friend is Catholic, and they play together nearly every day, usually at their house. I’m not sure what all the hubbub is about associating with those not of our faith. Christ never taught this, and most Mormons I know don’t act like that. Sure, there are some, but still...


64 posted on 05/07/2008 6:56:58 AM PDT by sevenbak (1 Corinthians 2:14)
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To: sevenbak

I think it depends on how you interpret the religion. I’ve known Catholics who shunned divorced family members or family who married divorcees. My own family whispered about one of the in-laws being a secret Jew.

I have found that Mormons condemn kids leaving the church and heap more heavily on them for joining another church. Unfortunately I’m seeing that first hand these days. Protestant churches will sometimes engage in this behavior so it isn’t just Mormons.


65 posted on 05/07/2008 7:03:13 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If you aren't part of the solution, there is good money to be made prolonging the problem.)
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To: TheDon
Christianity is monotheistic? That's a laugh. Father, Son and Holy Ghost make 3. That's tritheistic. I know, I've heard the post-biblical, neoplatonic trinitarian nonsense. It just doesn't wash.

You're kidding me. You know God so thoroughly because a guy found some dinner plates in 1823? So for 1800 years, we've all got it wrong, including the Old Testament, the Gospels, Church Fathers, and some of the greatest minds the world has known? Gee, thanks for saving me from my ignorance.

In the Beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

66 posted on 05/07/2008 7:11:27 AM PDT by thefrankbaum (Ad maiorem Dei gloriam)
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To: greyfoxx39

Thanks... that was helpful. But in a sense, I now realize that I did sorta have a good shot at the answer already:

The doctrine of celestial marriage states that only those who are bound in celestial marriage can achieve the highest levels of Heaven. Also, anyone who isn’t Mormon is going straight to Hell, since all other churches are of the “great apostasy.” So any marriage to a non-believer will deprive the Mormon of the highest heaven. So even if there is not an obedience which calls for divorce, one can infer that it must be God’s will.

(Contrast this with Catholicism which holds that love expended in such a marriage will not only help the Christian draw closer to Christ, but also serves as a sign of hope for the salvation of the non-believer.)

Or am I wrong? I admittedly know little about Mormonism that I didn’t learn in response to FR posts. It *is* true that Mormonism doesn’t hold the same horror for divorce that Catholicism (formally) does, isn’t it? Is there some other doctrine I don’t know about that throws a chink into my logic?


67 posted on 05/07/2008 7:11:40 AM PDT by dangus
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To: sevenbak
What do they have in common?

Juxtapose the definition of the word cult with the definition of the word religion. Is it Kettles and Pots?

The noun Cult means:

1. a. A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.
1. b. The followers of such a religion or sect.

2. A system or community of religious worship and ritual.

3. The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual.

4. A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease.

5. a. Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing.
5. b. The object of such devotion.

6. An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest.

The noun religion means:

1. a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
1. b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.

2. The life or condition of a person in a religious order.

3. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.

4. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.

68 posted on 05/07/2008 7:16:21 AM PDT by MosesKnows (Love many, Trust few, and always paddle your own canoe)
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To: sevenbak
No, Freepers have jumped on the FLDS bandwagon as a opportunity to make claims about my beliefs that are erroneous. I for one have had enough.

So...

Other than current day polygamy, how are the LDS doctrines and practices different than the FLDS doctrines and practices?

The FLDS claim that they follow Joseph Smith more closely than the LDS...do you disagree? If so, why?

69 posted on 05/07/2008 7:19:33 AM PDT by pby
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To: dangus
Also, anyone who isn’t Mormon is going straight to Hell, since all other churches are of the “great apostasy.”

THE SPIRIT WORLD AND THE THREE DEGREES OF GLORY.

"When mortals complete their sojourn on earth and pass through the portal called death, they enter the postmortal spirit world. As part of the Plan of Salvation, the Lord set a time between death and the resurrection when men and women can continue their progression and further learn principles of perfection before they are brought to the final judgment (Alma 40:6-21). Jesus Christ went to the postmortal spirit world while his body lay in the tomb to preach the gospel to them (1 Pet. 3:19-20; 4:6; D&C 138:11-37) so that those spirits in the postmortal spirit world could hear and accept or reject the gospel.

Since baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, temple Endowment, and sealing are earthly ordinances, Latter-day Saints perform the ordinances vicariously for the dead in their temples (see ). Because individuals differ so widely in their obedience to God's commandments, LDS theology rejects the traditional Christian concepts of the single option of heaven or hell in explaining the final destiny of souls (see ). Through a vision given to the Prophet Joseph Smith (D&C 76), the Lord has shown, as he also revealed to Paul, that there are several degrees of glory in mankind's eternal reward (D&C 76; cf. 1 Cor. 15:42).

The Plan of Salvation was created by the Father, brought into reality by the atoning sacrifice of his Beloved Son, and facilitated by the gifts of the Holy Ghost. It embraces the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement, including the , and sweeps across all time from the to the final state of immortality and eternal life"

Link

It *is* true that Mormonism doesn’t hold the same horror for divorce that Catholicism (formally) does, isn’t it?

No, because to mormonism, there are other "sins" that keep a soul from attaining "exaltation", commission of which keep mormons from being allowed entry into the temples where the required ordinances are performed. Divorce is not noted among them.


70 posted on 05/07/2008 7:50:20 AM PDT by greyfoxx39 (FLDS.... making babies with children because their God wants earthly bodies for spirit babies.)
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To: sevenbak
Let's see how my daughter's church stacks up here:

Charismatic Founder- Yep, their pastor is very charismatic.

Exploitation- They require members to serve in the church, to do Thursday night visitation (knocking on random doors witnessing), they must serve in missions or must house visiting missionaries. They must tithe ten percent. And they must serve in community ministries. This is a hard one, but some would say yes to this one too.

Automatons- These are KJV onlyists. Women must wear dresses even though the most popular thing for men to wear seem to be bib overalls. They are not allowed to dance, drink or listen to secular music and a long list of other things. And they must attend church at least four times a week. I would say yes to this one too.

Withdrawal and Isolation- They spurn television and movies. They cannot enter a place that sells alcoholic beverages, even Walmart. They do not send their children to public schools. Church activities keep them fairly busy most weeks and when they have revivals or missionaries who are practicing preaching, it is an all week long thing. So again yes.

So it looks like my daughter belongs to a cult. A Independent Fundamentalist Baptist Cult.

71 posted on 05/07/2008 7:51:01 AM PDT by Between the Lines (I am very cognizant of my fallibility, sinfulness, and other limitations.)
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To: thefrankbaum
In the Beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Online Etymology Dictionary
"second person of the Christian Trinity," from Gk. logos "word, speech, discourse," also "reason," from PIE base *leg- "to collect" (with derivatives meaning "to speak," on notion of "to pick out words"); used by Neo-Platonists in various metaphysical and theological senses and picked up by N.T. writers.

Greek philosophers were great in many ways, but their understanding of the true nature of God was off the mark. Unfortunately, it corrupted the early christian understanding of the nature of God as well.

72 posted on 05/07/2008 7:53:04 AM PDT by TheDon
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To: sevenbak
I admire LDS folk tremendously, and I'm quite sure that whatever it was in 1836, it isn't a cult now.

However, Joseph Smith (pbuh) did get something of great value, then and now, out of his charismatic leadership - except it wasn't measured in dollars.

His polygamy was the living out of a common male fantasy, made possible by the devotion of his followers.

73 posted on 05/07/2008 7:55:56 AM PDT by Jim Noble (ride 'em like you stole 'em)
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To: AppyPappy
3 = 1? Not quite.

Jesus said “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father”

Yes, Jesus has a body, just like God.

Genesis 1
26 ¶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Perhaps you don't have a body, parts or passions, but I'm guessing do. :-)

74 posted on 05/07/2008 7:57:55 AM PDT by TheDon
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To: Between the Lines

Can you attend your daughter’s wedding?


75 posted on 05/07/2008 8:01:55 AM PDT by greyfoxx39 (FLDS.... making babies with children because their God wants earthly bodies for spirit babies.)
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To: TheDon
Unfortunately, it corrupted the early christian understanding of the nature of God as well.

Ok, so the Greek philosophers corrupted John's thought too? Does that mean his Gospel is not inspired? Also, you really believe that Christ's Church was in error for 1800 years until Joe Smith found the plates? Despite Jesus's promise that the Gates of Hell shall not prevail?

76 posted on 05/07/2008 8:03:22 AM PDT by thefrankbaum (Ad maiorem Dei gloriam)
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To: Revelation 911

Only “open” LDS Religion Forum threads have been transferred to the News Forum. It was a temporary response to the “Mormon bashing” that resulted from the FLDS raid.


77 posted on 05/07/2008 8:04:17 AM PDT by Religion Moderator
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To: mad_as_he$$
The word can be a pejorative - but it can also be a subject of academic theological debate. For the moderators, whether the word is allowed is a judgment call.
78 posted on 05/07/2008 8:07:08 AM PDT by Religion Moderator
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To: TheDon

I wouldn’t take much stock in that Genesis depiction. It is fraught with entanglements.


79 posted on 05/07/2008 8:14:15 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If you aren't part of the solution, there is good money to be made prolonging the problem.)
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To: thefrankbaum
Also, you really believe that Christ's Church was in error for 1800 years until Joe Smith found the plates?

That's a trick question, as we believe Christ's church was gone with the death of the last apostle.

Despite Jesus's promise that the Gates of Hell shall not prevail?

We believe the restoration of Christ's church is a fulfillment of that promise.

80 posted on 05/07/2008 8:25:19 AM PDT by TheDon
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