He said — Some technical theological uses of the word “cult” might apply to LDS, but I am speaking of the use of the term in newspapers like the Washington Post.
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Well, it’s good that he knows the difference from “cults” in a theological sense which are “non-Christian” — like the two biggest cults in the United States, Mormon and Jehovahs Witnesses — versus — the popular terminology for “cult” as in the newspapers. They are two different things.
I’m glad he’s able to distinguish from non-Christian *cult groups* (like Mormons and Jehovahs Witnesses) and “cults” in a general sense (as in the newspapers).
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What Do the Founders
of These Great American Cults
Have in Common?
Kabbalah - Founded by a former insurance salesman, Phillip Berg
(now known as Rav) - is a Jewish cult, based on "ancient secrets".
Scientology - Founded by a former vacuum cleaner salesman,
and frustrated sci-fi writer, L. Ron Hubbard.
EST - Founded by a former door-to-door salesman, Werner Erhard
"Prophet" Edgar Cayce - a former insurance salesman
Mormonism - Founded by a former treasurer-seeker, Joseph Smith
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One might wonder, if these cults had been formed before the BILL OF RIGHTS was written, whould we have the ...”Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;”...as it is written today or would it have been written to exclude these weird movements.
A good example of a modern cult is The Episcopal Church. They have disavowed the authority of Scripture in favor of supposed new direct revelation from God (”the Spirit is doing a new thing”). They have incorporated all sorts of new age beliefs into their teachings, as well as radical feminism and pagan rituals such as Wicca, shamanism, and nature worship. (Look at videos of the “consecration” of the current Presiding Bishopess as an example, complete with Native American medicine men “smudging” and “vestal virgins” dancing in the service; this Bishopess is also known for intoning prayers to “Mother Jesus.”)
They teach that the Gospel is fulfilled in the UN Millenium Development Goals. They are also looking at getting their first Buddhist bishop. How wacky can you get?
Seems more to me like America fosters a industry based on making money by attacking other people’s faith by any means possible, including dishonest means. I guess that’s better than actually going out and killing people for daring to disagree with your dogma, but it still is a long way off from what Christ would want.
Just as an aside, Japan is loaded with cults as well. However, their typical cult is quite small, only five to ten members.