In 2007, FOXNews ran a story called “21 Questions Answered About the Mormon Faith.”
The following is excerpts from that article:
FOXNews.com compiled a list of 21 questions representing some widely held beliefs and misconceptions about Mormonism and posed them to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Church objected to answering some of the questions on the grounds that they misrepresent the basic tenets of the Mormon religion.
"Many of these questions are typically found on anti-Mormon blogs or Web sites which aim to misrepresent or distort Mormon doctrines," the Church said in a statement. "Several of these questions do not represent ... any serious attempt to depict the core values and beliefs of its members."
Here are the questions and how the Church responded:
Q: Why do some call the Church a cult?
A: For the most part, this seems to stem from a lack of understanding about the Church and its core doctrines and beliefs. Under those circumstances it is too easy to label a religion or other organization that is not well-known with an inflammatory term like 'cult.' Famed scholar of religion Martin Marty has said a cult means a church you don't personally happen to like. We don't believe any organization should be subjected to a label that has come to be as pejorative as that one.
Joni’s Addition:
cult –noun: a particular system of religious worship, especially with reference to its rites and ceremonies. I’m going to see what religions I’ve studied so far that would qualify as a cult.
Robert J. Lifton wrote Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism after studying the effects of mind control on American prisoners of war under the Communist Chinese. Lifton outlines eight major factors that can be used to identify whether a group is a destructive cult or not:
1. Milieu control (controlled relations with the outer world)
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: Not only are their temples off-limits to the outside world, but the church itself, specifically the high counsel in Salt Lake, are responsible for all revelations and what is released officially to the outside world as literature, marketing, and official responses to press, etc. However, they don’t isolate their people in the sense that they all live on a compound with a wall. They are only controlled relations in the non-literal sense. The churches all report to a central entity and do not operate independently. I'm going to go with half yes, half no.
Islam: Although there may be some congregations or communities where relations are controlled, for the most part, the mosques all operate independent of one another. They do maintain a separation from the outer world by both dress and habits, but I’m going to say they do not have controlled relations, by and large.
Evangelical Christianity: uh, no. No controlled relations with the outer world whatsoever. In fact, a lot of times, no consistency in relations with the outer world from one sect to another. Most operate independently.
2. Mystic manipulation (the group has a higher purpose than the rest)
LDS: Yes, their purpose to spread the story of Joseph Smith and conviction that they are alone correct and know the whole truth separates them with a higher purpose than the rest of society.
Islam: Definitely, they believe that they have a higher purpose than people who are non-Islam (submitted to God)
Evangelical Christians: Are you kidding me? We hold the patent on higher purposes!
3. Confession (confess past and present sins)
LDS: Although they don’t have a confession booth like the Catholics, confession of sins is an important part of being a pure Mormon.
Islam: I don’t think so. While the Prophet (pbuh) did encourage living uprightly and making amends, I don’t recall him stressing confession to each other or Allah.
Evangelical Christianity: A resounding YES. Very important.
4. Self-sanctification through purity (pushing the individual towards an unattainable perfection)
LDS: I would have to say, this is a yes and a no. On the one hand, Purity and keeping oneself pure is paramount in the LDS church. To enter the Temple, you must be dressed in purest white. You must wear holy undergarments. You must keep your body pure of alcohol and caffiene. You must be baptized for yourself and others (preferably). On the other hand, atonement and grace are important
Islam: Yes. Purity is emphasized in diet, dress, and discipline of religious practices.
Evangelical Christianity: While purity is encouraged, it is certainly not required. There is no special diet, dress or restrictions really… the only thing really encouraged is sexual purity, although even that varies from group to group. Grace and inability to be perfect is emphasized.
5. Aura of sacred science (beliefs of the group are sacrosanct and perfect)
LDS: Yes. The Book of Mormon is considered the literal word of God and the most correct translation of Gods’ words. The Bible and BoM are considered infallible, literal, and most definitely correct.
Islam: Yep. The Qur’an and teachings of the Prophets are literal and perfect.
Evangelicals: YES. The Bible is perfect and literal. Creation Museum, case and point.
6. Loaded language (new meanings to words, encouraging black-and-white thinking)
LDS: Yes, at least to the black-and-white thinking. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of gray area.
Islam: for the most part, yes. But I’m not sure about new meanings to words because they just speak in their own language altogether.
Evangelicals: Oh, HECK YEAH. We have our own little language. “Saved”, “Backslide”, “Free”, “a Word”, “on fire” – we have all kinds of metaphors and secret codes for our religion. And Evangelicals definitely encourage black-and-white thinking, depending on the specific denomination.
7. Doctrine over person (the group is more important than the individual)
Does this mean conform or get out? Because I’m going to say yes in all cases for this.
8. Dispensed existence (insiders are saved, outsiders are doomed)
LDS: Only Mormons get to heaven, from what I understand. For sure, only Mormons get to the 3rd (best) level of heaven where you get your own planet (and only if you're married).
Islam: Not really. As long as submission to God takes place, you are really a Muslim by default. Even if you never hear about Islam, you can still make it to heaven if you were seeking God and trying to know him. Even if you do hear about Islam and don’t accept it, you can make it to heaven eventually. Islam, contrary to popular belief, is actually very inclusive in doctrine.
Evangelicals: Definitely. Jesus or bust!
So the Lifton Cult score?
LDS: 6 out of 8
Islam: 5 out of 8
Evangelicals: 6 out of 8
Conclusion: I don’t think they are a cult, unless you throw all the other religions into the “cult” category too!
I will be continuing this with questions 2 through ?? tomorrow! Stay tuned!
Works Cited
FoxNews.com. (2007, December). 21 Questions Answered About the Mormon Faith. Retrieved May 2011, from FOXnews.com: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,317272,00.html
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (n.d.). Study Helps. Retrieved from http://lds.org: http://lds.org
The following is excerpts from that article:
FOXNews.com compiled a list of 21 questions representing some widely held beliefs and misconceptions about Mormonism and posed them to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Church objected to answering some of the questions on the grounds that they misrepresent the basic tenets of the Mormon religion.
"Many of these questions are typically found on anti-Mormon blogs or Web sites which aim to misrepresent or distort Mormon doctrines," the Church said in a statement. "Several of these questions do not represent ... any serious attempt to depict the core values and beliefs of its members."
Here are the questions and how the Church responded:
Q: Why do some call the Church a cult?
A: For the most part, this seems to stem from a lack of understanding about the Church and its core doctrines and beliefs. Under those circumstances it is too easy to label a religion or other organization that is not well-known with an inflammatory term like 'cult.' Famed scholar of religion Martin Marty has said a cult means a church you don't personally happen to like. We don't believe any organization should be subjected to a label that has come to be as pejorative as that one.
Joni’s Addition:
cult –noun: a particular system of religious worship, especially with reference to its rites and ceremonies. I’m going to see what religions I’ve studied so far that would qualify as a cult.
Robert J. Lifton wrote Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism after studying the effects of mind control on American prisoners of war under the Communist Chinese. Lifton outlines eight major factors that can be used to identify whether a group is a destructive cult or not:
1. Milieu control (controlled relations with the outer world)
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: Not only are their temples off-limits to the outside world, but the church itself, specifically the high counsel in Salt Lake, are responsible for all revelations and what is released officially to the outside world as literature, marketing, and official responses to press, etc. However, they don’t isolate their people in the sense that they all live on a compound with a wall. They are only controlled relations in the non-literal sense. The churches all report to a central entity and do not operate independently. I'm going to go with half yes, half no.
Islam: Although there may be some congregations or communities where relations are controlled, for the most part, the mosques all operate independent of one another. They do maintain a separation from the outer world by both dress and habits, but I’m going to say they do not have controlled relations, by and large.
Evangelical Christianity: uh, no. No controlled relations with the outer world whatsoever. In fact, a lot of times, no consistency in relations with the outer world from one sect to another. Most operate independently.
2. Mystic manipulation (the group has a higher purpose than the rest)
LDS: Yes, their purpose to spread the story of Joseph Smith and conviction that they are alone correct and know the whole truth separates them with a higher purpose than the rest of society.
Islam: Definitely, they believe that they have a higher purpose than people who are non-Islam (submitted to God)
Evangelical Christians: Are you kidding me? We hold the patent on higher purposes!
3. Confession (confess past and present sins)
LDS: Although they don’t have a confession booth like the Catholics, confession of sins is an important part of being a pure Mormon.
Islam: I don’t think so. While the Prophet (pbuh) did encourage living uprightly and making amends, I don’t recall him stressing confession to each other or Allah.
Evangelical Christianity: A resounding YES. Very important.
4. Self-sanctification through purity (pushing the individual towards an unattainable perfection)
LDS: I would have to say, this is a yes and a no. On the one hand, Purity and keeping oneself pure is paramount in the LDS church. To enter the Temple, you must be dressed in purest white. You must wear holy undergarments. You must keep your body pure of alcohol and caffiene. You must be baptized for yourself and others (preferably). On the other hand, atonement and grace are important
Islam: Yes. Purity is emphasized in diet, dress, and discipline of religious practices.
Evangelical Christianity: While purity is encouraged, it is certainly not required. There is no special diet, dress or restrictions really… the only thing really encouraged is sexual purity, although even that varies from group to group. Grace and inability to be perfect is emphasized.
5. Aura of sacred science (beliefs of the group are sacrosanct and perfect)
LDS: Yes. The Book of Mormon is considered the literal word of God and the most correct translation of Gods’ words. The Bible and BoM are considered infallible, literal, and most definitely correct.
Islam: Yep. The Qur’an and teachings of the Prophets are literal and perfect.
Evangelicals: YES. The Bible is perfect and literal. Creation Museum, case and point.
6. Loaded language (new meanings to words, encouraging black-and-white thinking)
LDS: Yes, at least to the black-and-white thinking. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of gray area.
Islam: for the most part, yes. But I’m not sure about new meanings to words because they just speak in their own language altogether.
Evangelicals: Oh, HECK YEAH. We have our own little language. “Saved”, “Backslide”, “Free”, “a Word”, “on fire” – we have all kinds of metaphors and secret codes for our religion. And Evangelicals definitely encourage black-and-white thinking, depending on the specific denomination.
7. Doctrine over person (the group is more important than the individual)
Does this mean conform or get out? Because I’m going to say yes in all cases for this.
8. Dispensed existence (insiders are saved, outsiders are doomed)
LDS: Only Mormons get to heaven, from what I understand. For sure, only Mormons get to the 3rd (best) level of heaven where you get your own planet (and only if you're married).
Islam: Not really. As long as submission to God takes place, you are really a Muslim by default. Even if you never hear about Islam, you can still make it to heaven if you were seeking God and trying to know him. Even if you do hear about Islam and don’t accept it, you can make it to heaven eventually. Islam, contrary to popular belief, is actually very inclusive in doctrine.
Evangelicals: Definitely. Jesus or bust!
So the Lifton Cult score?
LDS: 6 out of 8
Islam: 5 out of 8
Evangelicals: 6 out of 8
Conclusion: I don’t think they are a cult, unless you throw all the other religions into the “cult” category too!
I will be continuing this with questions 2 through ?? tomorrow! Stay tuned!
Works Cited
FoxNews.com. (2007, December). 21 Questions Answered About the Mormon Faith. Retrieved May 2011, from FOXnews.com: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,317272,00.html
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (n.d.). Study Helps. Retrieved from http://lds.org: http://lds.org
I would opt for calling them all cults. :) But to me, cult is not a dirty word. I don't understand why everyone gets so worked up over it. I mean, who cares what other people think? When you truly believe what you say you believe, it shouldn't matter what others (other religions) think or label you as. They're all just different volumes of the same book. (It metaphor..I know they use different books...)
ReplyDelete