Difference between revisions of "Mormonism cult"

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		+	== Is Mormonism a Cult? ==
		+
		+	[[image: Mormon-church-meeting1.jpg|300px|right|alt=Mormon Church Meeting|Mormon Church Meeting]]The word “cult” derives from the Latin ''cultus'', meaning "care" or "adoration." By this definition, almost all religions, including [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], exhibit at least some characteristics of a cult.
		+
		+	What is meant when one defines a religious group as a “cult”? According to the American Heritage Dictionary the word means:
−	== Is Mormonism a Cult? ==	+	a) A system or community of religious worship and ritual.
		+
		+	b) The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual.
−	Originally the word “cult” derives from the Latin cultus, meaning "care" or "adoration." By this definition, almost all religions, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, exhibit at least some of the characteristics of a cult.	+	By these definitions, members of the Church of Jesus Christ would embrace the term. Certainly the Church is a community of religious worship and ritual, and clearly it formally expresses religious reverence. However, laypeople often mean something very different when they refer to Mormonism as a cult. The American Heritage dictionary provides another third definition that better explains the meaning most people attach to the word “cult”:
−	But what do people exactly mean when they say that a religious group is a “cult”?	+	A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with
−	According to the American Heritage Dictionary (AHD) the word Cult is:	+	its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an
		+	authoritarian, charismatic leader.
−	a) A System or community of religious worship and ritual.	+	This third definition clarifies the meaning most laypeople intend when they define a religion as a cult. Unfortunately, this definition reflects not any recognized religious category, but rather their own personal or religious biases. Based on this definition all religions qualify as cults, since each is considered false by some other group.
−	b) The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual.	+	Mormons don’t believe that their religion should be classified as a cult. In fact, very few people define their own church or religion as a cult, but usually they use this term to criticize or downplay the value of another religious faith.
−	If these definitions were all that people had in mind when they define Mormonism as a cult, then Mormons wouldn’t probably mind to be called a cult. However, usually people mean a very different thing when they say that Mormonism is a cult. The AHD provides another definition that better explains the meaning that most people attach to the word “cult”:	+	In practice, it is usually the religious minorities that are defined as “cults” by the traditional religious leaders of the time. For example, the negative label “cult” has been given to recently formed groups as the Unification Church or the Hare Krishna movement. However, even early Christianity or Islam during the life of Muhammad were considered “cults”.
−	A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist of false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.	+	A more scientific definition of “cult” refers to the beginning phase of a new religion. If we follow this approach, a cult’s main characteristic is that it provides a radical break from existing religious traditions. If we use this definition, we can say that initially Mormonism was a cult, because it challenged and broke away from the existing religious traditions.
−	This definition is very generic but it clarifies the general implicit criteria used by most people when they define a religion as a cult: their own personal or religious biases. Based on this definition almost all religions are cults, since most of them, if not all, are “generally” considered false by some other group.	+	However, most religious groups that start as cults fail to survive more than a single generation, and very few evolve into developed, mainstream religions; this was not the case with Mormonism. In fact, social scientists and religious historians now generally agree that Mormonism as represented by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should be classified not as a cult, but rather as an example of a successful transition to the status of new religious tradition.
−	Mormons don’t believe that their religion should be classified as a cult. In fact, very few people define their own church or religion as a “cult”, but usually they use this term to criticize or downplay the value of another church or religion. This is what happens with Mormonism: a few people, members of other religious groups, define Mormonism as a cult with the purpose of discounting its value and achievements.	+	See [[Mormon cult]].
−	In practice, are usually the religious minorities that are defined as “cults” by the traditional religious leaders of the time. For example, the negative label “cult” has been given to recently formed groups as the Unification Church or the Hare Krishna movement. However, even early Christianity or Islam during the life of Muhammad were considered “cults”.
−	A more scientific definition of “cult” refers to the beginning phase of a new religion. If we follow this approach, a cult’s main characteristic is that it provides a radical break from existing religious traditions. If we use this definition, we can say that initially Mormonism was a cult, because it challenged and broke away from the existing religious traditions.	+	'''For More Information''
		+	*[http://www.hotpepper.ca/lds/articles/cult.shtml Is Mormonism a Cult?]
		+	*[http://www.mormonfaq.com Answers to challenging questions about the Mormon Church]
		+	[[Category:Controversial Topics]]
−	However, most religious groups that start as cults fail to survive more than a single generation and very few evolve into a developed new religion; but this was not the case with Mormonism. In fact, social scientists now generally agree that Mormonism as represented by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should not be longer classified as a cult but should be seen as an example of a successful transition to the status of new religion.	+	[[ru:Культ мормонизма]]

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Latest revision as of 07:34, 15 September 2010

Is Mormonism a Cult?

The word “cult” derives from the Latin cultus, meaning "care" or "adoration." By this definition, almost all religions, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, exhibit at least some characteristics of a cult.

What is meant when one defines a religious group as a “cult”? According to the American Heritage Dictionary the word means:

     a) A system or community of religious worship and ritual.

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

By these definitions, members of the Church of Jesus Christ would embrace the term. Certainly the Church is a community of religious worship and ritual, and clearly it formally expresses religious reverence. However, laypeople often mean something very different when they refer to Mormonism as a cult. The American Heritage dictionary provides another third definition that better explains the meaning most people attach to the word “cult”:

     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.

This third definition clarifies the meaning most laypeople intend when they define a religion as a cult. Unfortunately, this definition reflects not any recognized religious category, but rather their own personal or religious biases. Based on this definition all religions qualify as cults, since each is considered false by some other group.

Mormons don’t believe that their religion should be classified as a cult. In fact, very few people define their own church or religion as a cult, but usually they use this term to criticize or downplay the value of another religious faith.

In practice, it is usually the religious minorities that are defined as “cults” by the traditional religious leaders of the time. For example, the negative label “cult” has been given to recently formed groups as the Unification Church or the Hare Krishna movement. However, even early Christianity or Islam during the life of Muhammad were considered “cults”.

A more scientific definition of “cult” refers to the beginning phase of a new religion. If we follow this approach, a cult’s main characteristic is that it provides a radical break from existing religious traditions. If we use this definition, we can say that initially Mormonism was a cult, because it challenged and broke away from the existing religious traditions.

However, most religious groups that start as cults fail to survive more than a single generation, and very few evolve into developed, mainstream religions; this was not the case with Mormonism. In fact, social scientists and religious historians now generally agree that Mormonism as represented by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should be classified not as a cult, but rather as an example of a successful transition to the status of new religious tradition.

See Mormon cult.

'For More Information

• Is Mormonism a Cult?
• Answers to challenging questions about the Mormon Church