This is the big question in the opinion page of today’s local paper, the Post Register.
Local columnist, Dino Lowrey writes,
I know you’ve heard this rumor, perhaps even passed it along or nodded in silent agreement, that “Mormonism is a cult.” From a sociological perspective, Mormonism was a cult, but then again, every religious institution on the face of the earth, past or present, began as a cult. Let’s probe a bit deeper. . . .
Not quoting the full article, let me give you the author’s last paragraph. She concludes,
Let’s return to the rumor. Mormons, Methodists, Catholics and Lutherans (the list goes on and on) were all labeled cult members and persecuted at one time, but their new religious movements grew and evolved to become orthodox denominations. So ditch the rumors and get back to the Golden Rule. Your god, goddess, deity, deities, heavenly father, mother earth and/or spirits will appreciate it.
My quick response:
As a passionate member in the cult worship of the one, true Yahweh, I am speechless. I don’t know what to say to this community opinion. I think I will just go back for some more afternoon study in Isaiah and meditate some more on those beautiful, latter chapters of comfort and hope from Jehovah.
“the Holy One”
“I am the LORD who maketh all.”
These words are the banner, the ensign. The one, true God is the revolution, the key to mankind’s redemption and transformation.
I think the Lord God appreciates that acknowledgment.
Some think I am cultic. I am just thrilled by this God who blotted out all my transgressions, as a thick, dark cloud.
Uh-oh! I feel it coming on again. Another eruption.
Clear the room.
I am ready to shout, to holler, to bellow at the top of my lungs in praise to Yahweh!
No god even compares, will ever compare, to this God who glorifies Himself through the continual glories of His grace.
Call me whatever. I don’t care (well, most of the time). I am so happy to have relationship with the God of Isaiah.
Spread that faith promoting rumor.
Jesus in Idaho Falls 
happy day…
It is encouraging to hear ones words stated by another.
This is some vindication of an argument I made in defence of my religion being blasted because one peoson did not see it as orthodox. This evangelical Christian kept saying that he followed orthodoxy and that the LDS church did not. He would look into the start of “Mormonism” but not look back at the roots and start of his christian religion.
“Mormonism” or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is no more a cult than any christian religion. If it classifies as a cult it will only do so in its greater catigory as Christianity.
Thank you for this post.
I think the word “cult” is so predjudicial and incendiary that it has lost any usefulness it ever had. It’s basically just name-calling and decent folk will refrain from using the word.
Sociologically, the LDS Church has probably become too large and too mainstream to really be considered a “cult” from that point of view. OTOH, its centralization makes Rome, more and more decentralized since Vatican II, look like downright congregational.
Theologically, “cult”, in its perjorative sense (as opposed to the neutral meaning, which basically refers to any system of worship), is simply shorthand for “heretical” in many Evanelical circles, and, from a traditional Christian POV, the latter word certainly applies.
Todd,
The difficulty with asking a question like, “Is ‘X-Religion’ a cult?” Or, “Is ‘X-Religion’ truly Christian?” is that all parties in the discussion must agree on criteria and definitions. That is not likely to be successful.
It’s unlikely that a secularist will agree with an Evangelical when he asserts, for example, that the Watchtower and Bible Tract Society isn’t a genuine “Christian” church, since the secularist defines “Christian” differently than does the Evangelical who formulates his definition by consulting the Bible alone.
About the term “Cult”:
There are legitimate definitions of the term “Cult” and it is useful in the study of sociology and folklore. In the study of these disciplines it is not derogatory, nor disrespectful. There are strict criteria in place for each discipline so that no one prejudges anyone when referring to using terms like Cult. There are places where the criteria differ but it remands constant within the discipline. One part of criteria that I see similar is the need for a “Charismatic” Leader. There is no dispute that I have seen over the need for this in anything classified as a cult.
This brings me to my common point: (“Mormonism” is no more a cult as Christianity) For “Mormonism to be considered a Cult one must identify the Charismatic Leader. Often people are quick to point out the founder of the religion: Joseph Smith Jr. however if he were the Charismatic Leader the church would have died out with him, because without the Charismatic Leader to Lead the people would fall back into “Normal” life as best they could. Many will point out that LDS follow a person considered “the Profit” which is a currently living person. In order for the church to continue the believers must agree to follow the same person for the group to stay together in their belief system. This is usually where we see breaks from the main body of the church. (Examples: LDS-RLDS, RLDS-Circle of Christ, Sunni Islam –Shia Islam) If the church in question were to break down each time a now leader were to arise the LDS church would not be together as it is now, either it would have dissolved into many small groups or have been disenfranchised among its followers all together. Thus the following does not rely upon the Charismatic qualities of the current Leader. So we look back to the originator of the religion… Joseph Smith Jr.? No, back further… look at the beliefs of the religion and where they came from and you will see the origin of this faith is the person who the LDS people hang their beliefs upon, (the LDS Charismatic Leader) Jesus Christ. The same Jesus in the Book of Mormon, the same one in the Bible. It is He, the Son of God, the sacrifice for the sins of the world. If we find any Charismatic Leader in this church it is Jesus Christ.
So here we are… The question to ask is not if “Mormonism” is a cult but to ask:
Is Christianity a Cult? Well in the first 2 centuries it did classify as a Cult. For almost 220 years it was considered a cultish sect of Judaism in the Rome Empire, until the First Council of Nicaea, by the Roman Emperor Constantine I who made Christianity a “Mainstream Religion”. (It may be noted that this proclaimed “Pagan” was baptized in the name of Christianity but did not become a Christian follower.)
The status of Constantine’s faith is widely debated. His record indicates luke-warm support for Arianism and semi-Arianism after Nicea. He was only baptized on his deathbed, and that by a bishop who himself was sympathetic to Arianism.
Yes, Constantine is not my spiritual hero.
On the other hand, Athanasius . . . a real champion of biblical conviction.
Absolutely, Todd, and frequently exiled by Constantine.
I think the word “cult” is so predjudicial and incendiary that it has lost any usefulness it ever had. It’s basically just name-calling and decent folk will refrain from using the word.
Seth, didn’t you just use the word above, though? Does that make you not a decent person?
Again everyone, I’d argue that the term Cult has a place as a classifier of faiths in the consern of studys of people.
Cult is not used to defame of impune anyone. it just stands as a classification only.