Do Cults Follow The Same Patterns?

Bethel Ministries Newsletter of Nov-Dec 1986 ^ | 25 November 1986 | Randall Watters

[Godzilla]

Call the Mormons a cult? I don’t know what your definition of a cult is but it sure as heck ain’t us.

Read the article Saundra - shoe fits - wear it.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“I am certainly not, nor will ever be, against Jesus, my Savior.”

yea, Saundra, but your mormon group teaches a Jesus that is totally opposite the Jesus Christ of the Bible.

Ain’t the same Savior. In fact, the mormonic Jesus ends
up being the anti-Jesus.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“Official 2009 statistics about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”

Yea, Saundra. Bogus statistics, which assume all members live until 106+ and count everyone who quit attending years ago.

What you’ve shared is that the Mormon Cult is the most successful cult, when measured by size. Great.

[pburgh01]

Well the author here is confusing doctrinal differences as a symptom of a cult. I am not a new Christian but I can see some of the points of Christian Universalism, that how can a loving God punish someone eternally for a sin committed in our finite lifetime. Would an earthly Father punish their child for eternity for stealing his car, fornicating, etc. Of course not and the original Greek and Hebrew translations hint that the KJV version of the bible may be playing a little fast and loose with their translation of hell and final judgement. Anyways I digress. Sort of like calling someone a racist when they disagree with you, calling a religion a cult is a intellectually lazy excuse for healthy debate.

[svcw]

Well, first God sends no one to hell (or separation from Him) He wants no one to parish. We go their of our own free will.

[delacoert]

Mormon propaganda still sells

... the organization learns to become adept at making excuses for their changes in doctrine

... If enough discussion is generated by dissenters ... forced to provide an answer ... answer usually comes in one of two forms.
1. misrepresent the point in question, in effect making a "straw man" out of the supposed error
   
2. find someone who is recognized among scholars that agrees with them on a certain point (as if finding one person who agrees with them is sufficient). Usually they cannot find a reputable scholar, so they will resort to quoting others who are on the fringes of the scholastic world, i.e., the liberals or eccentrics. If they are bold enough to quote recognized authorities, they usually take their statements out of context or only partially quote them. They often get away with this without repercussions, as few scholars are in a position to afford a lawyer for a misrepresentation suit.
    
... followers readily accept all such proof ...  have no interest in  what actual scholars are actually saying, as they are simply out to verify organizational policy. The mind of these self-styled apologists becomes a labyrinth of inconsistency as they must continually rationalize
 
... they must continually rationalize ... taking statements out of context and misrepresenting ... sooner or later make decisions to preserve unity that will cause harm to others, because the end justifies the means. Having become morally corrupt, they are no longer capable of recognizing truth, let alone speaking it.

[delacoert]

Cult research originally focused on religion but has since moved on.

True. I've recently enjoyed listening to discussions characterizing the "open source" community and Wikipedia as cults.

If you say, "religious cults" everyone understands what is meant.

[pburgh01]

Well, first God sends no one to hell (or separation from Him) He wants no one to parish. We go their of our own free will.

Well I wasn't looking to debate hell and judgement I was just making the point that questioning orthodoxy, even as a collective does not make you a cult. But since you commented on my post let me postulate that the Old Testament has no concept of hell , just the place called sheol. Pretty big omission if you ask me. Universalism is not a new doctrine it was part of the original debates back to the founding of the church. I am not convinced of its merits but apologists on the side of this concept of a fiery hell and judgemental God with conditional grace never stuck me as all that solid, they seem to use alot of circular logic and weak biblical hermeneutics. I think its a logical cop out to say people choose hell and it just doesn't pass the common sense test. Keeping our Brothers unsure about their own salvation is the oldest scam going. It;s nice to think we are definitely going to heaven but our neighbour, well I am not so sure about him. It's our hateful and sinful nature to be so self absorbed and self assured. I have really gotten into the word with my Strong's Concordance and I can tell you most of what you hear from the Osteens and Rick Warrens is claptrap and doctrines of men. Trust in Jesus and let him be the Lord of your life and be set free, ignore most of what you hear from men and test everything against his word, its Satan's trap to get you wringing your hands if you have done enough to earn G*d's love.

[svcw]

I am not wringing my hands.
God wants none to parish.
Hell whether a fire filled place or separation from God it is something we choose of our own free will.
The OT is law the NT is Grace.
There is assurance in Jesus Christ, and Salvation.
Grace is not conditional, it is not a conditional gift.

[Colofornian]

Missionaries 51,736

Down from 60,000 2 yrs prior...Mormonism has begun to wane, dropping 1 out of every 7 of its previous missionary force...

[Cronos]

Right, so do you then believe in God the Father, Son and Holy SPirit -- all three being the ONE God?

Do you believe in One Lord, Jesus Christ, only begotten son of the Father, God from God, light from Light, True God from true God, begotten not made, of one being with the Father, through whom all things were made?

And, of course read the same Bible that has been there since Apostolic times, compiled and authorized at Nicea?

[Raider Sam]

Webster defines cult 5 ways: 1 : formal religious veneration : worship 2 : a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents 3 : a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents 4 : a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator 5 a : great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book); especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b : the object of such devotion c : a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion So, with this definition, any religion, any belief, any devotion to one man/idea is a cult. I think the best definition of a cult is "every religion but mine."

[Raider Sam]

Thats true. Most people dont realize that the word Hell is derived from Hel, a Nordic goddess of the underworld. Why would we name our eternal damnation after a pagan?