Why arre there so few, who wish to be saved?

[Katzpur]

I took only a decade for John Frum and other Cargo Cults to develop in the southern pacific. Scientology and mormonism also developped in a few decades. In the right circumstances a cult can spread far and wide very fast.

Mormonism is not a cult. It is the fourth largest Christian denomination in the United States and has a worldwide membership of over 16 million people. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are fully involved in all aspects of society. They are encouraged to get a higher education and to excel in whatever field they choose. They interact socially with people of all different religions and they are free to visit other people's churches and places of worship. They hold positions of responsibility in government, including in the FBI and CIA. Marriage outside the faith are not encouraged but are accepted, and non-member spouses are treated with the same kindness and respect the Church member is. They are free to leave the Church at any time and members are specifically told not to shun them for doing so. Most important of all, they worship Jesus Christ. They believe in His divinity and in His power to reconcile them to God. They believe that He is the only means by which they can be saved. They also try to follow His example of how we should treat our fellow human beings. You may disagree with their doctrines, but in calling them a cult, you are merely showing a tremendous about of bigotry and ignorance.

 

[epronovost]

You may disagree with their doctrines, but in calling them a cult, you are merely showing a tremendous about of bigotry and ignorance.

cult
/kəlt/

noun

1. a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object.

As you can see. It seems that your reply only shows your tremendous ignorance about the proper usage of the word ''cult'' which goes beyong it's usage as a short hand for small evil religious group. Not that cargo cults, while strange to an outsider, like all religion, aren't dangerous or murderous.

 

[Katzpur]

cult
/kəlt/

noun

1. a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object.

As you can see. It seems that your reply only shows your tremendous ignorance about the proper usage of the word ''cult'' which goes beyong it's usage as a short hand for small evil religious group. Not that cargo cults, while strange to an outsider, like all religion, aren't dangerous or murderous.

The word "cult" can be used to refer to pretty much any religion. "Christianity" itself fits the definition you gave of the word, as it the devotion directed towards Jesus Christ. If you want to describe all Christian denominations as cults, that's one thing. But that's not what you meant when you used the word to describe Mormonism, and you know it.

 

[epronovost]

The word "cult" can be used to refer to pretty much any religion. "Christianity" itself fits the definition you gave of the word, as it the devotion directed towards Jesus Christ. If you want to describe all Christian denominations as cults, that's one thing. But that's not what you meant when you used the word to describe Mormonism, and you know it.

All Christians denominations are cults. Mormonism, like all Christian denomination, started out as a small cult with a violent early history that grew very fast in a fairly large religious denomination of Christianity (with a substantially different image and style). The behavior and lifetstyle of mid 19th century Mormon is one that you would associate with violent cultists. It represent an excellent example of a cult growing fast and wide in popularity from a very small group of pupil and transforming itself as it grew. It's also a good example of a large religious movement that grew fast despite it's central character of Moroni being a complete invention and Joseph Smith, its founder, an oft reputed charlatan with a history of pious fraud.

 

[Katzpur]

All Christians denominations are cults.

In the broad sense of the word, it is.

Mormonism, like all Christian denomination, started out as a small cult with a violent early history that grew very fast in a fairly large religious denomination of Christianity (with a substantially different image and style). The behavior and lifetstyle of mid 19th century Mormon is one that you would associate with violent cultists.[/quote]The violence perpetrated against the 19th century Mormons was at least ten times what the violence committed by Mormons was.

It represent an excellent example of a cult growing fast and wide in popularity from a very small group of pupil and transforming itself as it grew. It's also a good example of a large religious movement that grew fast despite it's central character of Moroni being a complete invention and Joseph Smith, its founder, an oft reputed charlatan with a history of pious fraud.

And that is an excellent example of a subjective opinion by someone who probably thinks he knows far more about Joseph Smith and Mormonism than he really does.

 

[epronovost]

The violence perpetrated against the 19th century Mormons was at least ten times what the violence committed by Mormons was.

I doubt so, the Haun's Mill massacre and the 1838 Mormon War were the two largest events of violence against the Mormons and they made about 40 victims on both sides (mostly Mormons though) while the Montain Meadow Massacre alone, the largest and most famous event of Mormon violence, caused between 120 and 140 victims. Of course, outside of this event, the violence within the early Mormons were Mormons themselves, especially during the later half the 19th century. There is no doubt that Mormons suffered from pogroms and discrimination, but they quickly shifted from oppressed to oppressors in their history.

And that is an excellent example of a subjective opinion by someone who probably thinks he knows far more about Joseph Smith and Mormonism than he really does.

I would not defend the idea that Hebrew colonised the territory of the US, in 2000 BC if I were you or hte genesis of Native Americans according to the Book of Mormon. You might as well quote the Protocol of the Elder of Zion or Pizzagate at this point.

 

[Katzpur]

I doubt so, the Haun's Mill massacre and the 1838 Mormon War were the two largest events of violence against the Mormons and they made about 40 victims on both sides (mostly Mormons though) while the Montain Meadow Massacre alone, the largest and most famous event of Mormon violence, caused between 120 and 140 victims. Of course, outside of this event, the violence within the early Mormons were Mormons themselves, especially during the later half the 19th century. There is no doubt that Mormons suffered from pogroms and discrimination, but they quickly shifted from oppressed to oppressors in their history.



I would not defend the idea that Hebrew colonised the territory of the US, in 2000 BC if I were you or hte genesis of Native Americans according to the Book of Mormon. You might as well quote the Protocol of the Elder of Zion or Pizzagate at this point.

Whatever.