LDS a cult?

                Recently I engaged in an argument with one PNN user about the cult status of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) [or Mormon, to the masses].  I kept hearing that the LDS were a cult based on the standards set up by the Christian Church, but that wasn’t enough evidence to convince me.  So, I’ve done a little research on the definition of a cult and the LDS, and have come to the conclusion that in the most general definition of the term, yes, the LDS is a cult, but so is every other religion ever organized; in a more specific and negative definition the LDS does not qualify as a cult.  Here is what I found.

                Oxford defines a cult as a (1) ritualistic religious system, or (2a) devotion to a person or thing (cult of aestheticism).

                Michael Molloy, author of Experiencing the World’s Religions: Tradition, Challenge, and Change –Fourth Edition, states that “the word ‘cult’ is frequently used to describe a group that is small, isolated, and under the control of a charismatic and dictatorial leader. Cults tend to have highly structured rules for living and to regulate contact with the outsiders.” (503)

                And in the Introduction to World Religions, “the term ‘cult’ is inappropriate, being pejorative and lacking a clear definition.” (440) The term ‘new religious movement’ (NRM) is usually given as a present day, unbiased term for any new religion that has been established within the past 50 to 150 years (usually varies from scholar to scholar).  Introduction to World Religions also states that “NRMs tend to fall outside mainstream religion, sometimes because of doctrinal disputes, at times because of controversial practices.” (441)

                Finally, the dictionary.com definition of a cult is thus:

1.       A particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies.

2.       An instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers.

3.       The object of such devotion.

4.       A group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.

5.       Sociology. A group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.

6.       A religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader.

7.       The members of such a religion or sect.

8.       Any system for treating human sickness that originated by a person usually claiming to have sole insight into the nature of disease, and that employs methods regarded as unorthodox and unscientific.

                So, what do these definitions tell us.  That there is no clear definition for a ‘cult.’  Even various scholars are unable to develop a checklist that differentiates between positive, negative and neutral cults.  Many people will agree that a cult is any religious group that is harmful to its followers, detrimental to society as a whole, and teaches limited and unreliable information to its followers.  However, the LDS is considered a ‘cult’ by the Christian Church mainly because it does not agree with Christian doctrine.  As Introduction to World Religions states, “not all movements accepted the inerrancy of scripture. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints…claims a new revelation, afforded to Joseph Smith, its founder-leader.” (441-442)  The fact that Joseph Smith came to his religious conclusions through revelation should not make his beliefs void, since after all a large amount of Christian scripture was attained the very same way.  And one should also not dismiss his revelation because of the way it happened because, after all, is there much of a difference between scripture being revealed in gold plates, by drug induced stupors, or through dreams and isolation from the world?  I don’t seem to think so.  All methods of revelation are up for discussion. 

                Also, I would like to know who decided that Christianity would be the litmus test for determining ‘cult status?’  Why not use Judaism or Catholicism?  Just because LDS is an extension of the scripture does not make it a cult.  So, what does or does not make it a cult, then?

                I researched many different ‘cult checklists’ and found one that tries and differentiate between positive and negative cults.  It should be noted that most ‘cult checklists’ will actually consider mainstream religions like Christianity and Judaism as cults, this list makes a point of trying to exclude these religions.   The checklist was developed by Professor Eileen Barker and reads as thus:

1.       A movement that separates itself from society, either geographically or socially;

2.       Adherents who become increasingly dependent on the movement for their view on reality;

3.       Important life decisions in the lives of the adherents are made by others;

4.       Making sharp distinctions between us and them, divine and satanic, good and evil, etc. that are not open for discussion;

5.       Leaders who claim divine authority for their deeds and for their orders to their followers.

6.       Leader and movements who are unequivocally focused on achieving a certain goal.

Now, let’s evaluate the LDS in relation to the guidelines set by Barker.  On guideline #1: The LDS at one point was separated from the outside world.  However, they were searching for the Holy Land in America.  They eventually settled in Great Salt Lake, Utah.  Usually, LDS members will live in communities with other members, but that is getting more difficult to do, since it is a very widespread religion now.  Today, however, you could not say that the LDS separate themselves from society.  They are a very open community, and welcome anyone into their services and church.  So, the verdict is no.  But it should be noted that the LDS has on occasion ostracized members who do not adhere to church rules, but these would have to drastic ethical and moral lapses in judgement, such as adultery, murder, etc.  What’s interesting is that these are the exact people the church tries to convert. Moving on to point #2.  This can only be determined by the members themselves.  It may appear to an outsider that certain members do depend greatly on the church, but overall, I would say that LDS members rely on their church no more or less than Christian, Jewish, or Muslim adherents  depend of their respective religions.  On #3, I would have to say, like #2, LDS members consult and seek guidance from church leaders with the same frequency that Christian, Jewish, and Muslim adherents seek advice or guidance from their respective religions.  As for #4, I haven’t attended an LDS church service so I can’t really say for certain, but I can say that you would be hard pressed to find a church who hammers a follower with the good-evil dichotomy more than the Christian/Catholic churches.  Now #5, is a bit half and half.  You see the LDS President is consider a prophet-leader, so occasionally they make revelations, however, these revelations are tantamount to those insights given by someone like the Pope.  Usually, the prophet-leader isn’t given credit for miracles and such, but it is really dependent on the situation.  And, finally, #6, is an unequivocal no.  There is no specific goal of the LDS.  They are, at present, a group of people who follow a new scripture based on saints after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, essentially an extension of the New Testament.  Their present day goals include evangelism, making the family unit stronger and giving counsel to those in needs. 

                I think that I should point out that the LDS should not be confused with the FLDS.  The FLDS is the Fundamental Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  You should not conflate the two because the FLDS is based on the very first teachings of the LDS, which is from the mid-1800s.  Church rule and policy has changed drastically over the past 150 years.  The FLDS are the group living in the south-west who believe in misogyny, child-brides, and complete social and financial devotion to the church.  The LDS, however, doesn’t ask for financial devotion to the church. There is no procedure during service for donations, and all donations to the church or on behalf of the church is all voluntary and not necessary to belonging to the church.