The resurrection of the flesh of Jesus Christ (page 5)

dan

Main Entry: cult
Pronunciation: 'k&lt
Function: noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: French & Latin; French culte, from Latin cultus care, adoration, from colere to cultivate -- more at WHEEL
1 : formal religious veneration : WORSHIP
2 : a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents

Yes, the JWs are a cult, so are the Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Protestants and Methodist (and Evangelists and pentocostals and every other group that practices formal religious veneration. Your example is what they call "relativism". You decide what you want stuff to mean based on society's acceptance of it. This is why words change meaning and our language slowly degenerates into mediocrity. Relativism is an atheistic invention, and no one in intellectual circles takes it seriously. Study philosophy in a university and they won't study relativism very much (there aren't any relativists of note in the world).

drwtsn32

dan, congrats on defining cult in a non-threatening way. JWs do the same thing.

http://www.rickross.com/warningsigns.html

Check out the above site. Admittedly, Mormons do not share as many points as JWs do, but when I showed this to a Mormon friend of ours she agreed that the LDS fit many of them.

Of course, a person under the influence of a cult will often argue that the "warning signs" are a good thing. "We have the truth! Of course there is no valid reason to leave! Of course our leaders are right! Of course no one else has the truth!"

dan

Well, if we have the truth then what you just said is valid; so I see the underlying theme as the veracity of our claim to priesthood authority. Why don't you quit harping on that garbage and discuss our claim to truth?

drwtsn32

Why don't you quit harping on that garbage and discuss our claim to truth?

Ah... if it were only that easy to get someone under cult mind-control to see the truth about their "truth." If I knew the secret of doing that, I'd be helping my JW friends/family who are still trapped.

dan

"if it were only that easy to get someone under cult mind-control to see the truth about their "truth."

You believe I'm under mind-control? Care to document this?

hooberus

I do hope that our discussion on the very important issue of the nature of God will continue.

An exalted man was once a man, now he's not.

According to this logic Jesus Christ is no longer a man. Do you also belive that Jesus Christ is not a man?

drwtsn32

You believe I'm under mind-control? Care to document this?

Search Google for "mormon cult mind control" to start your quest.

I have read some books on cult mind control because of my involvement with the JWs. Most include Mormons in the same category. Note that neither religious group is of the same level as Waco or Jonestown type cults, but they are comparable to one degree or another.

irishayes

Here is a good test to determine if your religion is a cult:

Low High
Factors: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1. INTERNAL CONTROL: Amount of
internal political power exercised
by leader(s) over members. 1. _____________________________

2. WISDOM CLAIMED by leader(s);
amount of infallibility declared
or implied about decisions or doc-
trinal/scriptural interpretations. 2. _____________________________

3. WISDOM CREDITED to leader(s)
by members; amount of trust in
decisions or doctrinal/scriptural
interpretations made by leader(s). 3. _____________________________

4. DOGMA: Rigidity of reality con-
cepts taught; amount of doctrinal
inflexibility or "fundamentalism." 4. _____________________________

5. RECRUITING: Emphasis put on
attracting new members; amount
of proselytizing. 5. _____________________________

6. FRONT GROUPS: Number of subsid-
iary groups using different names
from that of main group. 6. _____________________________

7. WEALTH: Amount of money and/or
property desired or obtained by group;
emphasis on members' donations;
economic lifestyle of leader(s)
compared to ordinary members. 7. _____________________________

8. POLITICAL POWER: Amount of
external political influence
desired or obtained; emphasis on
directing members' secular votes. 8. _____________________________

9. SEXUAL MANIPULATION: of members
by leader(s); amount of control
exercised over sexuality of members;
advancement dependent upon sexual
favors or specific lifestyle. 9. _____________________________

10. CENSORSHIP: Amount of control
over members' access to outside
opinions on group, its doctrines
or leader(s). 10. _____________________________

11. DROPOUT CONTROL: Intensity of
efforts directed at preventing or
returning dropouts. 11. _____________________________

12. VIOLENCE: amount of approval when
used by or for the group, its
doctrines or leader(s). 12. _____________________________

13. PARANOIA: amount of fear con-
cerning real or imagined enemies;
perceived power of opponents;
prevalence of conspiracy theories. 13. _____________________________

14. GRIMNESS: Amount of disapproval
concerning jokes about the group,
its doctrines or its leader(s). 14. _____________________________

15. SURRENDER OF WILL: Amount of
emphasis on members not having to
be responsible for personal deci-
sions; degree of individual dis-
empowerment created by the group,
its doctrines or its leader(s). 15. _____________________________

16. HYPOCRISY: amount of approval for
other actions (not included above)
which the group officially considers
immoral or unethical, when done by or
for the group, its doctrines or
leader(s); willingness to violate
group's declared principles for
political, psychological, economic,
or other gain. 16. _____________________________

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

dan

Search google for people who think we didn't really land on the moon and you'll find more entries. Google is not the dispenser of all truth.

drwtsn32

Search google for people who think we didn't really land on the moon and you'll find more entries. Google is not the dispenser of all truth.

Joseph Smith is, right? Even though it can be proven he is a fraud? (eg, Book fo Abraham)

The resurrection of the flesh of Jesus Christ

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