Mormons

Hey Shadow, nice to hear from another person in the Northwest. The Mormon population here in Boise is pretty high. The rumor is that there are more Mormons per capita in Boise than there is in Salt Lake City. What I have found is that they are not afraid to talk about their religion, but they are deathly afraid of temptation. However, as far as evolution goes, I don't think the church has a huge problem with it. I could be wrong, but evolution is taught at BYU. There are probably those that still hang onto a literal intepretation of Genesis, not unlike the current Protestant movement. But I think they would be less likely to allow those views to be challenged in an open debate where they didn't hold all of the cards, sort of like their aversion to temptation.I think that Mormons already suffer enough persecution across the country without having to hear the same abuse on an internet discussion board. They seem to be comfortable in their own communities, and maybe it is best that way. Who knows.

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The measure for cults is simple. Whenever Christ is not the center of the religion, it is a cult.

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Early christians were considered part of a cult. The absence of Christ does not a cult make. A cult is usually an unpopular religion. It moves from cult to mainstream religion not by it's tenets, but because of popular acceptance.

Mike King,What prevents Christianity from being a cult? Would it be fair if Hindu's called Christianity a cult, since Christianity is fundamentally different than their beliefs concerning Vishnu and Shiva?

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No, but seriously, I think the definition of cult is too loose to have an argument over. I would say a cult is any group of people that A. hold similar views that they believe to be the ultimate truth on something, B. practice activities or rituals that differ from every day activities, and C. that require others of their group to do certain things to maintain status in their group. In this sense, I would indeed call many religions cults. However, there are plenty of you that will disagree, which is perfectly fine. In fact, I think we're all right. It's just one of those things...

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If there was a right answer, this is what it would look like in my very humble opinion. The label "cult" is often used to denigrate another religion for being just that, a religion. Kind of like a homeless person calling someone "trailer trash". Being agnostic myself I look at all religions equally. I wouldn't call them "cults" but rather religions. The only thing I would call a cult would be a group that didn't worship something supernatural. Perhaps a "cult of personality" would be more of what I envision. Anyway, I just wanted people to understand that other people hold their religious views as tightly as those in other religions and this shouldn't be ignored.

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What matters is what organizations do, not what you classify them as. I've met several Mormans, and they've all been pretty nice.

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They are nice people. The only gripe I have with the Mormon Church is the amount of sway they have in the Idaho government. Something like 20-30% of the state Senate and House is mormon and some of the lawmaking reflects this. In fact, every other year statewide prohibition of alcohol goes through committee. It has never gone to the floor, but just the thought of it makes my stomach churn.

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[Christ] is the center and author of the bible. It is by him, for him, and about him. Without the book, no directives.

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For the fundamentalist, the book is the authority while God's creation is secondary. No matter what God wrote in the rocks, the literalist will instead adhere to the writings of man. The creationist focus has moved away from the teachings of the Bible, and instead they focus on their own need for a literal Genesis. They worship a book instead of the creation.

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Christ, the way and means to God. He is the way and only way to the Father, the entrance to eternal life, the beloved son in whom God is well-pleased, etc etc

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Belief in salvation by a supernatural force is the centerpiece of almost every cult. Insert "Halle-Bopp" in the place of "Christ" and you come close to being in the Heaven's Gate crowd. Believing strongly in something is not wrong. Believing that other people are incapable of doing the same in another religion is wrong. Faith and longevity does not magically turn something into a religion instead of a cult.

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Christ is the way, he's the one, the only one who can save you from sin

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There are many religions across the world that claim differently. How am I supposed to know who is right, or if any of them are right?

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By the exact same way you know about science - serious study.

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Would you also include in depth study of all world religions (eg Hinduism, Islam, Shintoism, Mormonism, Catholicism vs Protestantism)? Not that I am claiming christians are part of a false religion, but to truly say that christianity is the only way one would have to study every possible religion. In fact, the plethora of religions seems to point to a multiplicity of correct answers for who God/s is and his/her/their relationship with man.

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To shorten time of study, focus on what each religion promises. Then choose the best promise and premise, for that matter.

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Mormonism promises that I will be a lesser diety.Buddhism promises Enlightenment.Islam promises a Paradise.Hinduism promises Reincarnation and Nirvana.Scientology promises that I will have Telekinesis.They all sound pretty good to me.