Talk:Cult

[edit] Suggestions

Before getting into why Mormonism is a cult, you need to first establish what makes a cult. What traits or symptoms are common to such movements/groups? Are cults defined socially, doctrinally, etc. (or all of the above)? Also, the section on what makes Mormonism cultic shouldn't be nit-picky but hard-hitting. That is, pick 3-5 major aspects and develop them rather than writing a few one-liners. Also, be careful not to be making accusations which fail when they can be thrown back at you (e.g. how many evangelicals have persecution complexes? I can name plenty, and I doubt this is screaming that Mormonism is a cult). Lastly, why is Mormonism inserted into the Zondervan Guide to Cults and Religious Movement series? Why does Martin include it in his Kingdom of the Cults (same with Edmond Gruss' Cults and the Occult)? This is just my .02 Jordan Barrett (talk) 16:38, 25 April 2008 (UTC)

I would argue that the list already on the page inherently gives what I think is often embedded within the term "cult". Also, your intro summarizes it well. That said, I agree that an explanatory section about the term is needed. Other things: I think Mormonism itself fosters a persecution complex. Of course every religion has its folks who have such a complex, but Mormonism can more so be characterized by it. I'm working off the collective experience of those I know who interact with Mormons. I'd of course like to develop each of the listed points, but I think it's nevertheless valuable to have a concise list for now. If anything, I think they will resonate with people who have had such observations but haven't quite put the whole picture together. - Aaron Shafovaloff 21:59, 9 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Link to remember

Of relevant interest:

http://gymkata.org/2006/08/21/anti-mormonism-and-the-battle-against-empty-religious-rhetoric/