The Sociology Dept. at the Univeristy of Virginia maintains a religious movements web site that discusses the cult/sect/religion question from a more academic view point. As regarding LDS, the site says:
Not LDS either. Convert to Roman Catholicism (from United Methodist), actually.
Kirkland1244, did you make a pitstop at High Church Anglican like I did? (You know, halfway to Rome!)
You know Baptists have some wierd practices: King James Bible worship (some of them), altar calls, sinners prayers and the like. They must be a cult.
I’m not a Mormon, and I would never be one (though I am in a cult, according to the SBC… dirty old papist here), but you know what I find interesting: Paul mentions baptizing for the dead in the Bible, but no one ever says anything about altar calls or sinners prayers.
Kirk
John, I’m also a convert from United Methodism to Roman Catholicism.
No, I never passed through Episcopalianism, though I ahve been attending an Episcopal church some over the past through weeks, ever since that papal secretary/spokesman/whatever tried to foist the entire pedophilia crisis on gay priests. Though now I’m moving back to Rome, because no matter how much I may get frustrated with some of the statements of the leadership of the Church, doctrinally, its what I believe.
Don’t take what the Mormons say too much to heart, Angelslantern. They embellish their ‘proofs’ to support their arguments, too. (‘99.9% pure.’) 
I used to catch my Mormon friend and some of his brethren lying to me. I especially appreciated the times (not) when they pretended they knew nothing about some evidence against their church, and then it would sometimes come out later in another conversation that at least some of them really did know about it. Hard to keep all that “faith promoting church history” straight, I guess. ROFLOL
Now Monty will probably be mad at me, too - again. Hey Monty! I see you’re still quoting your logic rules. Too bad you seem to forget them at times when building your own arguments. Eg. Your “Having a temper != not having a brain.” to Angel. See if you can figure out what logic rules you’re breaking here.
And your next comment to her: “And the next lamest stunt is ad hominem attacks.” Where is this written? Your “Made up logic to beat Angel up with” book? Maybe the next lamest stunt is someone who quotes a bunch of rules, and then doesn’t follow them themselves. Do you know what that type of reasoning is called?
Now where’s my bullet proof vest and flak jacket. Ah, to heck with it. Maybe I’ll just hit and run.
Now remember - NO AD HOMINEM ATTACKS. Monty said.
The World book Encyclopedia, pg 1185 clearly states…Cult is a religiuos group devoted to a living leader, a new teaching, or an unusual practice…Through out history, many religiuos groups have been classified as cults. Christianity began as a cult within Judaism and developed into an established church. In modern times groups that began as cults and developed into organized churches include the Quakers, Mormons, Rosicrucians, Swedenborgians, Christian Scientists, Methodist, Jehovahs Witnesses, and seventh-Day adventists…Such groups rarely call themselves cults and generally reject the term…
There is absolutely no doubt that Joe Smith came up with his own teaching within Christanity and there is also no doubt that Mormonism is a cult that has developed into an organised church. It was based on new teachings and displays some very unusual practices. However they reject the term as do any other cult.
The article is very interesting and I have only taken segments out of it…check it out…My oppinion…Mormonism is absolutely cult.
They all started as cults…every one of them.
LDS has some very unusual practices…baptizing the dead …etc…
Face it…according to the World Book definition…it still falls under cult…sorry.
Grow up Monty
Cults-defined in the W.B.Dictionary…
A system of religious worship, especially with reference to its rites and cerimonies;…
No oppinion here Monty.
Monty…LDS did not start as an organized church. History is very clear and undisputable…By all definitions, good old Joe Smith started a cult. Think what you will Monty…
Chief Crunch…I hear ya…
Jodi!!!
Hey cupcake…Joe Smith said that in 1823 he was told that he would receive the golden plates to translate…He then said that he recieved them in 1827. His writings, or translations if you believe this stuff, werent published until 1830. The church was then organized on April 6,1830…
That is seven years of nonorganized church activity. Being a new religious teaching or idea or direction as difined by the world book encyclopedia…does this not qualify as seven years of cult.
Sorry cupcake…lol
Cult- as defined by The World Book Encyclopedia
Cult is a religious group devoted to a living leader, a new teaching, or an unusual practice.
Is Jesus not considerd as a living leader, are Joe Smiths teachings new to the world, are some of the LDS practices not unusual in that they are not practiced by any one else but LDS
Cult- as defined by The World Book Encyclopedia
Cult is a religious group devoted to a living leader, a new teaching, or an unusual practice.
Is Jesus not considerd as a living leader, are Joe Smiths teachings new to the world, are some of the LDS practices not unusual in that they are not practiced by any one else but LDS
Cult- as defined by The World Book Encyclopedia
Cult is a religious group devoted to a living leader, a new teaching, or an unusual practice.
Is Jesus not considerd as a living leader, were not Joe Smiths teachings new to the world, are some of the LDS practices not unusual in that they are not practiced by any one else but LDS
wow! How did that happen???
It is unusual for a thread to be replied to by 99.9%LDS
Looks stacked to me