REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS

The Mormonism issue is back

POSTED BY: NEWOLDBROWNCOAT
UPDATED: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 12:55
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Monday, October 10, 2011 4:37 AM

NEWOLDBROWNCOAT


Preacher in a Texas mega-church told folks to vote for Perry & not for Romney. "Mormonism is a cult!"

This is not a new story, but it's back.

Been a lot of reaction, reported over on CNN.com, pro and con. Bachmann and Cain seem to be side stepping on the issue, that's no surprise. Perry is being respectful to Mormons. other evangelicals are saying no, Mormonism isn't a cult.

Is this issue a non-starter among educated, liberal folks, but a deal breaker among the fundies? Is this an unspoken circular firing squad? Is it bigotry? Could religion split the Repubs, and assure Obama's victory?


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Monday, October 10, 2011 4:51 AM

NIKI2

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...


Yeah, I've been hearing about that. Brings back my remark that wouldn't it be funny if Republicans/Tea Partiers ended up with a choice between someone they think is Muslim and a Mormon?

Dunno if it kills his chances or not, but
Quote:

Is this issue a non-starter among educated, liberal folks, but a deal breaker among the fundies? Is this an unspoken circular firing squad? Is it bigotry? Could religion split the Repubs, and assure Obama's victory?
I would say yes, yes, yes and yes. In the general election, I think Obama might find Romney giving him a run for his money, but since Romney has to win the NOMINATION to get there, which will be tough, it will be interesting to see how he does.

I'm betting Romney's numbers having stayed fairly steady for so long, he represents the moderate voters, while those who shoot to the top then drop down in the numbers represent more the Tea Party/extremist/fundie voters. To a degree, I think seeing how many votes each get in the primaries will show to a degree what the number of each category there are out there.


Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
Contracted Agent of Veritas Oilspillus, code name “Nike”,
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Monday, October 10, 2011 5:28 AM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Strictly speaking, that preacher is right. He should probably be called on the carpet for what he DIDN'T say, though. He should have said, "Mormonism is a cult... but so is my religion. All religions are."

Romney's Mormonism doesn't offend me any more than Cain's fundamentalist backwardism or Obama's "Muslim" beliefs (or his "Christianity", depending on who you're talking to at the moment), and both of them are probably less offensive than Perry's brand of "Dominionism" in any case.

"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservatives." - John Stuart Mill

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Monday, October 10, 2011 2:43 PM

RIONAEIRE

Beir bua agus beannacht


The Mormon president angle doesn't really bother me, sure they believe some stuff that leaves us all shaking our heads, special underwear, planets etc. but they are generally pretty nice folk and just because I don't believe what they believe doesn't mean that one would make a bad president because of it. That issue doesn't concern me. All the stuff Frem says about him funding places that abuse kids does worry me though, if Frem's correct then I don't want Romney to be the president. But the Mormon thing isn't a problem for me in this situation.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

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Tuesday, October 11, 2011 4:01 AM

BYTEMITE


The same preacher also called "Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism" cults as well, so this is a real well-informed individual we're talking about here. /snark

Unless he's using some other basis for his argument, like belief in Jesus (he didn't include Judaism), or age of the religion (pretty sure Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism beat out American Evangelicalism), or the number of practicioners (again).

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Tuesday, October 11, 2011 4:14 AM

NIKI2

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...


Yeah, Byte, I heard ABOUT it before, then I heard him actually saying it yesterday, and caught the other references. Sick individual...but then there are so MANY of them in religion in this country. It's a shame, that's all. As a buddhist I'm not offenced, just sad for the idiot who either knows no better or is saying it for a reason (of which there could be several).


Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
Contracted Agent of Veritas Oilspillus, code name “Nike”,
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Tuesday, October 11, 2011 4:45 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!



Not an issue for me. Mormons, for all their kooky ideas and beliefs, are among the most honest and scrupulous humans I know.


" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Tuesday, October 11, 2011 5:55 AM

JONGSSTRAW


Rick Perry and his rattlesnake-handling fundamentalist preacher pals are disgusting. Perry should know he's done as a candidate, especially after the N....head rock debacle. He's #3 with only 11% Republican support, yet he tries to destroy the eventual candidate with nasty negative ads nonetheless. What a waste of money. I wonder if there will be anything viable left of Romney by next Summer.









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Tuesday, October 11, 2011 6:06 AM

STORYMARK


Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:

Not an issue for me. Mormons, for all their kooky ideas and beliefs, are among the most honest and scrupulous humans I know.


" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "



Crap, what is the world coming to? That's twice in one day I agree completely with Rap.

"Goram it kid, let's frak this thing and go home! Engage!"

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Tuesday, October 11, 2011 6:08 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!



Perry, for all his faults, shouldn't have to suffer the slings and arrows for the nonsensical slur scrawled on a rock. That issue is all but evaporated.

His open borders view, and willingness to send US troops into Mexico ( not just content on beefing up the border ) is what makes him less of a viable candidate, imo.


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Tuesday, October 11, 2011 7:32 AM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:

Perry, for all his faults, shouldn't have to suffer the slings and arrows for the nonsensical slur scrawled on a rock. That issue is all but evaporated.



Somehow, I can't help but think that you'd have quite a different outlook on that "nonsensical slur" if someone "scrawled" it on a picture of Herman Cain. After all, you've called me a racist and more for showing that he doesn't know his Constitution from the Declaration of Independence.

Quote:


His open borders view, and willingness to send US troops into Mexico ( not just content on beefing up the border ) is what makes him less of a viable candidate, imo.



Odd that you have a problem sending troops into Mexico, but you had no problem at all sending them into Iraq. Not that you'd ever volunteer to serve with them, of course. ;)

"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservatives." - John Stuart Mill

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Tuesday, October 11, 2011 8:57 AM

NEWOLDBROWNCOAT


Quote:

Originally posted by Bytemite:
The same preacher also called "Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism" cults as well, so this is a real well-informed individual we're talking about here. /snark


Hadn't seen that part of the quote, but I'm not surprised to hear it. Everything that isn't exactly what they believe is a "cult". Heard somebody the other day refer to Roman Catholicism as a cult. It ain't-- it's the original true form of Christianity, from which all the other denominations branched off. Ain't sayin' it's RIGHT, mind ya, just sayin' it was FIRST.

The whole thing speaks to the credibility and tolerance for other people's rights of the fundies.
Ya may notice, Perry himself, and other evangelicals are stepping away from the guy, real quick-like. Not necessarily because they don't share his belief, but because they're smart enough to know you can't say it out loud.

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Tuesday, October 11, 2011 8:59 AM

NIKI2

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...


Newold,
Quote:

The whole thing speaks to the credibility and tolerance for other people's rights of the fundies. Ya may notice, Perry himself, and other evangelicals are stepping away from the guy, real quick-like. Not necessarily because they don't share his belief, but because they're smart enough to know you can't say it out loud.
You nailed it.


Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
Contracted Agent of Veritas Oilspillus, code name “Nike”,
signing off



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Tuesday, October 11, 2011 10:35 AM

PHOENIXROSE

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.


Quote:

Originally posted by NewOldBrownCoat:
Heard somebody the other day refer to Roman Catholicism as a cult. It ain't-- it's the original true form of Christianity


cult [kuhlt]
- noun
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. a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.


By definition, Roman Catholicism is a cult. Old(ish) perhaps, and large, but a cult nonetheless. There are cults that are older, and there are some that are larger, and some might even be both, but they are all cults, by definition.


What reason had proved best ceased to look absurd to the eye, which shows how idle it is to think anything ridiculous except what is wrong.

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Tuesday, October 11, 2011 10:52 AM

BYTEMITE


Don't think those are the definitions being used here, PR.

On dictionary dot com, where you got the other definitions:

Quote:

1.a particular system of religious worship, especially with reference to its rites and ceremonies.

2. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, especially as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult.

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 or unscientific.



Those are the ones being used here. Kinda odd, you have to hit the expand button to see them all.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cult

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Tuesday, October 11, 2011 10:59 AM

NEWOLDBROWNCOAT


Quote:

Originally posted by Bytemite:
Don't think those are the definitions being used here, PR.

On dictionary dot com, where you got the other definitions:

Quote:

1.a particular system of religious worship, especially with reference to its rites and ceremonies.

2. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, especially as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult.

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 or unscientific.



Those are the ones being used here. Kinda odd, you have to hit the expand button to see them all.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cult



Those first 5 match, pretty exactly, the ones in my Webster's Unabridged By those defs, this bunch in Texas is a cult too. But they'd be offended if you said that about THEM. They mean definitions 6 & 7 , which are the ones I associate with the word " cult".

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Tuesday, October 11, 2011 11:45 AM

PHOENIXROSE

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.


Quote:

Originally posted by NewOldBrownCoat:
They mean definitions 6 & 7 , which are the ones I associate with the word " cult".


Which does not change the primary definitions one jot.

Also, "considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader" could be applied to several 'mainstream' religions, depending upon point of view. All of them have at least some ideas that are demonstrably false, and holding to said ideas is potentially extremist. There are also plenty of "charismatic leaders" directing their "flock" in most current mainstream religions.


What reason had proved best ceased to look absurd to the eye, which shows how idle it is to think anything ridiculous except what is wrong.

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Tuesday, October 11, 2011 12:14 PM

NEWOLDBROWNCOAT


Quote:

Originally posted by PhoenixRose:
Quote:

Originally posted by NewOldBrownCoat:
They mean definitions 6 & 7 , which are the ones I associate with the word " cult".


Which does not change the primary definitions one jot.

Also, "considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader" could be applied to several 'mainstream' religions, depending upon point of view. All of them have at least some ideas that are demonstrably false, and holding to said ideas is potentially extremist. There are also plenty of "charismatic leaders" directing their "flock" in most current mainstream religions.


I don't disagree one bit, except to repeat what I wrote above: By those primary definitions, so are those folks in Texas. But they would be offended, probably to mob violence, if you said THAT about THEM.
And historically, the Roman Catholic church is still the first, original Christian faith. Still not sayin' they're RIGHT, and I'm not a member, but they WERE first.

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Tuesday, October 11, 2011 12:29 PM

PHOENIXROSE

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.


Quote:

Originally posted by NewOldBrownCoat:
And historically, the Roman Catholic church is still the first, original Christian faith. Still not sayin' they're RIGHT, and I'm not a member, but they WERE first.


None of that makes them not a cult.

Even by the definition that mentions "living outside of conventional society" the Roman Catholic church is a cult. The Vatican functions as its own country with its own set of laws. Recall that criminal child rapists who have sanctuary in the Vatican are safe from the law enforcement of any country. I mean, come on, how far outside of "conventional society" can you get?


Not to belabor the point, but they are all cults. Mormonism is a fairly young one, so it might look more wacky than others, but I think there's some kind of quote about stones and glass houses that could apply to any preacher referring to anything as a "cult" in a derogatory way.


What reason had proved best ceased to look absurd to the eye, which shows how idle it is to think anything ridiculous except what is wrong.

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Tuesday, October 11, 2011 12:31 PM

BYTEMITE


Sure, I even agree, I was just pointing out that considering this guy's most likely definition of "cult," he's misusing the term.

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Tuesday, October 11, 2011 3:15 PM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Quote:

Originally posted by PhoenixRose:
Quote:

Originally posted by NewOldBrownCoat:
And historically, the Roman Catholic church is still the first, original Christian faith. Still not sayin' they're RIGHT, and I'm not a member, but they WERE first.


None of that makes them not a cult.

Even by the definition that mentions "living outside of conventional society" the Roman Catholic church is a cult. The Vatican functions as its own country with its own set of laws. Recall that criminal child rapists who have sanctuary in the Vatican are safe from the law enforcement of any country. I mean, come on, how far outside of "conventional society" can you get?


Not to belabor the point, but they are all cults. Mormonism is a fairly young one, so it might look more wacky than others, but I think there's some kind of quote about stones and glass houses that could apply to any preacher referring to anything as a "cult" in a derogatory way.


What reason had proved best ceased to look absurd to the eye, which shows how idle it is to think anything ridiculous except what is wrong.




I'm with you, PR. EVERY religion is a "cult". And I mean that in the classical definition, AND the more "derogatory" one(s) as well.

"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservatives." - John Stuart Mill

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Tuesday, October 11, 2011 3:31 PM

HKCAVALIER


'Scuse me folks, but I'm pretty sure that when Mr. Fundie refers to LDS as a "cult" it's short for "Satanic Cult." That is what they believe. And that is what is meant by "cult." "Cult" is dog whistle terminology for "Satan Worshipper." They'll take Obama over the Mormon, I promise you.

The Jesus preached by the Mormon's is considered a "false prophet" and we all know false prophets get a bowling ball to the head.



HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

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Tuesday, October 11, 2011 3:36 PM

RIONAEIRE

Beir bua agus beannacht


Yeah, cults tend to involve charismatic leaders, a tendency to cut off members from friends and family who aren't members, extreme beliefs. I've also heard that there is a cut off number. If a belief system has more than a certain number of followers and has been around for a certain length of time it is considered a religeon and not technically considered a cult. I think since there are lots and lots of Mormons and there isn't a central leader still living they would be considered a religeon.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

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Tuesday, October 11, 2011 5:09 PM

BYTEMITE


Actually, the preacher said he'd choose Romney over Obama, which just goes to show how shallow his objections really are. He's just saying whatever to help his preferred candidate, predictably he put his foot in it.

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Tuesday, October 11, 2011 5:16 PM

NEWOLDBROWNCOAT


Quote:

Originally posted by Bytemite:
Actually, the preacher said he'd choose Romney over Obama, which just goes to show how shallow his objections really are. He's just saying whatever to help his preferred candidate, predictably he put his foot in it.


100 % correct ! A +!

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Tuesday, October 11, 2011 5:43 PM

HKCAVALIER


Na, Byte, I know what he said. That part about going for Romney was politicking, I'm pretty sure. Do you know any fundies? Behind closed doors they are pretty clear about what Mormonism is to them.

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

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Tuesday, October 11, 2011 6:06 PM

BYTEMITE


I know that Baptists and Mormons have this almost rivalry thing going. The Baptists are all like, Wedgie the sacred underwear! And the Mormons are like T_T foul play! And then with the trashing canning...

...I don't know where I was going with that one.

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Tuesday, October 11, 2011 7:00 PM

RIONAEIRE

Beir bua agus beannacht


I'm not going to deny that I think Mormonism is really weird and sometimes it creeps me out a little and makes me shake my head like ... What? Most of the Mormons I know and have been friends with are nice people and we could all learn from them when it comes to reaching out and helping in disasters etc. But yeah, I'm pretty baffled about some of the things they believe. Am I a fundy? Well maybe, I guess it depends how you want to define that one. But I don't think a Mormon president would be a problem, I can agree to disagree with her/him on beliefs about God, etc. but what are their stances on the issues? That's what I'd want to know.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

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Tuesday, October 11, 2011 10:18 PM

HKCAVALIER


Hey Riona,

I really don't think you'd qualify as a fundie. The fundies know what they are and are quite proud of it.

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

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Wednesday, October 12, 2011 7:13 AM

NIKI2

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...


I agree with Cav. Riona, you take your faith very seriously, but you're far too open-minded to be considered what "fundamentalist" has come to mean. It SHOULD mean someone who believes in the fundamentals of their religion, but those who claim that loudly have acted and spoken in such a way that the term now has a pejorative connotation.

The mere fact that you would consider someone not of your religion according to their stance on issues takes you out of the "fundie" category.


Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
Contracted Agent of Veritas Oilspillus, code name “Nike”,
signing off



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Wednesday, October 12, 2011 12:55 PM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Quote:

Originally posted by RionaEire:
I'm not going to deny that I think Mormonism is really weird and sometimes it creeps me out a little and makes me shake my head like ... What? Most of the Mormons I know and have been friends with are nice people and we could all learn from them when it comes to reaching out and helping in disasters etc. But yeah, I'm pretty baffled about some of the things they believe. Am I a fundy? Well maybe, I guess it depends how you want to define that one. But I don't think a Mormon president would be a problem, I can agree to disagree with her/him on beliefs about God, etc. but what are their stances on the issues? That's what I'd want to know.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya




The things that skeeve you out about Mormonism? Yeah, that's pretty much my reaction to ALL religions.



"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservatives." - John Stuart Mill

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