If the organization that you propose to follow encompasses more than half of the following conditions it is probably a Cult

1-Devine-Coincidence that you are led to the club

2-Charismatic Leader

3-Vague and metaphorical goal reward in the unspecified future

4-Sacred Doctrine unique to the club

5-Monetary committment money money mpney

6-Isolation Measures

7-Member Collusion

8-Devaluing of self worth

9-Confused Emotions

10-Behavior is other directed

11-Inclusion by obsession with acceptance

12-Never expressdoubt to superiors or subordinates

13-Never refuse a request.

14-Never ask for anything for yourself

15-Never place responsibility for you actions on a cult leader's says so

16-Cult leaders are centers of your universe

17-Respond automatically to the Cult leader's wishes

18-Fear of Reprisal

The charismatic leader qualification may throw us off
track at first consideration.

Leaders like Joe Smith and J. J. Strang were obviously
charismatic, but how about today's Monson?

As cults develop, there are instances in which the charisma
of the early leaders fades away, but the cult itself survives.

So, can there be cults without such leaders? Yes.

Can there be cults which do not place heavy constraints
upon their members' ability to leave? Probably no.

UD

do an lds poll asking how many people LOVEd Hinckley, Kimball, and are devoted to Monson. Hinck and Kimball were 2 of the most bland men on the planet but I know a lot of mo's who think they were the most incredible prophets in the world.
One friend grew up with Hinckley as the prophet and adored him. She left mormonism and it was still very hard for her to come to terms with all the Hinckley issues.
A lot of mormons think these dead-fish guys are wonderous prophets and charismatic. Very odd but true.
Definitions of charismatic apparently vary, especially if they've been brainwashed into following a prophet.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/23/2014 07:38PM by joan.

joan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> do an lds poll asking how many people LOVEd
> Hinckley, Kimball, and are devoted to Monson.
> Hinck and Kimball were 2 of the most bland men on
> the planet but I know a lot of mo's who think they
> were the most incredible prophets in the world.
>
> One friend grew up with Hinckley as the prophet
> and adored him. She left mormonism and it was
> still very hard for her to come to terms with all
> the Hinckley issues.
> A lot of mormons think these dead-fish guys are
> wonderous prophets and charismatic. Very odd
> but true.
> Definitions of charismatic apparently vary,
> especially if they've been brainwashed into
> following a prophet.


And that's the key - "brainwashed into following a prophet." Believing that whomever God calls as his Prophet is the best choice at the time and absolutely the mouthpiece of God.

The difference between a cult and a religion;

In a cult, there is someone at the top who knows that it is a scam.

In a religion, ... that person is dead.