Momons consider seances and OuiJi boards to be the occult, right?
Why wouldn't proxy baptisms and proxy sealings be considered occult rituals in mainstream Christianity? Essentially you are communicating with the dead; and then conjuring them from death, to participate in rituals; they may not want.
They are in mainstream protestant christianity (which I am) I'm pretty confident catholic and orthodox traditions would consider it the same. Anything to do with messing with dead people is occult- whether you're trying to talk to them, hear from them, or convert them. I think it's one of the reasons that SOME mainstream Christians would say that someone who has taken part in dead-dunking should undergo some sort of spiritual 'cleansing' (ie renouncing the practice and praying)- just as if they'd been involved in running seances. They have to be some of the creepiest bits of mormonism- IMHO we should just let the dead rest in peace and leave them with the beliefs they had in this life.
Tori: From Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary
Occult:1.hidden, concealed 2.secret, esoteric 3.beyond humman understanding, mysterious 4.designating or of certain mystic arts or studes such as: magic, alchemy, astrology, etc.
"messing with dead people" would probably come under something beginning with the suffix, "necro".
Baptism for the dead does not involve the corpse of the actual person, it it a matter of proxy. It supposely has to do with the awareness part of the human that is suppose have exited the body at death.
It is a belief with no basis in fact, and therefore does not have any power over the deceased person whatsoever. It is presumptive of Mormons to do this...however presumptiveness is a great part of the Mormon character. They actually think they are doing something wonderful for the dead person.
Mormons are totally unaware just how irritating and boundry crossing this practice is to non-Mormons. Do you have any idea just how shocked and disbelieving a Mormon would be if they thought that their sacred belief was viewed as Satanic by others? You will never convince a TBM that they are not carrying out God's holy work.
We can object, we can sue, we can ridicule...but that will not stop this ludicrous, ridiculous, absurd ritual.