By John Stark
The Rev. Billy Graham’s website has deleted an article that referred to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the Mormons) as a cult.
The deletion was reported first by the Asheville Citizen-Times, and noted today on the Wall Street Journal’s Washington Wire blog.
This may be further evidence that evangelical Protestants are smoothing over their theological differences with the Mormons, whose members include not just Mitt Romney but (lest we forget) Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
Theology aside, the Mormons would be relieved of any taint of cultishness based on author Tom Wolfe’s definition: “A cult is a religion without political power.”
“…Mormons do have some unique religious rituals, but so do other religions. They have religious requirements to wear certain articles of clothing (called “garments”), but other religions also have their strictures regarding articles of clothing. Like any religion, there are good Mormons and bad Mormons; the vast majority are law-abiding, God-fearing, decent, honest, hard-working people…..
Two cultural aspects of Mormons that seem unique are: (1) all young Mormon men are expected to serve a two-year proselytizing mission when they turn 19 years old, and most do (a few of the women do the same when they turn 21), and (2) particularly in Utah, where they are the dominant religion, their lives revolve around their religion and congregations (“wards”) far more than for most of us….
How we Gentiles (the Mormon term for “non-Mormon”) react to the dominance of the religion depends on each individual. I learned in college that there was no point in dating Mormon women (those who are active generally will not marry a non-member) and no point in trying to arrange regular social activities with Mormons. That said, although I am not religious, I am happy to live in a community where those of the dominant faith believe in self-reliance, honesty, helping those in need, tolerance, etc. I have no doubt that if I were to suffer some personal catastrophe, my many Mormon friends would not hesitate to offer a helping hand, even knowing I am not of their faith…
Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/10/a_view_from_mormon_land.html#ixzz29fzs3gK4
Here’s me favorite Wolfe quote:
“If a conservative is a liberal who’s been mugged, a liberal is a conservative who’s been arrested.”
Tom Wolfe
AFY!!theheelotsheepdog!!!
Wow.
That first post is really intere… zzzzzzzzzz.
“Could Reid and Romney work together?
…The consensus answer among Nevada insiders and those familiar with the inner workings of Reid World is … maybe….
…both Republicans and Democrats surmised, Reid’s horse-trading instincts would surface in policy areas that were under-addressed in the last Congress, such as a comprehensive energy bill, or on education.
“I personally worked with Harry Reid when I was in the White House on two big issues: Land and water disputes that had been in the courts for years,” [Sig Rogich, a Romney backer who also led the Republicans for Reid in 2010] recalled of his time in the Bush administration, surmising that Reid might do better with a Republican administration when it came to making compelling deals….
….the general thinking appears to be that both are pragmatic enough to put their differences behind them.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/charlie-mahtesian/2012/10/could-reid-and-romney-work-together-138796.html?hp=l9
AFY!!theheelotsheepdog!!!
Mormans are a cult!!!!!!!!!!There book of Morman (LIES) is made by a man that wrote it himself with out inspiration of God! It’s sad because they truly believe that what all THE WORKS they are doing is going to grant them salvation and its NOT!
Thank you again Afy for your right on comments. I actually did date a Mormon girl in college, but perhaps those attending Berkeley were given special dispensation.
To the poster directly above, I don’t know what a Morman is. Is that a male Mormon? Or, did you mean that water creature the Merman? In any event, thanks so much for omnisciently pointing out the TRUTH to all of us. Or, I should say the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me THE ONE TRUE GOD.
“My God is better than your God” keeps world population growth down.
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Leave religion out of it. Why anyone would care what is or is not on the Billy Graham site? If you want to know about Mormons read the history of the church and the Book of Mormons. Why would anyone accept or want a digested opinion from the Grahams?
The problem is in the bad choices that the Democrats and Republicans have. Regardless of the religion of the twins, Romney and Obama, the vote seems to be between the lesser of two evils. A vote for evil will get you more evil.
You can step out of the box and vote for Jill Stein of the Green Party. I am pleased that I can do this.
I lived most of my life in areas with heavy Mormon concentration. There are a couple of disturbing facts about Mormons. First, they are governed by prophecy. Second, they oppress intellectual freedom. Brigham Young is the only college where Phi Beta Kappa refused to form a chapter because professors and students who question church orthodoxy are fired and expelled. Mormon culture is inherently non-democratic.
In truth, all religions fit the definition of a cult. It’s just that on the bizarro spectrum, mormonism is more bizarre than most. (Though they don’t dance with snakes! )
That Romney could be brainwashed at an early age, and not subsequently recognize the preposterously ridiculous teachings for what they were, confirms he will espouse anything to get what he wants.
After his candid remarks to fellow plutocrats regards the 47%, wouldn’t it be interesting to hear what he shares with fellow Mormons about blacks, asians, and hispanics!
I bet there weren’t any Mexican wives in his grandfather’s harem! But that episode certainly explainins where he came up with his faith in self deportation.
Meh!
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