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Example research essay topic: Mormons Cult Or Religion - 2,178 words

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Mormons - Cult or Religion The nature of Mormons as a religious group has been doubted by many, and a lot of people claim that it is a cult rather than a religion. Within the conceptual framework of this research, we will elaborate on whether the Latter-day Saint Church is a religion or a cult. Walter Martin, a Christian theologian defines cult as: a group, religious in nature, which surrounds a leader or a group of teachings which either denies or misinterprets essential biblical doctrines (Alexander, p. 123) This is an unsatisfying definition, as it is too general and subjective to agree with. It embraces most religions such as Mormon Church, Wicca, Islam, Hinduism, and all of the other religions of the world. Over 70 % of humanity would belong to cults, by this definition. According to the Dictionary of Cults, Sects, Religions and the Occult, a cult is: a relatively small, often transitory religious group that commonly follows radical leader. () A cult, unlike a sect, espouses radically new religious beliefs and practices that are frequently seen as threatening the basic values and cultural norms of society at large.

Therefore, people who are involved in cults frequently exhibit antisocial and neurotic behavior. In recent times, orthodox Christians have used the term to describe those religious groups that deny the Trinity and specifically the deity of Jesus Christ. Their teachings are contrary to historic Christian Orthodoxy. The three dynamics of a cult are sociological, psychological (behavioral), and theological. Although this definition is more objective, it is still too general and can lead to confusion and misunderstanding; it is quite difficult to know when a religion is threatening the basic values and cultural norms of a society at large. In order to classify new religious movements, the term cult (in a sociological and theological view) has been used improperly for manipulative purposes, because of its bad connotations.

For instance, in the case of new religious movements, the media has sometimes tended to report those facets that seem to be strange, exploitative, or sensational about a new religion, because this kind of reporting sells. Journalists need no other reason for writing about any particular NRM (new religious movement) except that it is counted as a cult. (Moore, p. 153) This categorization is sufficient to justify a story, especially if the story illustrates many of the other components which conventionally make up the cult category. This puts pressure on journalists to find more and more evidence which conforms to the categorical image of cults and therefore confirms the idea that a NRM is newsworthy to the extent that it does math the category. It is no part of conventional journalistic practice to look for stories about Nrm's which do not conform to the category of cult. Another reason that has lead confusion in the distinction between religions and cults is that most people assume that religion is always something good.

Therefore, when a religious body does something bad, the immediately response of the society will be determining this religion as a cult. Several hours of meditation, for example, have been seen as harmful practice often portrayed as parts of a groups brainwashing regime. However, it is demonstrated, that members of a religious group that practice intensive meditation perform excellently on I. Q.

tests and on other measures of individual reasoning ability. In this essay, therefore, the term cult will be used in sense of a spiritual practice that is potentially dangerous to its members and to the large society. The Church of Latter Days Saints, commonly known as the Mormon Church, has been persecuted and threatened as a cult since its beginnings. According to Mormons, Joseph Smith, a man they regard as a prophet, received several divine revelation concerning certain records that had been written on golden plates.

Smith uncovered and translated the plates from Reformed Egyptian to English, working on one side of curtain while his scribe (initially his wife) stay behind in the other. He kept the plates away from the vision of everybody, thus no one could see them. The prophet claimed that the plates contained the manuscript of a religious history written many centuries earlier by Moroni and his father, Mormon. Relying on these writings, Smith published the translation of what he considered the Book of Mormon, in 1830. (Alexander, p. 44) This book holds that a tribe of Israelites, in about 600 B.

C. E, sailed to the Americas, where they built cities and temples and obeyed the Law of Moses. But the Israelites fought among themselves. The Lamanites, Cains descendants, disobeyed Gods words and submit the peaceful Nephites (Abel's descendants) against their will. The last remaining Nephite prophet was Mormon. The Lamanitess descendants are said to be todays Native Americans.

The sacred books of the Mormons are the "Book of Mormon"; The "Bible", with Joseph Smith own interpretations; "Doctrines and Covenants"; "The Pearl of Great Price", with the Articles of Faith. The Book of Mormon and the Articles of Faith are considered to be divine revelations superior to the Bible. (Alexander, p. 80) The controversy against Latter Saints emerged from those who believed that the Book of Mormon is a plagiarism of a fiction novel written by Solomon Spaulding in 1816. Also Mormons have been accused to be a false religion, because, although they follow the Bible, Smith introduced 125 new verses only in the New Testament, and changed 1, 475 verses in the King James version of the Bible, while he was inspired by Gods grace. (Alexander, p. 121) However, no religion has ever proved the truthfulness of its sacred books. Possibly, the main offences that have accused LDS of being a cult are their faiths on polygamy and racism against blacks.

To understand why Mormons believe on plural marriage, or polygamy, we need to analyze first their idea of eternal marriage and family. Conversely to what many have thought, Mormons are taught to take very seriously their selection of a mate, seeing it as a religious responsibility that will determine not only their happiness on earth, but also their eternal welfare. Furthermore, they think that being parents in mortality is an opportunity to share in Gods creative work. According to Mormons all men and women were born of Heavenly Parents (God Father and his Heavenly Wife). Because Divine Parents gave humans something of their own nature they think of themselves as gods in embryo as being able to continue on the path Heavenly Parents started. (Dunfrey, p. 527) Thus, Mormons parents have the responsibility to give their children the best education and show them the path to salvation. Besides Mormons believe spirits destined for birth on earth are thought to be waiting to be born sooner or later, thus according to them is much better for this spirits to be born in a family who understand Gods plans.

For a believer of this religion, it is deliberately selfish to have no children or unseemly few. Plural marriage in the LDS is just a result of this idea, and not a question of lust, as many have assumed. However, since 1890 plural marriage has not been practice among the members of the Church, as the U. S. Supreme Court upheld the U.

S. statutory ban on polygamy. Mormons still believe in polygamy, but in the celestial world. Until recently the Latter-day Saint Church had denied the priesthood, as well as several other religious practices to anyone that was of African decent. Heavy criticism from both non-Mormon and Mormon parties mounted until 1978, when then Church president Spencer Kimball announced the repeal. Several theories have been recently developed to explain the origins and reasoning of racial inferiority and the manner in which the Latter-day Saint Church treated African Americans during the last one- hundred and seventy-one years.

A large portion of the Book of Mormon describes the history of several pre-Christian civilizations that existed throughout America. It wasnt until 1880 that the Pearl of Great Price became common Holy Scripture and was incorporated with the Book of Mormon. It eventually became a major tool in justifying the denial of Priesthood to anyone of African decent. The life of the biblical figure, Cain, is a very important aspect of the literary work. He was believed to have the ability to converse with God, but he loved Satan more than God. Cain murdered his brother Abel and gloried in his wickedness because Satan commanded him to perform the task.

Because of his decision to worship Satan not only was Cain called upon to suffer, but because of his wickedness he became the father of an inferior race. () Cains decedents became known as the People of Canaan; blackness came upon all their children and they were despised among all people. The prophet Joseph Smith and the early elders of the Church believed that the seed of Cain continued through the flood by the wife of Ham, a son of Noah. Several historians have formed a Missouri thesis, which traces the Mormons belief in black racial inferiority to the period in history when the majority of members of the Mormon Church resided in the slave state of Missouri. This thesis explains that the Church felt the need to project anti-black views to placate slaveholders. The Church was largely antislavery, and Missouri citizens were quick to notice the differences in the newly formed Church. A Secret Constitution was circulated through Jackson County in July of 1833 that accused the Saints of tampering with our slaves, and endeavoring to sow dissensions and raise sedition's amongst them. (Moore, p. 216) The members of the Church were eventually forced out of the county after violent Mob action.

Several other historians have dismissed the so-called Missouri thesis, arguing that the denial of priesthood came under the leadership of Brigham Young. A major fact that argues against the Missouri thesis was the record of the first African American priest; Elijah Abel was ordained an elder in the Melchizedek priesthood. It is believed that Abel was a close friend of the Prophet Joseph Smith. He was able to perform several church ordinances, including performing marriages, because he was recognized by the state of Ohio as a licensed minister of the Church. While participating in missionary work for the Church, controversial attitudes were directed towards Abel from both Mormon and non-Mormon parties.

Citizens in upstate New York accused Abel of murder and offered a reward for his apprehension, but fortunately he was able to clear his name and was aloud to leave un-harmed. After the assassination of Smith, Brigham Young led the LDS Church to settle Utah. Slavery issues often coincided with attempts at statehood. Church leaders were frequently forced to address the position of the church concerning the Negro race. Church elders, including Young, often spoke out against slavery in the South, but the increasing number of black migrations into the territory of Utah between 1847 - 1850 began to complicate the feeling of many Church leaders. Historical analysis disproved the Missouri thesis and showed that the Church didnt begin the practice of discrimination against blacks by denying them the priesthood until after the death of the prophet Joseph Smith.

After nearly a hundred and forty years, Church elders, lead by the President of the Church, Spencer Kimball, announced that through prayer they had received a revelation from God allowing the title of priesthood to be available to Mormons of all racial and ethnic background. The announcement of the revelation marked the most significant change in the Mormon religion since the end of the practice of polygamy. Kimball had pondered over the reversal of the practice for several years; he sought support from the Council of the Twelve. Each apostle met with Kimball in private to discuss the positive and negative aspects of black priesthood denial. It was only after all the apostles had agreed with the new revelation that the Church announced publicly that blacks would be admitted to the priesthood.

The inability of the Church to avoid social pressures was most likely the main reason for the revelation. The present practice of the Church constitutes the interpretation of scripture, including the doctrine that all are alike unto God, "black" and white, bond and free, male and female. " (Moore, p. 234) After examining the main controversies against the nature of Latter Day Saints as a religion, I would conclude stating that according to my personal opinion there is no reason why this religion should be treated as a cult as it does not seem to be potentially dangerous to its members and / or to the large society. Words Count: 2, 111. Bibliography: Alexander, Thomas G. The Mormon People: Their Character and Traditions. Provo: BYU Press, 1980.

Alexander, Thomas G. Mormonism in Transition. Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1986. Dunfrey, Julie. "'Living the Principle' of Plural Marriage: Mormon Women, Utopia, and Female Sexuality in the Nineteenth Century. " Feminist Studies 10 (Fall 1984): 523 - 36.

Moore, Laurence. Religious Outsiders and the Making of Americans. New York: Oxford University Press, 1986.


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Research essay sample on Mormons Cult Or Religion

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