Mormon Truth #9-Is Mormonism A Cult?!!-Part 1

Summary: Mormon Truth Podcast #9-Is Mormonism A Cult?!!-Part 1 In this podcast, I go through the cult checklist to once and for all, decide if Mormonism is a cult or not. I'm using the list from the ICSA (International Cultic Studies Association). Here is a quote from the website of the ICSA: "The International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) is an interdisciplinary network of academicians, professionals, former group members, and families who study and educate the public about social-psychological influence and control, authoritarianism, and zealotry in cultic groups, alternative movements, and other environments. Founded in 1979 as AFF(American Family Foundation), ICSA took on its current name in late 2004 to better reflect the organization's focus and increasingly international and scholarly dimensions." The list that I'm using is entitled "Characteristics Associated with Cultic Groups" and was written and created by Janja Lalich, Ph.D. & Michael D. Langone, Ph.D. I'm sure that Mormons will find a way to discredit this website, this list and these people because Mormonism and the Mormon Church just couldn't possibly really be a cult, right? In fact, most members, as I once did, find it extremely offensive to be labeled as a cult and/or cult member. On the ICSA website, it is also states that: "ICSA does NOT maintain a list of "bad" groups or "cults." We nonjudgmentally list groups on which we have information. Groups listed, described, or referred to on ICSA's Web sites may be mainstream or nonmainstream, controversial or noncontroversial, religious or nonreligious, cult or not cult, harmful or benign. We encourage inquirers to consider a variety of opinions, negative and positive, so that inquirers can make independent and informed judgments pertinent to their particular concerns." So, with that being said, this group is not "out-to-get" the Mormons or "persecute" them as Mormons seem to love, as it just further proves that the Church is true in some twisted, jacked up, cognitive dissonance way. If you are involved in a cult and a cult member, you wouldn't know it, unless you knew what to look for and what the signs are. The purpose of cults, is to brainwash you, so that you DON"T think you are in a cult at all and that your life is completely normal. I strongly encourage everyone to listen to this podcast, Mormon or not and decide for yourselves; "is Mormonism a cult?" Originally published March 8, 2006