Mormonism

[Lioness]

I think many people's biggest reservation about Mitt Romney is his religion. they say that Mormonism is a cult, not a true religion. And even though it's been abolished, Mormonism is still associated with polygamy.

From what I've read of the founder, I think he was a fraud. It seems to me he just made it up as he went along, claiming to have divine visions.

But, as I understand it, the church now is basically like another denomination of Christianity.

Do you think it's a legitimate religion? Would you have a problem with a president who subscribes to this faith?

[Anagogy]

Originally Posted by Lioness

I think many people's biggest reservation about Mitt Romney is his religion. they say that Mormonism is a cult, not a true religion. And even though it's been abolished, Mormonism is still associated with polygamy.

From what I've read of the founder, I think he was a fraud. It seems to me he just made it up as he went along, claiming to have divine visions.

It's possible he was a fraud. It is also possible he really did have visions. Lots of people have visions, even today. Not all of them are accurate translations of reality as we know it.

Originally Posted by Lioness

But, as I understand it, the church now is basically like another denomination of Christianity.

It has always been another denomination of Christianity. Mormons believe Jesus died for their sins, and always have. To me, that's equals some version of Christianity.

Originally Posted by Lioness

Do you think it's a legitimate religion? Would you have a problem with a president who subscribes to this faith?

Well, there are stranger beliefs that are considered "legitimate religions" so I can't think of any good reason why it wouldn't be one too. As for a president who subscribes to this faith? I would prefer a president who wasn't into organized religion, personally. But if I had to choose between a series of individuals that were, one would not be better than another.

[desertrat]

There are 3 types of Mormon , most of them a form of Christanty , and are good people , there are what are called Jack Mormons , unhappy and left the church . Hear in the Northen part of Arizona and in the southern part of Utah are some comuinites of poligmist cults . Warren Jeffs was a leader of one of these , he is in jail now for having a 13 year old wife Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia RadarOnline - News - Warren Jeffs Gets Life Plus 20 Years -- Shocking Photo Of His 50 Brides Released Convicted Rapist Pedophile Warren Jeffs Instructing Female Children - YouTube Warren Jeffs Trial: Polygamist Leader Ruled With Heavy Hand, Witnesses Say I am not comparing Mit Romney to a creap like Jeffs and would vote for him . desert rat

[VinceG]

Mormonism isn't bad. I lived in Utah for a few years, land of the Mormons. They're just normal people, a little neurotic, but decent people. They believe in glorifying God through high achievement, so they tend to be workaholics and take business more seriously than most other Christians.

I wouldn't deny them the Christian label, as they do believe in Jesus. They're just a little strange, that's all.

[raykilleen]

Originally Posted by Lioness

I think many people's biggest reservation about Mitt Romney is his religion. they say that Mormonism is a cult, not a true religion. And even though it's been abolished, Mormonism is still associated with polygamy.

From what I've read of the founder, I think he was a fraud. It seems to me he just made it up as he went along, claiming to have divine visions.

But, as I understand it, the church now is basically like another denomination of Christianity.

Do you think it's a legitimate religion? Would you have a problem with a president who subscribes to this faith?

Mormonism is similar to any religion, whether one of the Abrahamic religions, Buddhism, Hinduism etc., filled with dogma based on a belief systems, limiting expansion of consciousness, as far as cults go, the republican, democratic or any party and all religions are cults, look up the definition of cult, I’m not sure why one has built a negative affliction to the word cult?

[newkaren]

Originally Posted by Lioness

I think many people's biggest reservation about Mitt Romney is his religion. they say that Mormonism is a cult, not a true religion. And even though it's been abolished, Mormonism is still associated with polygamy.

From what I've read of the founder, I think he was a fraud. It seems to me he just made it up as he went along, claiming to have divine visions.

But, as I understand it, the church now is basically like another denomination of Christianity.

Do you think it's a legitimate religion? Would you have a problem with a president who subscribes to this faith?

Yes I do think he was a fraud.

My father was a Mormon, and yes I do take issue with some of their teachings.

However, If I do or don't vote for Romney, his religion will have nothing to do with it.

I'd rather hang out with people who have a spirit of religion (any religion, and even no religion) than some know it all, judgmental ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.

IDK, people get so worked up over religion. I know so many "Christians" who need to go back and read the parts of the Bible that talk about doing unto others, not judging, and forgiveness.

[RonSouther]

Originally Posted by Lioness

I think many people's biggest reservation about Mitt Romney is his religion. they say that Mormonism is a cult, not a true religion. And even though it's been abolished, Mormonism is still associated with polygamy.

From what I've read of the founder, I think he was a fraud. It seems to me he just made it up as he went along, claiming to have divine visions.

But, as I understand it, the church now is basically like another denomination of Christianity.

Do you think it's a legitimate religion? Would you have a problem with a president who subscribes to this faith?

All organized religions are cults...all depend on repetition of beliefs to take hold of our actions to have any effect in our lives.

Cult-ivate, cult-ure, and cult. All are mental brainwashing. Society and religinons cult-ivate the mind with habitual actions and thoughts to take control of the person.

It's just that since everyone is in the cult of society and some accepted religion, it's not thought of as being a cult. It's just "normal".

But what we consider to be cults are simply an extreme of everyday life.

[Andrew Brunelle]

Mormonism is not a cult, and generally it produces happy people from what I've seen. Mormonism is fine as long as it makes you happy and fulfilled, and Mitt Romney being a Mormon won't change my decision not to vote for him, because I wasn't going to vote for him anyway, whether he was a Hindu, a Muslim, or a Bible-beater. He is simply a Politician, the worst religion of them all.

[RonSouther]

Originally Posted by Andrew Brunelle

Mormonism is not a cult, and generally it produces happy people from what I've seen. Mormonism is fine as long as it makes you happy and fulfilled, and Mitt Romney being a Mormon won't change my decision not to vote for him, because I wasn't going to vote for him anyway, whether he was a Hindu, a Muslim, or a Bible-beater. He is simply a Politician, the worst religion of them all.

It's not an authentic happiness. It's a mind game....if I do this then I get that and I want that....ok, I will do this. "This" in this case is where the uniform of mormonism.

If mormonism didn't offer anything in return for belief, if wouldn't have a following. This is a fear and greed game. It's all mental.

[raykilleen]

It is important to understand what one means by "cult". The very word itself is derived from the same word as "culture". Nor is a "cult" something which is simply a minority of people who happen to be different in some way or another from the majority. It is in fact something which is pervaded throughout the whole humanity; all of the different religions, nations, belief systems, traditions, political organizations in all their divisions; conservatives, democrats, liberal parties, communists, socialists, all are cults. What is important is not whether something is a "cult" or not, but whether any group or community consists of individuals who are conscious and awake. If they consist of individuals who are unconscious, in a deep sleep, then it does not matter what tradition or stream they follow, all of one's actions are certain to reflect the same unconsciousness, and can only end up contributing more and more to the suffering on this Earth

[Vaganova]

Originally Posted by RonSouther

It's not an authentic happiness. It's a mind game....if I do this then I get that and I want that....ok, I will do this. "This" in this case is where the uniform of mormonism.

If mormonism didn't offer anything in return for belief, if wouldn't have a following. This is a fear and greed game. It's all mental.

I grew up in Utah--around Mormons. From what I've noticed, face to face (online is a bit different), this is what makes non Mormons happy: sex, weed, money, and um. Sex, weed and money.

Sex makes you happy through chemicals, weed makes you happy through chemicals, and money applies to both parties. Mormons may be happy through a mind game, but at least it's not a chemical game.

[Acting Like Godot]

Ron Souther is just going through a phase. It's his Osho phase. During this time, happiness through any means other than Osho's recommendations is not authentic.

I have had my Osho phase too. Over for me now.

[RonSouther]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

Ron Souther is just going through a phase. It's his Osho phase. During this time, happiness through any means other than Osho's recommendations is not authentic.

I have had my Osho phase too. Over for me now.

You "missed"......

[RonSouther]

Originally Posted by Vaganova

I grew up in Utah--around Mormons. From what I've noticed, face to face (online is a bit different), this is what makes non Mormons happy: sex, weed, money, and um. Sex, weed and money.

Sex makes you happy through chemicals, weed makes you happy through chemicals, and money applies to both parties. Mormons may be happy through a mind game, but at least it's not a chemical game.

But a happy Mormon has to be around other mormons for the mind to stay open. Happiness and love happen with open minds. So common believers cling to each other. Mix Mormons with different believers and the conversations become debates, the minds close and the happiness is over.

Believers have to stay in the bubble of their beliefs with other similar believers in order to protect the bubble and have this illusion that their beliefs are real. And the belief that keeps them going is some kind of salvation. Take that away and who wastes time with belief?

The trick to happiness is not a trick at all, but a transformation from being a closed minded dogmatist to an open minded realist. Then one can be in any crowd and never be offended because one's self worth and identity doesn't come from that. Mormons have the ego identity of "Mormon". Challenge that ego and the mind shuts and their happiness goes with it.

And that's true for any group.

[RonSouther]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

Ron Souther is just going through a phase. It's his Osho phase. During this time, happiness through any means other than Osho's recommendations is not authentic.

I have had my Osho phase too. Over for me now.

There's two issues here...The source of the unhappiness and the symptoms.

It's like the flu...you've got the cause and the symptoms.

Misused drugs, alcohol, sex all treat the symptom called unhappiness but don't treat the virus, so time and time again, these drugs must be consumed to get relief from the symptoms.

Hope and dreams also treat the symptoms but like any drug, the dosage has to be increased to keep the same effect.

Osho works on the virus, not the symptoms. Organized religions and drug dealers work on the symptoms and not the virus.

You missed that, I guess?

The virus is any idea of life that we've made into a habitual thought. That becomes a mental prison of ongoing confusion. The symptom is unhappiness, depression, anxiety and so on. The escapes are everywhere....most of the economy is merely a marketplace of elixirs, including organized religion.

Unhappy with your sorry life? Good, we offer this savior to you in exchange for your belief and financial support.

[desertrat]

When I hear the words cult and reglion and togher , I was reminded of some thing that happned to me . Now this may be perfictly inocent . I was going to eat at a reasurant with my gf , two ladies ask each of to pray with them , my gf told them she was Caflic and was not interested , I told them I would pray later and thank of them , they got quite insecent , we had to walk in to the reasurant and ignor them . I have woundered if they were from a cult , recurting new members . On the Mormons and weed , I am sure there are Mormons that smoke weed , but I am sure the church dissaproves of its use. I know on money they dont believe in gambling . On sex , well who does not like sex ? desert rat

[RonSouther]

Originally Posted by Vaganova

I grew up in Utah--around Mormons. From what I've noticed, face to face (online is a bit different), this is what makes non Mormons happy: sex, weed, money, and um. Sex, weed and money.

Sex makes you happy through chemicals, weed makes you happy through chemicals, and money applies to both parties. Mormons may be happy through a mind game, but at least it's not a chemical game.

Both are stuck playing the mind....neither the indulgent one nor the repressed one knows what they are doing to themselves and that they could live happily without indulgence and without repression.

They could just be themselves.