Opinion
The End Is Near
March 31, 2008 - 11:00pmThere are few English words as loaded or as disputed as “cult.” Stripped of its connotations, a cult is just a group of people with a charismatic leader who devote themselves to a cause or an idea. But use the word in conversation, and it evokes images of mass suicides, bad haircuts and scenes like the one Friday out of Russia, where seven women emerged from a cave that still holds dozens of people awaiting the imminent end of the world (which, according to their calendar, goes down on Slope Day).
I thought about cults on Thursday, at Alice Cook House’s annual interfaith dinner, as I struck up a conversation with a friendly guy I’ll call “Allen”…
“Nice to meet you. I’m Ben. So, what team are you on?”
“Gaudiya Vaishnava.”
“I’m sorry, didn’t catch that … Godiva-what?”
“Gaudiya Vaishnava. It falls under the umbrella of Hinduism. You’ve probably heard of Hare Krishnas —we’re basically like them — but I don’t like to associate myself with that term because of the stigma attached to it. People hear “Hare Krishna,” and they think “cult.”
I realized later that I’d encountered Allen before in these very pages. He’d written a letter to the editor calling for the head of a fellow columnist who’d called Hare Krishnas “sneaky” and “charlatans.”
“Insert the word Jew or Christian or any other faith-based [pronoun] and see how the text reads,” he wrote. “I think there would be an uprising.”
Allen was right. He’d found himself on the losing end of a double standard in American culture, practiced by social conservatives and politically correct liberals alike. Whereas we’re allowed — nay, encouraged — to poke fun at Hare Krishnas, Scientologists, Wiccans, and members of other spiritual movements we deem “cults,” we dare not speak in unflattering terms of “legitimate” religions, at least in public. At most, we’re permitted to denigrate a religion’s “extremists” so long as we take pains to emphasize that they “in no way represent the vast majority of members who adhere to the true spirit of that honorable religion.”
As a rule of thumb, I abhor double standards unless there’s a reasonable basis for them. So if we’re going to treat “cults” and “religions” differently, I need to know what distinguishes a “cult” from a “religion”.
Most people can’t rattle off a good definition of “cult,” but think they know one when they see it. Here in Ithaca, they might single out the Twelve Tribes religious community that operates The Mate Factor. While I wouldn’t quibble with that characterization, I wonder whether the Twelve Tribes qualifies for culthood because we say so or because it is somehow qualitatively different from mainstream religions like Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
An intermediate case is instructive. Consider the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints — cult or religion? Depends who and where you’re asking. I’m a bit biased because I have dead Mormon relatives — more on that in a moment — but Mitt Romney could certainly attest that perceptions of Mormonism are less charitable in the Bible Belt than they are in the Jell-O Belt (that swath of the Rocky Mountain West where Mormons are most prevalent).
Some Mormon facts:
— Mormons believe that God is a flesh-and-blood human being, born a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, who lives with a harem of goddess wives; they believe that, if worthy, after death they too will become gods and goddesses, lording over their own planets.
— Joseph Smith, the faith’s founder who grew up in early 19th Century New York (about 75 miles northwest of Ithaca), supposedly wrote the Book of Mormon by “translating” a series of ancient golden plates shown to him by the angel Moroni; he inaugurated the practice of “plural marriage,” himself taking many wives (though the church abandoned the practice as Utah was applying for statehood).
— Mormons practice “baptism of the dead,” which is exactly what it sounds like. (The ritual entered the news a few years ago, when the Church was found “converting” Holocaust victims; oy, I can only imagine the faces of my three survivor grandparents upon discovering that their dead brothers and sisters had unwittingly become Mormons).
Now, is Mormonism inherently loopier than other religions? Not really. It’s just younger and has fewer followers. Conversely, is it somehow more “legitimate” than The Twelve Tribes? I don’t think so. It’s just older and has more followers. At its present rate of growth, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints may one day have more members than the Catholic Church. And who knows? Perhaps when The Twelve Tribes are as old as the LDS Church, millions of Twelve Tribers from around the globe will be making pilgrimages to Ithaca and other sites of its earliest communities. It’s unlikely, of course, but no more so than the success of groups we now consider religions in good standing.
Christianity got its big break when the Emperor Constantine had a dream about Jesus. Islam spread across continents because Muslims — believe it or not — used to win wars. And while it’s a bit more difficult to trace, all indications are that Judaism grew out of just one among many worship systems in ancient Israel. Their paths to prominence differed, but what unites these and most other religions is that society viewed their earliest members much as we view Scientologists.
Perhaps, then, we can propose at least one qualitative difference between cults and religions. A religion is a cult that won the lottery of history — one that “made it,” the little cult that could. (The lottery metaphor is especially apt given that most adherents of the world’s religions live under the impression that they, too, have won a lottery — a spiritual lottery — that by luck and God’s grace, they happened to be born into the correct religion, unlike all those other poor suckers.)
On the basis of merit, however, it seems to me that the barrier we’ve erected to separate legitimate religions from risible cults exists only in our minds. I hesitate to use the word “barrier” because it implies a continuum where there is only a duality. All religions and cults make propositions about the world — about which people spoke to God, about which books are divine, about which prophecies will come true — propositions that are either true or false. And given the multiplicity of the world’s religious beliefs, many of which flat-out contradict each other, by logical necessity we can state that the vast majority of the world’s people are under certain delusions (another loaded word). Since no delusion is “more” false than another, why are we enjoined to respect some delusions but not others? Come to think of it, why respect any delusion?
Ponder that for a moment while I head to the fridge — all this philosophizing makes me thirsty. I’m gonna fetch me some Kool-Aid. Want some?
Ben Birnbaum is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences. He can be contacted at bbirnbaum@cornellsun.com. Infomaniacs Anonymous appears Tuesdays.
Perhaps you should study Mormonism a bit more...
Given the overall tone of this "fluff" article, I doubt you care much about things like journalistic integrity, but, just for the record, you have not accurately characterized the Mormon belief regarding the nature of God.
Don't quit your day job, my friend...
Accuracy
You have made some observations, perhaps according to your point of view, but what you have written was hardly an unbiased article free of error. You may want to check some of your facts about Mormonism the next time you bash...er...’write’ about them, e.g., “God is a flesh-and-blood human being, born a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, who lives with a harem of goddess wives.” Nnnnno. You didn’t get that right. And it’s false information like this, made by people like you who just shoot off their pen, that promotes disgust, suspicion and other effects that fracture good elements of our society. You are, in fact, a member of one of the most dangerous ‘cults’ -- the cult of errant journalist. If you are a student just playing at journalism, then you have some room to grow in order to present yourself as being credible to an intelligent base of readers. Your mark for this article: D
Wow
I rather wish I hadn't wasted my time reading this, but since I already have, I'll waste more and comment. Ben, I hope writing isn't something you're aspiring to do. It's apparent you don't take the time to research anything before you spew your opinion. Your rendition of what Mormons believe is horrible at best. This whole article makes you sound like an ignorant kid. It's a shame everyone doesn't believe as you do. But since this is reality, and the real world, maybe you should learn more about some of the people that live in it with you.
You don't have any knowledge on the topic, so I'm wondering what the point of this article was? If it was to show your bigotry, ignorance, or arrogance, I give you an A. If it was to persuade, inform, or vent, I give you an F.
Grow up and realize you aren't the smartest person in the world, or even your community.
Jehovah Witnesses cult
Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs:
A) They are at your door to recruit you for enslavement to their watchtower corporation,they will say that "we are just here to share a message from the Bible" this is deception right off.
B) Their 'message' is a false Gospel that Jesus had his second coming in 1914.The problem with this is it's not just a cute fairy tale,Jesus warned of the false prophets who would claim "..look he is here in the wilderness,or see here he is at the temple..."
C) Their anti-blood transfusion ban has killed hundreds if not thousands
D) once they recruit you they will "love bomb" you in cult fashion to also recruit your family & friends or cut them off. There are many more dangers,Jehovah's Witnesses got a bad rap for good and valid reasons.
99% of the world has rejected the teachings of the Watchtower Jehovah’s Witnesses, the darker truth is they are a destructive and oppressive organization.
--
Danny Haszard
Tell the truth don't be afraid
April Fool?
Dear Ben Birnbaum,
I hope your "dead Mormon relatives" look at the date before they waste any effort rolling over in their graves, because your list of "Some Mormon facts" reads like an April Fool joke.
There's only space here to deal with two of several "facts" you mangled.
1: That Mormons believe God is a "Flesh-and-blood human being." No, we believe what Jesus Christ told his disciples after his resurrection -- something that all Christians should believe, since it happens to be in the Bible: "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and BONES, as ye see me have." (Luke 24:39). (EMPHASIS mine). Yes, God has a body of flesh and bones. No blood.
2: That somehow the "dead brothers and sisters" of your grandparents "had unwittingly become Mormons." BZZZT! Wrong again! Baptism FOR the dead is NOT baptism OF the dead. It is an offer freely made on earth to the spirits of the dead, and it has no validity whatever without free, informed consent. (Yes, there are dead Mormon missionaries -- possibly your relatives among them -- in the spirit world.) We intend eventually to extend the offer to everyone who has ever lived, and if you are lucky enough to have LDS great-great-great . . . grandchildren, someday the offer of baptism for the dead will also be made to you. You will be as free then to reject the offer as you are free today to mock what you so obviously do not understand. For more on this subject see http://hthalljr.googlepages.com/choice.html.
Given the date, I forgive your caricature of my religion. But just in case you ever need to write about Mormonism on one of the other 364 days of the year, I urge you to contact Elder and Sister Bush at 607-257-1830 or 801-573-9761, or email them at arb255@cornell.edu, and register for "Mormonism 101" at the Cornell LDS Institute of religion.
Best wishes,
Tracy Hall Jr
hthalljr'gmail'com
mormons
A quick scan of your ignorant article tells me all I need to know.
You profess to tell the world what Mormons believe? As in a court of law
once your credibility is shattered there is no more reason to keep reading your words.
Mormons beleive that God is a Glorified Human Being of flesh and "bones", not blood.
As Moses, Stephen, other Apostles and even Christ himself, testified.
Christ himself, after his resurrection stated, "Handle me and see for a spriit hath not
flesh and bones, as ye see me have."
2-Mormons practice baptism for the dead, 1 Corinthians 15:29, John 3:5
It's in the bible, look it up, dufus!
Those who have proxy work done for them do not become Mormons, dufus. If so the
LDS church would have over a billion members.
Educate yourself before running your ignorant ideas for the world to see. Now
you've let the whole world know how intellectually lazy and what a blathering
idiot you really are.
good day
ajarizona
Cut Ben Some Slack
Granted, Ben got some facts wrong about LDS beliefs. But his point about the subjectivity of the word "cult" is valid and helpful. Wish the less neighborly among the evangelicals could've read this during Mitt's campaign. They used the cult label as part of their screed. As a Mormon, I kept asking the same question Ben did: "What makes your fairy tales more legitimate than ours?" Isn't the point how well someone adheres to the universally accepted (yes, even athiests have a version) Golden Rule? In any case, kudos to those who corrected Ben's facts -- some more gently than others. Good to see "Mormon Intellectual" isn't an oxymoron on the East Coast (sometimes it can be out west). Cheers!
As a Mormon, I've just got
As a Mormon, I've just got to say to the other commenters that while I agree with you that many of the author's claims as to Mormon doctrine are inaccurate (to say the least), your invective against him I find even worse. Personal attacks, name calling and (probably unqualified) insulting of his journalistic integrity are not productive, nor are they befitting of a good Latter-day Saint. There is room for criticism, even ardent criticism, of viewpoints on the internet but, as elsewhere, it behooves us as Latter-day Saints to be respectful and Christlike when we do it. I have the tune to the primary song "Kindness Begins With Me" going around in my head. We can't take great offense at every misinformed and intolerant comment. Among all the things Jesus' example taught us, I think it's safe to say that one of them is that in order to love everyone, it's often necessary to have a thick skin.
Wise up, guys.
Accuracy
If you can't stand the heat, then you shouldn't be in the kitchen. He set HIMSELF up for this so-called invectiveness 'against' him. To be sure, though, I am not 'against' him, I am 'against' what he wrote. If he wants to be considered a credible journalist, then he needs to be accountable for writing untruths that can do significant damage to a well-meaning and respected religion, i.e., the 'Mormons.'
I feel that this article
I feel that this article reveals a deep ignorance of historical complexity and human agency. First, by the time Constantine came to power, Christianity had spread far and wide in the Roman Empire. Furthermore, the growth of Islam cannot be attributed soley to the Arab conquests. Arab rulers actually tried to prevent their subjects from converting to Islam so that they could charge them taxes which apply to non-Muslims. Some religions don't attract millions and millions of followers due to pure accident. The content of the religion does matter. I think Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism are the most popular and widespread religions in the world for basically the same reasons. Each of them 1) provides a coherent and compelling metaphysical framework within which people can understand themselves and their destinies, 2) espouses human moral equality, and 3) fully accepts anyone as a member who wishes to join, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, and other ascriptive characteristics. Not all religions do these three things.
First Century Christians Can't be a "Cult"
Mormons are not Creedal Christians. However, they do believe in the Jesus Christ of the New Testament:
The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) is often accused by Evangelical pastors of not believing in Christ and, therefore, not being a Christian religion. This article http://mormonsarechristian.blogspot.com/ helps to clarify such misconceptions by examining early Christianity's comprehension of baptism, the Godhead, the deity of Jesus Christ and His Atonement.
The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) adheres more closely to First Century Christianity and the New Testament than any other denomination. For example, Harper’s Bible Dictionary entry on the Trinity says “the formal doctrine of the Trinity as it was defined by the great church councils of the fourth and fifth centuries is not to be found in the New Testament.”
One Baptist blogger stated “99 percent of the members of his Baptist church believe in the Mormon (and Early Christian) view of the Trinity. It is the preachers who insist on the Nicene Creed definition.” It seems to me the reason the pastors denigrate the Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) is to protect their flock (and their livelihood).
Further reading; http://jesuschrist.lds.org/SonOfGod/eng/
mormon mis-information
we do not believe the God has a body of flesh and BLOOD, no blood ,flesh and BONE! I'm just gonna state that for now. I am tired of hearing all these mormon experts spewing tons of lies and wrong info! do your research before making ......... oh forget it.
What is a cult? Here is reason to "quibble".....
Nice article. I appreciate the thoughtfulness of it.
However, Ben, I think you somewhat contradict yourself when you state..."Most people can’t rattle off a good definition of “cult,” but think they know one when they see it. Here in Ithaca, they might single out the Twelve Tribes religious community that operates The Mate Factor. While I wouldn’t quibble with that characterization"....
If you want to read a whopping good story...that also happens to be true, just go to www.CultScare.com or www.TwelveTribesCult.org...and you may find that once you read Kirsten's story, there is good reason to "quibble" with the characterization of the Twelve Tribes as a "cult".
Sincerely,
Cultscare