My favorite new word: Culty

Why do I like the word culty so much? I know firsthand how defensive I was whenever people would say that I was a member of a cult. How couldn't I be offended? Being associated with that word implies that I am a thoughtless zombie just following the leader.  Well I don't believe that Mormons are thoughtless zombies but come on, have you ever heard the primary song "Follow the Prophet"?  If that isn't the type of brainwashing that takes place in a cult, it is certainly culty behavior.

I really hate the fact that Mormons immediately dismiss the entire conversation once the "c-word" is brought to the table. So to avoid that type of conversation discrimination I will not refer to Mormonism as a cult but rather it is very culty. There, is that better? It doesn't change the fact that the church uses mind control from a very early age to control the behavior of its members.  It starts with Primary with the songs.  It gets worse when an eight year old gets baptized (come on, is that really different than baby baptisms?).  It continues with the oppressive and mind controlling priesthood interviews.  It gets really deep with the endowment in the temple.  And what I consider the coupe de gras, the two year mission, seals the deal as far as what the commitment level is. This is why I believe the recent “revelation” to lower missionary ages is just a last ditch effort to stop 18 year-olds from discovering Google and actually using their brains (yes I am making fun of myself here as well since I served a mission). Of course celestial marriage and ongoing church callings continue the brainwashing and groupthink that persist in the church.

I can say that I now have personal experience with how duped one feels when they start to see the light. It is a frustrating and depressing realization that comes over you when you get to that point but the freedom that comes is simply priceless and worth the journey. I completely understand why true believers will always push back any contrary thoughts or teachings because that is how they have been groomed. One of my favorite quotes really embodies this predicament that Mormons can find themselves in:

“One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves, that we’ve been taken."

-Carl Sagan

If you’d like to explore the issue I’d recommend listening the the Mormon Expression podcast #201 or the Mormon Expositor follow up podcasts #2A & #2b.  They discuss some of the indicators that can define any organization as a cult.  They are:

1. Their leader/s may claim a special, exclusive ministry, revelation or position of authority given by God.

2. They believe they are the only true church and take a critical stance regarding the Christian church while at the same time praising and exalting their own group, leader/s and work.

3. They use intimidation or psychological manipulation to keep members loyal to their ranks. This could be in the form of threats of dire calamity sent by God if they leave; certain death at Armageddon; being shunned by their family and friends etc. This is a vital part of the mind control process.

4. Members will be expected to give substantial financial support to the group. This could be compulsory tithing (which is checked); signing over all their property on entering the group; coercive methods of instilling guilt on those who have not contributed; selling magazines, flowers or other goods for the group as part of their “ministry”.

5. At the same time bible-based cults may ridicule churches that take up free-will offerings by passing collection plates and/or sell literature and tapes. They usually brag that they don’t do this. This gives outsiders the intimation that they are not interested in money.

6. There will be great emphasis on loyalty to the group and its teachings. The lives of members will be totally absorbed into the group’s activities. They will have little or no time to think for themselves because of physical and emotional exhaustion. This is also a vital part of the mind control process.

7. There will be total control over almost all aspects of the private lives of members. This control can be direct through communal living, or constant and repetitious teaching on “how to be a true Christian” or “being obedient to leadership”. Members will look to their leaders for guidance in everything they do.

Bible-based cults may proclaim they have no clergy/laity distinction and no paid ministry class – that they are all equal.

8. Any dissent or questioning of the group’s teachings is discouraged. Criticism in any form is seen as rebellion. There will be an emphasis on authority, unquestioning obedience and submission. This is vigilantly maintained.

9. Members are required to demonstrate their loyalty to the group in some way. This could be in the form of “dobbing” on fellow members (including family) under the guise of looking out for “spiritual welfare”.

10. They may be required to deliberately lie (heavenly deception/theocratic strategy) or give up their lives by refusing some form of medical treatment.

11. Attempts to leave or reveal embarrassing facts about the group may be met with threats. Some may have taken oaths of loyalty that involve their lives or have signed a “covenant” and feel threatened by this. Refugees of the group are usually faced with confrontations by other members with coercion to get them to return to the group.

If I were to rank the Mormon church on a scale of 1-10 of “cultyness” on these points, my average score of the 11 points would result in my opinion that the church is 84.5% culty. Bottom line, truth is truth no matter where it comes from no matter how much it cuts to the core. Even if it defines you as a member of a cult. I do know one thing, I am a firm believer that the truth really will set you free.