Romney and the "Cult" of Mormonism

I've read some panicked Christians asking the question, "Do you really want as president someone who is in a cult?" I think this issue needs to be addressed a bit. Here are my thoughts on the matter.

The word "cult" can be used in several senses.

1. "Cult" as "religious practice." The word can be used to describe any religious observance, and is not used pejoratively. This is what we mean when we talk about the "cult" of Ancient Israel; we simply mean the "religious practices" of Mosaic religion, i.e., the traditions in the Pentateuch.

2. "Cult" as "non-orthodox, sectarian religious belief and practice." When used in this way, "cult" refers to Jehovah's Witnesses and the like. The beliefs and practices of these "cults" are heterodox vis-a-vis orthodox Christianity.

3. "Cult" as brain-washing, kidnapping, weird sex, religious nut-cases. I think of David Berg and "The Family of God International," Victor Paul Wierwille and "The Way International," or David Koresh, and the like. These still exist, and we need to watch for them, but we also need to be careful with our terminology.

Now, I am no expert on Mormonism, but I know a little. I may be wrong on a few things, and will gladly admit so if someone wants to point it out. Mormonism is certainly a cult; the question is which kind of cult? I suppose we could use definition #1 to describe it, but that wouldn't mean very much. Definition #2 works much better. Mormonism is a pseudo-Christian religion that shares very little teaching at all with traditional, orthodox Christianity. My biggest problem with Mormonism, and its myriad of missionaries, is the deception. Mormonism uses many of the same terms of orthodox Christianity but attaches to these terms vastly different definitions. There is certainly internal pressure on a Mormon to remain in Mormonism, but the same is true in Christianity. Nevertheless, people are free to leave, if they so choose, even if it may take a deep emotional and social toll on a person.

The "polygamy" of Mormonism is apparently largely a thing of the past, though we hear of it still going on in secret. One gets the idea, though - at least I do - that the impetus for Mormon polygamy is not a raw sexual urge for multiple partners but a theology based on birthing "spirit children."

So, although I in no way want to downplay the heterodoxy of Mormonism, I think we need to be careful about using the term "cult" to define it. We may be treating people as we ourselves would not want to be treated, and we may be using emotive language to scare people and discredit others. I think it is much wiser to explain clearly that Mormonism has about as much in common with orthodox Christianity as Hinduism does. Mormonism is a different religion than Christianity.