[Rudey]

Didn't Christianity start as a cult?

-Rudey

Originally posted by MysticCat81
Certainly argeed that all religions can produce their loons and their exploiters.

Much depends on how one is using the word cult. Originally, it simply meant a religious practice, like the cult of Apollo. Today (according to Wikipedia, and I think it is probably on point here): In religion and sociology, a cult is a group of people (often a new religious movement) devoted to beliefs and goals which may be contradictory to those held by the majority of society. Its marginal status may come about either due to its novel belief system or due to idiosyncratic practices that cause the surrounding culture to regard it as far outside the mainstream.

Some use a more restrictive definition, however. Again, per Wikipedia: In English-speaking countries since about the 1960s, especially in North America, the term cult has taken on a pejorative and sometimes offensive connotation. This largely originated with highly publicized cults which purportedly exploited their members psychologically and financially, or which allegedly utilized group-based persuasion and conversion techniques. These techniques may include "brainwashing," "thought reform," "love bombing," and "mind control" . . . . Due to the usually pejorative connotation of the word "cult", new religious movements (NRMs) and other purported cults often find the word highly offensive. Some purported cults have been known to insist that other similar groups are cults but that they themselves are not. On the other hand, some skeptics have questioned the distinction between a cult and a mainstream religion. They say that the only difference between a cult and a religion is that the latter is older and has more followers and, therefore, seems less controversial because society has become used to it.

By this second definition (involving emotional, intellectual or financial expoitation of members), I don't think the LDS Church can properly be called a cult. Scientology can.

In any event, "cult" is a loaded word that must be used carefully.