The Sociology of Religious Organisations

In the sociology of religion, there are no strict boundaries between churches, sects and cults. Instead, religious organisations are positioned on a scale, with the amount of tension between the group and its surrounding society as the determining factor. A few key concepts of this approach are explained in this article.

The Psychological Effects of the Mormon Church on its Members

Introduction

The word “cult” is a loaded, pejorative term. A number of alternatives has been proposed, of which “new religious movement” is the most neutral. However, it would be difficult to apply this term to the Mormon church which was founded well over 180 years ago.

Cult Characteristics according to Hugo Stamm

Swiss journalist Hugo Stamm

The Mormon church is sometimes called a cult. This article examines, from a psychological perspective, the extent to which this characterisation is appropriate. This examination is based on a questionnaire from Swiss journalist Hugo Stamm (1996, pp. 125-128). This questionnaire was selected because Mormonism is not mentioned in Stamm’s book and does not appear to have been a part of his research. Hence, it may be assumed that Stamm’s list is neutral towards Mormonism.

Cult Characteristics According to the Belgian Government’s Information and Advisory Centre for Harmful Cultic Organizations

In this article, the extent to which the Mormon church meets the criteria of the Belgian government’s Information and Advisory Centre for Harmful Cultic Organizations (IACSSO) is investigated. This assessment is not substantiated in detail (this is done here for a similar model) but is based on the knowledge and experience of well over 30 years active church membership. In cases of doubt or nuance, “no” was chosen.

Cult Characteristics According to the Professional Association of German Psychologists

In this article, the extent to which the Mormon church meets the criteria of the Professional Association of German Psychologists is investigated. This assessment is not substantiated in detail (this is done here for a similar model) but is based on the knowledge and experience of well over 30 years active church membership. In cases of doubt or nuance, “no” was chosen.

Cult Characteristics According to the International Cultic Studies Association

In this article, the extent to which the Mormon church meets the criteria of the International Cultic Studies Association is investigated. This assessment is not substantiated in detail (this is done here for a similar model) but is based on the knowledge and experience of well over 30 years active church membership. In cases of doubt or nuance, “no” was chosen.

Cult Characteristics According to the Cult Education Institute

In this article, the extent to which the Mormon church meets the criteria of the Cult Education Institute (formerly the Rick A. Ross Institute) is investigated. This assessment is not substantiated in detail (this is done here for a similar model) but is based on the knowledge and experience of well over 30 years active church membership. In cases of doubt or nuance, “no” was chosen.

Cult Characteristics According to Steven Hassan

In this article, the extent to which the Mormon church meets the criteria of Steven Hassan’s BITE model is investigated. This assessment is not substantiated in detail (this is done here for a similar model) but is based on the knowledge and experience of well over 30 years active church membership. In cases of doubt or nuance, “no” was chosen.

Is Mormonism a Cult - Response to Mette Ivie Harrison

In a recent blog post, Mormon author Mette Ivie Harrison asks whether Mormonism is a cult. In her introduction, she states: “I was pretty prickly about Mormons being called a cult at the time, but 25 [years] later, I have begun to wonder if it might not be useful for Mormons to understand more clearly why so many people think of Mormonism as a cult.

The Strengthening Church Members Committee

In the heat of the 2012 US presidential elections featuring Mormon candidate Mitt Romney, the BBC interviewed church spokesman Michael Purdy about the Strengthening Church Members Committee. Purdy’s first reaction was to deny any knowledge of such a committee.

When pressed by journalist John Sweeney, however, he admitted it existed after all but pretended to know very little about it. Purdy’s body language – no eye contact, blushing, stammering – as well as the fact that his first instinct was to lie about it, indicate he was not at ease with this question. Why not?