>By way of introduction, Harold Bloom has previously written on Mormonism, to which he gives the crowning title “the American religion”.[1] Bloom is positively enamored with Joseph Smith, whom he cordially refers to as an “authentic religious genius”, and is amazed at the power of Joseph Smith’s revelations. Granted, it appears that Bloom’s admiration for Joseph Smith and his revelations is on a sort of quasi-literary level; I don’t think it would be too much of a stretch to say that Bloom would place Joseph’s revelations on the same level as great poetry or literature, but nothing more. Notwithstanding, Bloom is a first-rate intellectual who has given us some probing, albeit somewhat flawed, writings to explore.[2]
I was born in a mormon family and I can tell you there is nothing special about mormonism other than the historical and sociological phenomena of a cult turned full blown state government.
Juan Perry
How aware are mormons that they're members of a cult?
Kayden Adams
What's the difference between a cult and a religion
Jaxson Smith
Edgy
Brody Bailey
not an argument
Joshua Ross
Contemporary mormonism isn't any more cultlike than Christianity.
Leo Brooks
The biggest difference is probably that Mormonism got exposed as a hoax almost as soon as people could analyze Smith's claims like reading hieroglyphs and the like, whereas the biblical accounts were defensible for a long time
Andrew Taylor
>whereas the biblical accounts were defensible for a long time >were
Nathaniel King
You know, Mormonism kind of IS the American religion. Them and the Jehovah's Witnesses.
Gavin Rogers
I don't think you understand, you can study something seriously even If Its objectively a hoax.
Brandon Perry
no that would be Calvinism and Anglicanism, both of which has defined America's ethos since the founding, Calvinism defining more the conservative side of the nation, and Anglicanism its liberalism
technically Mormonism was formed somewhere near the star Kolob
My response had absolutely nothing to do with whether or not you can study a hoax seriously. Did even you read what was posted? Read the thread.
Sorry I didn't mean to tip like that
Connor Reed
The Utah war is kind of cool
Evan Long
It is but I wish Mornons had been exterminated.
Jayden White
I know I'm splitting hairs here with definitions, but I feel Puritanism's take on Calvinism had more influence that Calvinism itself.
Christopher Robinson
that's basically Anglicanism+Calvinism
but there were so few puritans dude, the majority of immigration to the states were calvinist
Caleb Parker
you're right, it's not an argument. What you said can only be classified as edgy because you sound like you're underdeveloped or a teenager or both.
The glaring connection between cult and the church is that it's brainwashing. It gives people comfort. But religion does not equal the church, and, moreover, if you're going to compare any given cult to Catholicism, something with a doctrine and a history and some weight to it, then you're in denial.
Adam Jenkins
I like how defensive these non-sequiturs were to my original question
Kevin Martinez
More years LARPing gives you more legitimacy.
Jayden Perry
Between a cult and a religious institution you mean? Literally only the amount of members and the time it's been around
Grayson Fisher
Yeah, but both of those were imported from Europe. The JWs and the Mormons are uniquely American, for good or ill.
Eli Smith
Tradition
In 200-600 years Mormonism, the Jehovah's Witnesses and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness will be considered fully fledged Religions.
