A cult is any religious group which differs significantly
in some one or more respects as to beliefs or practice,
from those religious groups which are regarded as the
normative expressions of religion in our total culture.
(Dr. Charles Braden)
Mormonism is a cult because it adds Doctrine and Covenants;
The Pearl of Great Price; and Book of Mormon to the KJV
Bible as “Scripture.” Revelation 22 states: “If anyone
adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in
this book.” Mormons have proxy baptisms for the dead as
an ordinance, and have condoned polygamy in the past.
These are a few obvious differences with common Christian
practice.
Under the definition, Catholicism is also a cult since
the Pope has a special status, celebacy is required by
priests and nuns, and “if we confess our sins [through a
priest], he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our
sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.”
(1 John 1:9)
Jehovah's Witnesses is a cult because Jesus is “a god”
in John 1.
See The Kingdom of the Cults, Dr. Walter R. Martin
