[blueerica]

I do believe it has cultish aspects, and yes, from what I understand there are certain things you have to know for the ceremonial stuff - though I've never felt it necessary to pay them anything to understand what was going on. I've never known anyone to really have to pay - but then, I don't know everything there is to know about Mormons. I do know the basics: they believe in the Christian God and tiny infant baby Jesus with golden fleece diapers. Which is what some out there think they don't believe in. But, they don't consider themselves a part of any of the more "traditional" Christian churches - they're a continuation of the Church of Christ... something a little different.

Mormons do seem to take their tithing a little more seriously than most other churches I've gone to - 10% - and most LDS seem to give it. But, tithing is usually a part of Jewish and Christian organizations, so that's nothing really different and I don't really see it as a "Pay to Play" situation.

And, like I said earlier, they really helped my family out without making anyone feel guilty for not going to their church or supporting their religion. My aunt left LDS some time ago for their stance against women in the temple wearing pants, or rather that there was a dress code associated with communing with God. They seemed rather accepting of her differing views - which I think is probably more of a sign of the modern-day church. They've dropped polygamy (with the exception of a few extreme sects), and a bunch of other stuff.

Hehe - as for cults, I think all religions are cults. But that's just me.