Is Mormonism A Cult? Bite Model Comparison

Is Mormonism A Cult? In this video, I compare them to the BITE model to determine if it's a cult or not. Let's take a look.

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[JefeV]

I was raised Mormon and since escaping 15 years ago I have done extensive research on many religions and cults, as well as actual Mormon history.

You were entirely too kind to them. Every single time you said you were scoring them low, or being generous, or didn't think they were that bad, it snapped me out of my PTSD flashback to specific examples of those things happening to me and those around me while growing up Mormon.

I was always happy to tell that it was actually my extensive study and deep understanding of Mormon literature that lead to my disbelief, as they forbid learning anything about the church from outside sources, and claim that people only leave for a small number of reasons, including having sinned, not understanding the principles of the church, or being lead astray by outside sources. Not a hint of a chance it's the crazy controlling cult's creepy shit that drove them.

For me, they hit a 13 in just about every category, and are undeniably a cult that causes severe and lasting damage to people and tears families apart.

I'd love to do a step by step rebuttal to every point you too kindly didn't give them, but I'm afraid that would have to be in a call or video

[ianharris]

As a former mormon, I feel you were too kind in a few areas

[angielott]

You will NEVER believe this. Just last night I was looking through your entire channel to see if you’ve put Mormonism to the BITE test. Literally like 12 hours ago lol. And I just left your “do Mormons rehabilitate?” Video to come to this one when you posted. That’s crazy lol. Must have been a “sign” lol. Left the Mormon church recently, so I’ve been trying to reconcile it all, and your videos are very helpful. Thank you.

[iamaunicorn]

You should do a re-score with Mr. Atheist. He's ex-Mormon. And awesome. He'd totally be able to fill in all your blanks.

[_KungFuBarbie_]

I keep posting a lot of comments as I’m listening to the video but the information control deserves the highest scores in every category. Parents are encouraged to see their kids internet history 24/7. People COMMANDED to not look for non Mormon source material. Reading the CES letter is basically a serious sin. Mormon church history is heavily distorted. We are also told to “doubt our doubts not our faith”

[TheNinthGeneration]

You should have teamed up with Mr. Atheist for this one

[jackieaudus]

As an inactive member I think you hit most of the nails on the head but really under score them on many things ... they really really are a mind controlling cult ... Good video

[angielott]

And being a recent member of the church— very very Mormon lol. Married in the temple, wore garments, the whole thing. And I do feel they should have been higher in the “things they need with them at all garments. And yes, that goes with the “restricting what is worn”, but I’d say the garments themselves goes to the first point, and the clothes you choose to wear need to “work” with your garments. So it could kind of goes along with both sections. But anyway.
Also, the men are kind of encouraged to keep special “consecrated oil” with them at all times in case someone needs a priesthood blessing....

And if you ever want more information from someone who has done and lived it all, let me know.

[StaggersonJagz]

I would have scored them higher on all the information control points.

[PrincessGalaxia]

It would be cool if you did a colab with Mr. Athiest. He's an ex-mormon and he talks about some of the stuff he's been through.

[HerkRants]

You're much to kind to them. In addition to strict control of the missionaries, they also try to keep the members as busy as possible. If I had to choose one observation about this, I would say that Mormon cultural literacy is seriously lacking. They're always off doing temple work, like baptizing the dead who were not Mormon. They also often have seminaries set up close to schools and the kids walk from school to seminary every day. And as to information control, they control the narrative about their church history very closely. Time spent at ex-Mormon sites will be very rewarding as to their mindset.

[ElleonTheNerd]

"When a Mormon goes on a mission, it's like being in the most oppressive, extreme cult in existence for two years"
I never went on a mission, but have a lot of friends who did. This quote is not an understatement.

[Cygnusx]

as someone that was raised the as a mormon and moved around several different lds communities, I can say that there is a spectrum of people within the church. you can come across people that are very strict and extreme in terms of beliefs or people that the church considers 'inactive'(which is one of those buzz words if you were wondering) who are not strict. for the most part though everyone in the church strongly believes that all men who are able once they are of age should go on a 2 year mission. they also push tithing and fast sunday but the 2 year mission is a huge deal. there's a bunch of church movies about missionaries such as 'the best two years' that my parents had me watch as a kid. being raised to think I had to go on a mission really affected how I looked at other kids in my school and at church. it really creates a divide between them because you know they are raised so differently. there is a lot more to mention that is hard to cover in one comment but overall I think that the lds church is a cult and coming from someone raised in it I can also say that it's teachings are extremely harmful for it's youth which is evident when you see that lds young men have a high suicide rate.

[kendallherbst]

I have wanted this video for a long time

[midnighthatter]

"Make the person feel like it's their own fault never the leaders or the groups fault." Is worse than you think. Just this morning I was at the church with my mother (I'm still to young to leave since I still live at home and am underaged) and she was discussing with another woman about another memeber. This other member dosen't like our local bishop and they were said they forgave him, but will never forget what he did. My mother told the other women this and the other woman became upset. "That's not really forgiving, talk them, get them to change their mind." My mother launched into a story about how she, for a period of time, couldn't look at the bishop without crying, but now couldn't even remember why. I do. My sister was being abused by her now ex husband. The bishop was pushing her to stay with the man, who was emotionally and physically abusing her and who had allowed another man to do some stuff that I won't directly say. It was emotionally draining on my mother and sister's parts, but now my mother couldn't remember why she was crying. My mother said to the other women that she had to pray to the lord to soften her own heart against the bishop because he was just trying to preserve my sister's eternal temple marriage. If that isn't directing blame away from leaders and onto members I don't know what is.

[jordananderson]

In Mormonism they change your identity by giving you a new celestial name.

[eyesickjay]

Ex- Mormon here weighing in with my experiences. Your evaluation's quite accurate, especially concerning the missions, though you may have underrated a few of these.

Restriction of sleep/ leisure time-
Here was the typical week expected of me as Mormon in highschool:
-Every weekday go to "seminary" (church school) an hour before real school begins. Most American teenagers are already sleep deprived due to unreasonable waking times.
-Every Monday was Family Home Evening, basically a family-led church lesson.
-Wednesday was scouts/ youthgroup activity. Socially mandatory (especially for young men). Better not have any extracurriculars that meet on Wednesday.
-Fridays would typically have a special "youth fireside" which was essentially just going to church for a couple hours.
-Saturdays (or both Friday and Saturday) involved some type of service project (usually for other mormons) or a Scout camping trip or trip to the Temple.

-Sundays required three and a half hours church, and if you're a young man, another hour afterwards of custodial duties and going to inactive members' houses to pressure them in giving the church money.
If you're an adult with a "Calling" (Part-time unpaid job) you'd be losing a couple extra hours to that.
Most families (though it was up to the parents interpretation) did not allow their children do play with friends on Sundays. Some wouldn't even let their kids play outside or digitally. All members are strictly discouraged from spending money on Sundays... which where I live is a requirement for most leisurely activities. Therefore, 1/2 of your weekend is owned by the church.

Minimize/Discourage access to outside information-
They psychologically prime you to fear anything that is not "faith confirming." Labeling anything contradictory to their narrative as "anti-Mormon" and therefore satanic, therefore an existential threat to your core being. Combined with the prohibition of pornography and profanity, members are expected to consume media that matches the church standards. Hmm.. "faith friendly" media are really hard to come by these days... might as well read church magazines and watch BYU entertainment and listen to mormon music etc.

Buddy System-
This might have changed recently (they're changing a lot right now due to loss of membership), but when I was involved, members were paired up in "Home Teaching" companionships, where you and a partner were tasked with visiting a third party's home to keep tabs/ give church lessons. Many aspects of the mission you mention are emulated in "everyday" mormonism.

Blaming individuals over the group/ instilling guilt/ Forbidding criticism of leadership-
I can only speak from personal experience here... but this was very intense for me. Been out of the church for almost 10 years and I still have a guilt complex. Every question/ concern/ issue I had was equated with a moral deficiency or lack of faith. There is no room for criticism at all. Only compliance. If you begin asking questions, you are immediately isolated and pulled aside for interviews and interventions. You mentioned how the Women's Priesthood movement ended, but that is just one of many cases of criticism beings snuffed out. Most complaints don't make it an organized level due to the aforementioned isolation.

[josephblack]

Actually, as a Mormon, I’d like to appreciate being pretty fair. I know I don’t know everything about church culture (having only lived in one place my whole life), but tbh everything in the church is fairly relaxed (except things said in scriptures or by church leaders). If anyone is ever shunned or changed or attacked, it’s a cultural problem, and is not sanctioned by the church leader guidelines. Again, you were pretty fair.

[bearhugzfam]

I'm glad you've taken this one on, and I agree with your decision to leave the missions out for the reasons you've listed. However, I would like to add that the idea that missions are optional is ambiguous at best. There's so much social stigma around not going on a mission that some LDS youth kill themselves, harm themselves, or leave the church because they know they can't avoid it any other way. Plenty of Mormon women will not marry a man who hasn't served a mission, and much of the community is unforgiving of young men who don't go on missions or don't have "valid" reasons for doing so. If an all-but mandatory part of the religion would be, as you say, maxed out 21s across the board, then I think that needs to be given more importance, even if it's not taken into consideration for the BITE test of the religion as a whole.

[julianeluna]

I had a lot of Mormon friends growing up. I never realize what they were going through until looking back on it. You’re doing wonderful work spreading awareness of this. I’m so lucky my mother raised me without religion.