Posted on 12/04/2007 1:27:39 PM PST by Zakeet
From baptism of the dead to a ban on coffee, Mormonism's doctrines are alien to many Americans and that is unlikely to change when Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney gives a long-awaited speech on his faith this week, religious scholars say.
Thursday's address by the former Massachusetts governor, who would be the first Mormon president of the United States, could fuel more questions than answers about a faith many powerful evangelical Christian voters dismiss as a cult.
"I can't see him really making a kind of passionate defense of Mormonism. That's not going to win votes. On the other hand, to pretend he is an evangelical is not going to win. He is in a very awkward position," said Alan Wolfe, director of Boston College's Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life.
[Snip]
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as the sect based in Salt Lake City, Utah, is formally known, is the fourth-largest U.S. religion and one of the richest, with 12.9 million members globally and an estimated $5 billion in annual revenue. More than half live outside the United States.
It bans alcohol, tobacco, tea and coffee. It maintains there is no eternal hell, the dead can be baptized and that God speaks through living apostles and prophets such as the church's current president, Gordon Hinckley.
Although Mormons revere Christ as their savior and consider themselves devout Christians, they reject the unified Trinity and teach that God has a body of flesh.
They believe the religion's founder, Joseph Smith, was a prophet instructed by God to restore the true church and that the Bible contains errors.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Your exclamation point key must be worn out.
You cannot even read for yourself. How did you possibly read the BoM? Or, did you simply take the mishie’s word for it and jump right in?
As I suspect, you appear to be an illiterate mainstreamer that is not capable of answering a simple question, only capable of parroting your silly preacher’s attacks.
Umm, anyone associated with and believing in the Mormon faith is not really in a position to be criticizing others of being parrots.
As for illiterate, my good friend, I’d be more than glad to match intelligence with you any day of the week.
If you are at such an intellectual level, why cannot you answer simple little questions? Are you only able to criticize others? That is the conduct of an ignorant lout.
And, what would they call someone that reverts to constant, derogatory name-calling?
Would that make you a good Christian? Oh wait, it couldn’t, because you’re a Mormon.
Here’s a simple little question for you:
What exact date did Joseph Smith’s first vision occur?
That should be very simple. Anyone would just as soon forget their own birthday than forget the day that they spoke to the Father and the Son.
Cute. Non-responsive to any question posed, stupid sounding, but cute. Can you do anything besides sophmoric name calling?
I am not answering any question posed by you until you answer all the questions I have posed to you. Now spit out some answers.
#88
"That is the conduct of an ignorant lout, " Old Mountain man
Please reference the post where you contend that I resorted to name-calling.
Darned good idea!
This won't fly!
We want to know how ANYONE, born into a multigenerational Mormon family, raised in the church, held various positions from lowly missionary to esteemed Bishop, could EVER have had a 'position' on ABORTION that was NOT against it from his earliest days!
Why?
You couldn't parse and understand it.
Obviously some can't...
...tell the difference between their religions founder and a charlatan!
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/js_h/1/19#19
17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!
18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.
19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”
20 He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, “Never mind, all is well—I am well enough off.” I then said to my mother, “I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.”
Yeah!
It makes it REAL hard to ATTACK them and try to waste THEIR time, defending THEIR group against our charges, and so deflect criticism of LDS, Inc.
Me too!
A twofer!!
Thanks, Elsie. I’ve read it all before. But, I did read it on the internet, so, according to Old Mountain man, it’s just a bunch of lies!
I wonder if he knows that the LDS church has a web presence....hmmmm.
And HE was in SUCH a hurry!
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