Is Mormonism Christian?

Institute For Religious Research ^ | 1999 | Institute for Religious Research

[pby]

Is Mormonism Christian?

A Comparison of Mormonism and Historic Christianity Copyright © 1999 Institute for Religious Research. All rights reserved.

Is Mormonism Christian? This may seem like a puzzling question to many Mormons as well as to some Christians. Mormons will note that they include the Bible among the four books which they recognize as Scripture, and that belief in Jesus Christ is central to their faith, as evidenced by their official name, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Furthermore, many Christians have heard the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing Christian hymns and are favorably impressed with the Mormon commitment to high moral standards and strong families. Doesn’t it follow that Mormonism is Christian?

[snip]

[Enosh]

No.

[Logophile]

Yes.

[Vigilanteman]

Who gets to decide? The Nicean Council? Self-appointed fundamentalists (who hate Catholics, too)? Or the mysterious Religious Right Taliban, favorite boogeyman of the State Church of Godlessness?

[pby]

How could you say yes when these significant differences exist between the teachings of the Bible and the teachings of Mormonism (as outlined in the article)?

Given the comparisons...The answer is clearly "no".

[conserveababe]

If we opposed militant Islam with the ferocity and passion of this opposition to Mormonism, Osama would be dead, al-Qaeda would be out of business, and Iraq would be peaceful.

[Enosh]

"By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that there are many Gods (Book of Abraham 4:3ff), and that we can become gods and goddesses in the celestial kingdom (Doctrine and Covenants 132:19-20; Gospel Principles, p. 245; Achieving a Celestial Marriage, p. 130)."

That's blasphemy.

[pby]

Who gets to decide?

The Bible...

Read the article...the differences are clear.

[P-Marlowe]

Copyright © 1999 Institute for Religious Research. All rights reserved.

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Did you get permission?

[pby]

hate?

I don't think so.

We can have differing beliefs without hate (and even with love).

[Logophile]

If the Mormon Church believes it is the only true Christian Church, it should not attempt to publicly present itself as a part of a broader Christian community. Instead it should tell the world openly that those who claim to be orthodox Christians are not really Christians at all, and that the Mormon Church is the only true Christian Church. This in fact is what it teaches privately, but not publicly.

Oh, and this paragraph from the article is both dumb and dishonest.

It is dumb because it insists that we Mormon Christians adopt an either/or definition of Christian that almost no one else uses. Most people recognize that a wide variety of beliefs and practices are to be found in the "broader Christian community." Although we believe that ours is the most correct version of Christianity, we do not deny that others have a commitment to Jesus Christ and are therefore Christians. We are not as exclusive as the author would have us be.

It is dishonest because it asserts that we teach in private that all non-Mormons are not Christians. That is simply not true.

[shekkian]

The Book of Revelation closes with a warning against adding to scripture other than what was already written. The Bible is complete. The Book of Mormon is an unauthorized addition, even as Mormons claim to be part of the Christian fold.

That said, Mitt Romney's religion is not the defining issue with me. That wasn't me in that diner who told Mitt to take a flying leap.

[Enosh]

"(who hate Catholics, too)?"

1. Nobody here "hates" Mormons, (or Catholics).
2. Catholics are Christians.

[Congressman Billybob]

This is cr*p. It misrepresents the tenets of the Mormon faith. They are Christians to the same extent as Baptists (all shades), Presbyterians, etc. From reading this, you would think that Mormons were like Unitarians.

They are not. This is an ill-informed, hit piece.

Congressman Billybob

Latest article, "Dick Strain Cashes In His Chips"

[pby]

ferocity?

LOL!

Must be the definition has changed some recently?

I didn't realize that a straight forward comparison between the two constituted "ferocity".

[conserveababe]

What would you call a straightforward comparison between the Bible and the Koran?

[pby]

uh-oh!

woops!!

I did not see that.

[P-Marlowe]

Whenever you post an article that has any reference to a copyright, its a good idea to look around the site to see what the copyright restrictions are. Most religious sites allow you to re-post articles as long as they are not being sold. This is one of the rare sites that reserves the restrictions against reposting on another site.

I think you need to ask that the thread be removed.

Sorry.

[BibChr]

You’d think fundamental honesty would be a desired trait.

It’s odd. Christians don’t try to argue that they’re really Mormons. If only the reverse were true.

[pby]

Thanks, P-Marlowe.

I will via this post.

Religion Moderator, due to copyright restrictions, please remove this posted article.

Thank you.