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How do Mormons answer ‘not Christian’ claims?
Washington Post ^ | October 12, 2011 | Michael Otterson

Posted on 10/16/2011 1:13:19 PM PDT by greyfoxx39

I had been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints for just a few days when I encountered my first experience of anti-Mormon prejudice.

-SNIP-

“But you’re not Christian and you don’t believe in forgiveness.” It was not a question, but a declaration, delivered with a finality reminiscent of a judge’s gavel rendering verdict on a hapless miscreant.

-SNIP-

Mormons do not pretend that their understanding of Christ is identical to that of Christian orthodoxy. We embrace the New Testament and much of what the modern Christian world teaches about the Savior of the world, but we do not stop there. We have a lot more to add about the Son of God, and it is that additional revelation that causes the real rub with some orthodox Christians. To us, however, refusing to accept further enlightenment on the mission of Jesus Christ is like a math teacher telling his or her students they must stop at multiplication tables. No algebra or calculus allowed.

-SNIP-

For those who want to accelerate that process of understanding, our churches are open to all every Sunday. Use the website to find the nearest chapel to you, and feel free to drop by. If you try to track the number of references to Jesus Christ in the service, you may lose count. So just observe the families, listen to the prayers, leaf through the hymn book to see if any of the hymns seem familiar, and make up your own mind as to how Christian our people are. Jesus taught us: “By their fruits, ye shall know them.”

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Apologetics; Other non-Christian; Religion & Politics; Theology
KEYWORDS: antiamericanism; antichristian; antimormonextremist; antimormonhatred; antimormonjihad; antimormonmanifesto; bitterformermormon; hemanmormonhater; inman; mormoaner; mormon; mormophobia; mormophobic; religiousbigot; religiouszealot; romney
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To: Osage Orange

This podcast from the Eastern Orthodox website Ancient Faith Radio connects Mormonism with the Radical Reformation and American revivalism. http://ancientfaith.com/announcements/non-mainstream_christians_-_part_one


81 posted on 10/16/2011 8:03:11 PM PDT by rzman21
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To: rzman21

Like I said...crazy is, as crazy does, NOOB.


82 posted on 10/16/2011 8:10:57 PM PDT by Osage Orange (Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum)
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To: Vendome
Don't make the thread "about" individual Freepers. That is also a form of "making it personal."

Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.

83 posted on 10/16/2011 8:12:51 PM PDT by Religion Moderator
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To: patlin
So then how does one explain Christianity's rejection of Torah?

What makes you think it has?

84 posted on 10/16/2011 8:21:58 PM PDT by Siena Dreaming
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To: muawiyah

If you are referring to the Catholic and Orthodox insistence on the adherence to apostolic Tradition, I would say you are incorrect.

Apostolic Tradition protects the interpretation of the scriptures from error through the power of the Holy Spirit. I’m amazed how much more Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox have retained in common over the past 2,000 years.

They have far more in common doctrinally than say Lutherans and Baptists who both believe in Sola Scriptura, yet disagree on more than they agree on — Baptism, Holy Communion, private confession, the nature of the ministry, etc.

Protestants used to draw and quarter Catholics in England in the 16th and 17th centuries. I might remind you of the great service of the Puritans, so there’s enough finger-pointing to go around.


85 posted on 10/16/2011 8:34:25 PM PDT by rzman21
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To: Siena Dreaming
What makes you think it has?

Maybe the fact that they have

...rejected the 7th day Sabbath and ordained and appointed Sunday in replacement of the 4th Commandment while admitting to having no Scriptural authority to do so

...the worship of dead men & women other than YHVH. Not even Yah’shua Messiah commanded worship of himself. Remembrance yes, worship no

...adopted & ordained their own religious celebrations while rejecting the chosen & appointed Holy convocations set by YHVH & professing YHVH’s holy convocations are for Jews only

...rejected the personal instructions for healthy & holy living as being for Jews only such as eating what YHVH created to be earth's vacuum cleaners disregarding the health risks to the human body(YHVH’s Temples in the flesh) they case and not quarantine sick people until they are deemed not contagious. The largest viral killer each year is the flu but what the hay, give ‘em a shot & send ‘em out in public just like they do with all other contagious viruses

...more & more religious denominations under the umbrella of Christianity are accepting sexual immorality & same sex marriage

...the fact that violence & immorality is at an all time high “In The Church” while membership is falling through the floor

...more and more religious denominations under the umbrella of Christianity are joining in support of Islam over Israel

ALL these instances are in complete transgression of Torah and they are but a small spattering of them. If we can not trust our religious leaders who are in charge of doctrine they teach & preach to audit that doctrine and make sure it is not in violation of YHVH’s Torah as HE & Yah’shua Messiah commanded, then how is a lay person to be assured they are not also transgressing Torah? YHVH calls for HIS people to be set apart and there is nothing set apart about the religious doctrine I just came out of.

86 posted on 10/16/2011 9:04:12 PM PDT by patlin ("Knowledge is a powerful source that is 2nd to none but God" ConstitutionallySpeaking 2011)
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To: Fiji Hill
praise to the man

Whatchu say?


87 posted on 10/17/2011 2:13:07 AM PDT by Cronos (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2787101/posts?page=58#58)
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To: Jim Noble; rzman21
The recognition that protestantism is the necessary predicate for the LDS, and that in fact LDS theology is not contradicted by protestant metaphysics .

you are correct. J Smith was a smart fiction writer who took the themes of his day -- the Baptist idea that there was a "Great Apostasy" and that the Baptists somehow stayed aside from orthodoxy. Then he took the aspects of the Adventists etc. Then he took the British-Israelism which had roots in Calvinism and British Imperial propaganda

He mixed it up with the fascination about Egypt that was just starting (but the hieroglyphs were not deciphered yet) and mixed it all up together and voila!

88 posted on 10/17/2011 2:16:48 AM PDT by Cronos (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2787101/posts?page=58#58)
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To: rzman21; muawiyah
There is enough finger-pointing to go around, correct.

However, we Christians share a common definition of faith, encapsulated in the Nicene Creed. Since we share that, we are brethren in Christ, Lord, God and Savior, part of the Triune Godhead with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Whatever else we may disagree with, we share that. With some like the Orthodox, Catholics - these are lungs of the same organism. With others it can be brothers or cousins in faith.

however, to stick to the theme of this particular thread, Mormonism is a separate, distinct religion.

If they wish to believe whatever they wish to believe, so be it, it is their free will to do so.

however, to say that Jesus is just one God of many is not Christian as it rejects the concept of ONE God, hence they are not Christian.

89 posted on 10/17/2011 2:23:22 AM PDT by Cronos (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2787101/posts?page=58#58)
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To: patlin; Siena Dreaming
the worship of dead men & women other than YHVH. Not even Yah’shua Messiah commanded worship of himself.

the difference is that we Christians believe Jesus Christ to be God with the Father and the Holy SPirit -- you don't believe that Jesus Christ is God, do you?

That is your choice to believe or not. However, we as Christians see Him as God (His references to Himself as "I AM", His forgiving of sins in His own name -- those mean that He was either God or some demonic liar/mad-man, nothing in-between) -- He was either God or not, nothing else, He could not have been just a "good man" or "super-prophet" because those do not have the power to forgive sins in their own name.

90 posted on 10/17/2011 2:26:45 AM PDT by Cronos (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2787101/posts?page=58#58)
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To: patlin; Siena Dreaming
such as eating what YHVH created to be earth's vacuum cleaners

are you talking of Lobsters or Pigs or what?

91 posted on 10/17/2011 2:27:21 AM PDT by Cronos (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2787101/posts?page=58#58)
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To: Cronos
the worship of dead men & women

I was referencing the upcoming all saints day. And as for Yah;shua Messiah, I'll let Yah’shua speak for himself as these are His Words

Revelation 19:10
And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Revelation 22:9
Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

We are to worship YHVH and pray for forgiveness in the name of Yah’shua Messiah. Furthermore, this is a thread about judging others religious doctrine against one that I came out of that is far from being pure. Furthermore, I have never criticized the trinity & you know that. Have I ever come into your religious threads or sought you out to condemned your religious doctrine? NO! So why do you feel you have the right to come here & condemn me?

I've been around long enough for you to know that I only post on Lutheran or basic Christian threads. I believe the last time we sparred was when I posted a thread about a certain pagan holiday where you were quick to jump in and condemn but couldn't back up what you were saying with Scripture. So here is your challenge. Using Scripture only, prove me wrong. Prove to me that Christian religious doctrine is pure and without any spot of transgression of Torah.

92 posted on 10/17/2011 3:22:58 AM PDT by patlin ("Knowledge is a powerful source that is 2nd to none but God" ConstitutionallySpeaking 2011)
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To: Cronos
are you talking of Lobsters or Pigs or what?

Leviticus 11

The interesting thing here is I never believed this was a health issue statute & believe me, I ate a lot of things that are on the list of detestable abominations we are not to consume, including pork, products such as gelatin that have pork by products in them & yes, lobster. But since I had severe arthritis and was not able to take medication due to a near death allergic reaction to the aspirin in the medication and thus had extremely limited mobility, when YHVH revealed to me that the Torah was for me also I decided that this was a small step I could take in the right direction in turning back to YHVH. I fully trusted YHVH was right about these creatures being detestable and unhealthy for the human body and there is absolutely no medical science to back the fact that I now have nearly unlimited mobility and my joint swelling is gone. Aside from finally having the personal relationship with YHVH that HE intended for me to have with HIM, nothing has brought greater joy to my life than finally being able to get down on the floor & play games with the grandchildren.

Acts 10 - Peter's vision has nothing to do with food, it is about the oral Rabbinical law that condemned a Jew from eating with out of covenant gentiles who the Rabbis deemed unclean. Cornelius was in the process of converting to Judaism in order to become a clean person (the 3 ft wall of separation). Pray can not make unclean food clean, however YHVH never claimed any human to be unclean and that is the teaching of Acts 10

Proverbs 28:7 Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son... 9 One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination

Likewise Matthew 15 is about the oral Rabbinical hand washing law that has no foundation in Torah. While washing hands before eating is preferable, it was never a requirement from YHVH.

93 posted on 10/17/2011 4:01:30 AM PDT by patlin ("Knowledge is a powerful source that is 2nd to none but God" ConstitutionallySpeaking 2011)
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To: Cronos
I took a history course from one of the foremost Jacksonian scholars who later was commissioned to write a biography of the early years of Joseph Smith. The professor explained that Smith was a product of his times (1820's ) and there was such an atmosphere of Revivalism in Palmyra NY area, that Smith was easily able to attract believes. He noted the themes of Jacksonian Democracy present in the themes of Smith.

The professor painted a picture of this period in Upstate NY as being very electric and claimed that if Smith had come 10 years before or after his disclosures the climate would not have supported acceptance of his doctrines.

When questioned concerning the validity of these LSD doctrines, the professor merely laughed and refused to comment. Perhaps that is why the Mormon authorities cooperated in this venture.

94 posted on 10/17/2011 6:50:35 AM PDT by proe
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To: 1malumprohibitum
Is this really even open to debate? The bible is quite clear about Johnny come lately’s trying to rewrite the rules. This includes mad mo and co.

Mormonism is counting on those who are ignorant of the rules. Thus a huge missionary program since the founding of the corporation.

95 posted on 10/17/2011 7:36:26 AM PDT by greyfoxx39 (Mittbots on FR swarm just like the nasty crazy, hairy ants.)
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To: Cronos

That’s what you get when you have private interpretation of scripture.

Arius and the Unitarians looked at scripture and got the opposite conclusion.

Tradition serves as the guardian of the proper interpretation of scripture.

The Nicene Christian tradition that most Protestants adhere to is just that TRADITION. It’s implicit in scripture, not explicit.

Mormonism is the offspring of some of the more radical traditions of the Radical Reformation that took private interpretation of scripture to extreme.

It’s not much of a stretch to go from saying that each and every Christian has the ability to independently interpret scripture to becoming like Joseph Smith or Mary Baker Eddy claiming to be prophets.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restoration_movement


96 posted on 10/17/2011 9:22:29 AM PDT by rzman21
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To: patlin

All Saints day is not “worship” but remembrance, no difference than the remembrance of the dead by our Jewish friends.


97 posted on 10/17/2011 12:07:08 PM PDT by Cronos (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2787101/posts?page=58#58)
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To: patlin
Nice lie repetition -- the last time we sparred, I proved to you that the lies in your post were scripturally unsound. you couldn't back up what you were saying with Scripture at all
98 posted on 10/17/2011 12:08:55 PM PDT by Cronos (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2787101/posts?page=58#58)
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To: patlin; Siena Dreaming
Nice lie repetition -- the last time we sparred, I proved to you that the lies in your post were scripturally unsound. you couldn't back up what you were saying with Scripture at all

Prove to me that Christian religious doctrine is pure and without any spot of transgression of Torah --> Where exactly do YOU get off saying the Jesus Christ is not God?

99 posted on 10/17/2011 12:09:56 PM PDT by Cronos (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2787101/posts?page=58#58)
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To: patlin; Siena Dreaming
And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus.

Nice cherry-picking -- the person who St. John of Patmos says he fell at an angel's feet, and it was the ANGEL who said "don't worship me" -- not Jesus Christ.

Man, talk about twisting the truth.

100 posted on 10/17/2011 12:10:40 PM PDT by Cronos (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2787101/posts?page=58#58)
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