[cookcounty]

At risk of being flamed, may I say that I could vote for Romney in the primary, and definitely will vote for him in the General should he win the nomination. At the same time, I have a hard time taking Mormonism seriously in any theological way (as opposed to a social movement). Theologicaly, to me it's a big stretch to call Mormonism "Christian" unless one is speaking of "general moral values."

Christians proclaim the Cross, Mormons hide the Cross

Classical christianity is based on the concept of irretrievably corrupt and sinful humans being redeemed by Jesus' "paying the price" on the cross in our place, and we, in repentane accepting his sacrifice as the central principal of our lives. Catholics and Evangelicals see the cross as symbolically central to their faith. In Mormonism, the central principal of the cross is pushed to the periphery, to the extent that the symbol and the meaning behind it are largely ignored. It's a religion about the Golden Rule and seeking righteousness, which is all well and good, but is not "Christianity" in the historic sense of the term, any more than Confucianism.

Christians proclaim the Cross, Mormons hide the Cross

[LukeSW]

Theologicaly, to me it's a big stretch to call Mormonism "Christian" unless one is speaking of "general moral values."
Christians proclaim the Cross, Mormons hide the Cross

Mormons proclaim the living, resurrected Christ, the son of the living God. Mormons do not worship instruments of torture. But we are deeply grateful for the atonement Christ achieved both in Gethsemene and on the cross. But we choose to focus on and worship the living, resurrected Christ, the son of the living God.


We feel we do not need to worship images of death. We do declare the Christ lives and that he continues to speak to living prophets and apostles, stake presidents and bishops. In other words, we proclaim that Christ reveals his will through the gift of the Holy Ghost and revelation to his servants here on earth today. What could be more Christian than that?


As for John L. Smith's quote at the top of the page, there is a much more optimistic implication. If the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints is true, that means that God really lives, Christ really lives, and that both of them really love all on the earth and welcome, encourage and invite all to come to them. Where particular individuals and organizations happen to be on the spectrum of possible degrees of coming unto Christ isn't particularly relevant. He loves all, and invites all to come.

What Christ doesn't particularly like are political documents that merge pagan philosophies into religious doctrine under political control. I speak of the Nicean creed and all of the resulting Protestant and Christian creeds, which Christ declared to be an abomination. Nevertheless, Christ loves all people, Muslim, Protestant, Catholic and aetheist. That's why he restored his Church and priesthood power to earth, to bless all people.