Posted on 12/16/2007 11:15:52 PM PST by Mobile Vulgus
Mormons aren't Christians ...
... and other thoughts on religion and politics sure to get your blood boiling
Herewith, my views on religion and the politics of the present moment, with something to offend just about everyone:
1. Mormons aren't Christians. I don't mean that as a criticism, only as a descriptive phrase. When Mormons claim Jesus Christ as their savior, there's no reason to doubt their sincerity and good will, or even to deny that they are in some way followers of Christ. Yet Mormonism rejects foundational doctrines of traditional Christian orthodoxy, such that it is impossible to reconcile with normative Christianity.
2. Anyway, the Latter-day Saints church teaches that all other Christian churches are apostate. A heretic is someone who rejects one or more doctrines of religion, but an apostate is someone who has rejected the religion entirely. How is it, exactly, that you can get mad when people you regard as apostates consider you to be ... apostate? How does that work?
3. Theologically, this is a big deal. But politically, so what? Mormons vote like Southern Baptists and come down on the same side of most issues of public morality like conservative Christians do. If you're a socially conservative lawmaker, wouldn't you rather have a Mormon in your legislative foxhole than a Kennedy-style cafeteria Catholic or progressive mainline Protestant? I'm no Romney fan, but is there really no meaningful political difference between Good-Mormon Mitt and Bad-Catholic Rudy, to say nothing of Liberal-Protestant Hillary?
4. There are plenty of good reasons for conservative Christians not to vote for Mr. Romney, but his religious beliefs are not among them. Do Christians want to be in the position of rejecting a candidate whose political views and moral values they agree with, solely because they don't like his religion?
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
The Trinity is the central doctrine of Christianity. Mormons aren't Trinitarians, and for that reason cannot be considered true Christians.
Catholics, Orthodox and the vast majority of Protestants are Trinitarians.
Yes,..but most studious readers give fair read to all the perspectives and choose those they find most sound. Rather than voting on the mean, they vote their conviction.
If you believe that then you are quite ignorant of Catholicism.
I prefer Isaac Asimov to CS Lewis. His Guide to the Bible is brilliant. Asimov said that “Faith is believing what no one in their right mind would believe” because if it is logical, faith is unnecessary and even impossible.
CS Lewis says that Jesus was either the Son of God or a mad man. If I told you that I was God, would you worship me or think I was nuts?
It takes faith to believe in miracles and mysteries. Logic doesn’t work. One man’s prophet is another man’s madman.
But do we really know Romney isn't like "cafeteria Catholics" Kerry and Kennedy? He's been Mormon all the while he proclaimed to be pro-Choice, for example. Must distrust has nothing to do with his Mormonism. I wish he was a more devout Mormon as I'd at least know he had a moral center of fundamental values instead of the shifting sand, poll-taking sort he seems to be.
Stupid conclusion. Salvation is an individual decision, not a corporate one.
The LDS church is not Christian because it is not Trinitarian. Of course, they say the same of us so the circle is not unbroken.
IIRC United Pentecostals and JW’s are not Trinitarians.
You said that you “Don’t need to” learn about words. It’s a shame. They really DO mean things. You obviously have no idea what persecution means, but are refusing to bother to learn about it. In this case, you should stop using the word. There is an old saying something to the effect that you don’t need to sit around letting people imagine you are a fool when you can open you mouth and let them know it for sure! You did well there, I suppose.
Cb,...the issue isn’t so much one of one religion being superior over another.
Since people want a simple definition of Christianity, keep it simply...faith alone in Christ alone.
Even with this simple definition, the Adversary will twist the basic elements such that one still isn’t in fellowship with God, but distracted by the counterfeit.
For example, many here believe the Christ thought of by the LDS is not the Christ of Scripture, hence a substitute for a real relationship with God.
The best approach to witnessing to such a cult or false believer is to simply communicate and witness the Word of God. No man is going to save a Mormon, rather salvation is only from God, and we might communicate that Word, so that He does all the work in salvation.
I agree with your point that their is volitional responsibility for each believer to handle their relationship with God, which is direct via Christ.
Let us get the definitions right. A heretic is someone who rejects one or more doctrines of religion or denies global warming. An infidel is anyone who is not Muslim especially Jews and Christians.
That's why I agreed with her.
Find me a religion where women aren’t judged differently and told to act different by God and I’ll join...
In a tutu whistling Dixie on Friday the 13th.
Ah, but what does this really mean? Is Jesus the one and only God manifest in the flesh, or one of the gods manifest in the flesh?
As I understand it, Mormons believe in multiple gods, and that they can, in fact, become a god themselves some day. That would make them non-Christian.
Lutherans are Lutherans. They are NOT Christians. {insert any sect} Those statements are just a stupid as your statement about MOrmons.
You obviously haven’t a clue what you are on about. The issue of Mormonism being Christian or not is not a gamesaying like what YOU did. It is based on theological arguments. Are you versed on the arguments? If not, then you and others like you, CLEARLY have NO basis on which to opine.
Any other consideration aside, the bottom line is that Romney is a liberal. Rudy is a liberal, I don't vote for liberals. McCain is a whacko, I would vote for McCain whacko before I would vote for Hillary/Obama whacko.
We have 3 conservatives in the running, (I didn't say perfect conservatives) I will vote for one of them in the primary.
Mormons also believe that they will become God and that the current God live on planet Kolob with his wives and ‘spirit children’.
A temple going Mormon, such as Mitt, must also swear an allegiance to the church first, anything else is second.
If a religon denies that Jesus Christ was both God and Man, then it is NOT Christian.
Words are IMPORTANT.
Unless they believe and profess this creed, then they ARE NOT CHRISTIAN.
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, light from light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father,
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.