Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Mormons Aren't Christians (Columnist also calls Luther a heretic)
Dallas Morning News ^ | 12/16/07 | Rod Dreher

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 ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: christians; dreher; mittromney; mormons
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 441-449 next last
To: devere

OK, glad you read it then.

But, the reason I assumed you didn’t is neither me nor the article said no one should vote for Mitt because he is a Mormon. Since that was your only point it seemed that you just threw some non-sequitur out there without having read it.

But, like the writer said, Mormons are NOT Christian. It’s just a plain fact that they aren’t. It is utterly indisputable. Mormons are Mormons. They are NOT Christians.

But, here is the thing. I am not against Romney because he is a Mormon, I am against him because he is a liar and is less a conservative than he is a Christian.


21 posted on 12/16/2007 11:43:26 PM PST by Mobile Vulgus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58; donna
That means the government can't test - voters can and should.

There's at least one "constitutional scholar" on every thread about Mormons who trots that out.

But donna is correct. The "No religious test" does not apply to individuals, just as freedom of speech does not compel media outlets to publish everyone. It's the difference between government restrictions and private discernment.

22 posted on 12/16/2007 11:43:27 PM PST by Jeff Chandler ("Liberals want to save the world for the children they aren't having." -Mark Steyn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Jeff Chandler

Blow is Yayo.


23 posted on 12/16/2007 11:45:36 PM PST by Bastiat_Fan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: cherry

Do you believe Catholics are pope-, priest-, or saint-centered, and therefore not Christian? Just wondering.

Speaking for myself, I think it’s OK for denominations to disagree on the mode by which to access Christ. Catholics want the relationship mediated by a church bureaucracy. I don’t go for that, but since their ultimate concern is Christ, they’re Christians.

As Rod said in the article, though, Mormons themselves believe other Christians are apostate — having rejected the true faith. Thus, they define the true faith differently and are therefore not of the same religion as other Christians.


24 posted on 12/16/2007 11:45:45 PM PST by BackInBlack ("The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Mobile Vulgus

ATTENTION EVERYONE...

I did not add the second part of the title on this thread.

All I titled this was “Mormons aren’t Christians”

The board mods added the part about M. Luther.

Just so everyone knows.


25 posted on 12/16/2007 11:48:20 PM PST by Mobile Vulgus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jeff Chandler
I am ignorant. What is "blow"?

Powder cocaine.

26 posted on 12/16/2007 11:49:35 PM PST by ModelBreaker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Mobile Vulgus
Just what we need right now--a big detour from a Republican political debate to nasty in-fighting over Christian theology.

Thanks a whole helluva lot!


27 posted on 12/16/2007 11:50:07 PM PST by henbane
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: henbane

Only it ISN’T a “big detour.” The article is quite clear if you actually read it. It says that a Mormon is fine for office, it’s just incorrect to say they are Christians.

A vote for Romney is a vote for a liberal and a liar (though the two words are one and the same, really).


28 posted on 12/16/2007 11:52:39 PM PST by Mobile Vulgus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Mobile Vulgus

I’ll call Luther a heretic. There. :)


29 posted on 12/16/2007 11:53:33 PM PST by Norman Bates
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BackInBlack
C.S. Lewis was a life-long atheist until he studied logic under an atheist professor. Reason then lead him to Christ. His book "Mere Christianity" is not the end all and be all of Christian philosophy. His point of view is that of an academic, and as such is an excellent starting point for academics. It is a primer, nothing more.

I offer it as a resource because he is quite accurate in his description of what Christians agree upon, and what the term "Christian" has meant from the very beginning of Christianity.

30 posted on 12/16/2007 11:53:55 PM PST by Jeff Chandler ("Liberals want to save the world for the children they aren't having." -Mark Steyn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: devere

[. . .How is it, exactly, that you can get mad when people you regard as apostates consider you to be ... apostate? How does that work?]

It seems to me that anyone who is solidly grounded in their Faith will not have the time or inclination to obsess about what other churches are teaching or practicing.


31 posted on 12/16/2007 11:54:18 PM PST by Brad from Tennessee ("A politician can't give you anything he hasn't first stolen from you.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Mobile Vulgus

This should bring out the bigots.


32 posted on 12/16/2007 11:54:28 PM PST by Rudder
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mobile Vulgus

“It is utterly indisputable.”

I say it is wrong, so it is utterly disputable. I just disputed it! A Christian is anyone who worships Jesus as the son of God who was resurrected from the dead. Period. Anyone who disagrees with me, is simply mistaken!


33 posted on 12/16/2007 11:56:29 PM PST by devere
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Antonello
Original Posting: Mitt believes that his wife cannot rise to heaven unless he, Mitt, calls her up by her secret name that only he and she knows.

Original Response: You seem to have omitted the other half - that he believes if he doesn't seek her out and reunite with her, he won't gain exaltation either. They go as a team or not at all. Hardly makes women inferior.

Right as far as you went ... however, once Mitt and Ann "gain exaltation," Ann will be one of Mitt's many wives and she will be forever pregnant and giving birth to Mitt's "spirit babies."

Hardly makes women equal.

34 posted on 12/16/2007 11:57:31 PM PST by Zakeet (Be thankful we don't get all the government we pay for)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: devere

LOL! The Gospel according to devere.


35 posted on 12/16/2007 11:59:17 PM PST by Jeff Chandler ("Liberals want to save the world for the children they aren't having." -Mark Steyn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: cherry; devere; Starwolf
define "Christian"???....a Christian to me is "Christ" centered....Mormons are not Christ centered..they are Joseph Smith and their temples' centered....just as long as you don't claim to be something you are not...

The article "We're Christians just like you!" does a pretty good job of laying out some of the fundamental differences between Mormonism and Christianity.

36 posted on 12/17/2007 12:04:52 AM PST by Zakeet (Be thankful we don't get all the government we pay for)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: cherry
define "Christian"???....a Christian to me is "Christ" centered....Mormons are not Christ centered..they are Joseph Smith and their temples' centered.... moot point since it doesn't matter what religion a person is..that is their business....just as long as you don't claim to be something you are not...

yep - that why the real name of their church if the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

On their home page, I see a lot about Jesus -

I see on their page: "Faith in Christ":

This declaration:

"As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.

He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.

He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary’s cross. He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth.

We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world.

He rose from the grave to “become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20). As Risen Lord, He visited among those He had loved in life. He also ministered among His “other sheep” (John 10:16) in ancient America. In the modern world, He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised “dispensation of the fulness of times” (Ephesians 1:10).

...

It's amazing that so many people claim to know what other people believe or don't believe...and have the affrontary judge them with such condemnation. Such are far less Christian than those they judge...

37 posted on 12/17/2007 12:06:08 AM PST by maine-iac7 (",,,but you can't fool all of the people all the time" LINCOLN)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: devere
I say it is wrong, so it is utterly disputable. I just disputed it! A Christian is anyone who worships Jesus as the son of God who was resurrected from the dead. Period. Anyone who disagrees with me, is simply mistaken!
I never said it wasn't your opinion. We are all entitled to our opinions, but we aren't entitled to our own facts.

You have a perfectly common opinion. Just no facts.

38 posted on 12/17/2007 12:09:05 AM PST by Mobile Vulgus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: devere

Mormons also believe that God was once a man, who evolved to become a God, and all Mormons will likewise evolve into becoming Gods, who will in turn be worshipped and prayed to as our God on Earth is.

It’s the old lie of Satan, that we can be as Gods, and Joseph Smith and his followers fell for it, just as Adam did.

Mormons are not Christians...

Ed


39 posted on 12/17/2007 12:09:15 AM PST by Sir_Ed
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Rudder

There is no “bigotry” in saying Mormons aren’t Christians. unless, of course, you just wish to shut down the discussion and cast off name calling as some sort of “proof” that you are right?


40 posted on 12/17/2007 12:10:42 AM PST by Mobile Vulgus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 441-449 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson