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]

[P-Marlowe]

The Book of Revelation closes with a warning against adding to scripture other than what was already written.

Actually it only warns against adding or taking away from that particular book of prophecy.

[pby]

A straight forward comparison.

[BibChr]

Well, can’t you just reduce it to a brief excerpt — even if only a couple of words —, or a summary statement, and a link?

[bmwcyle]

I want to see the Golden Tables first.

[P-Marlowe]

Maybe the Moderator could just reduce the article to the first paragraph or two (fair usage) and then you could reference the points made in the article.

[P-Marlowe]

Well, can’t you just reduce it to a brief excerpt — even if only a couple of words —, or a summary statement, and a link?

Looks like it was done.

Carry on.

[Religion Moderator]

If you’d rather have it pulled altogether, let me know.

[AFPhys]

I want to know why it would matter to anybody what religion a presidential candidate maintains. As long as he is following the tenets of his religious values, I’m good with that self-consistency in his life. That out of the way, I want to know whether the values he expresses by the way he lives are coincident with values I believe are important. Romney, to take one case, easily passes both of my tests. Clinton, to take another case, flunks.

[P-Marlowe]

Now that it has been edited, I think the biggest problem with the article is not the doctrinal differences that have been raised (those are legitimate), but the fact that the author insists over and over that "The Mormon Church teaches..." and in many cases the Mormon Church doesn't necessarily teach many of those things any more. The Mormon Church appears to be in the process of distancing themselves from many of these abberrant teachings that were often shouted from the rooftops.

The fact of the matter is that the Mormon Church has been changing since day one and continues to change and is continuing to try to present itself as just another Christian sect while at the same time denying that any other sect has the Authority to call itself the true Church of Christ.

[restornu]

Please share with us the names of Gods?

[Salvation]

BTTT!!!

[bremenboy]

If Mormons are Christians then then they would call themselves Christans instead of Mormons

Think about it

[P-Marlowe]

Please share with us the names of Gods?

Joseph Smith.

[restornu]

Who gets to decide if the Bible is perfect?

Perfect means complete.

[Salvation]

**I want to know why it would matter to anybody what religion a presidential candidate maintains. **

It matters a lot to me for various reasons. Being pro-life is among them. Vote F. Thompson, Huckabee or Brownback

[Afronaut]

No; that is just silly. Just saying you are means nothing.

I am the greatest, BTW.....

[Non-Sequitur]

Hoooo boy. Here we go again.

[restornu]

He is not a God PM and you know that!

[Logophile]

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)?

Even if we were to accept the article's summary of Mormonism and orthodox Christianity, all that it has established is that Mormons are not orthodox.

Scanning the article quickly, I did not see a definition of the word Christian as the author is using it. (Perhaps I overlooked it.) Nor did I see any mention that the word is used in just a few places in the Bible, where it appears to be synonymous with disciple or follower.

The author's argument seems to rest on several dubious assertions. One is summed up in the phrase "the Bible teaches" (which appears ten times by my count). The Bible does not teach anything; it has to be read and interpreted. The author seems to believe that just one interpretation is possible.

Another dubious assertion is that Christians believe the same things. The author actually writes about "the common gospel believed by all orthodox Christians through the ages regardless of denominational labels." Considering the history and present state of the broader Christian community, that is nonsense.

A third assertion is that the orthodox Christianity that the author describes is solely Bible-based. However, some of his points depend on extra-Biblical beliefs. For instance, the doctrine of the Trinity was developed much later than the Bible.

At best, the article can be read as an attempt to define, not Christianity, but orthodoxy. Whether he is successful in that attempt I will leave to others to decide.

[Salvation]

So are you saying that you would vote for Kuccinish, a professed non-believer. (my way of saying some much worse.)