[Yaelle]

It would be like Muslims suddenly wanting to be called Jews (the only ‘true’ Jews) and not change their beliefs or practices AT ALL. Would you not oppose that?

I would oppose that. And I would know they were not Jews. Because they are not practicing Judaism. But this already exists. There are various factions calling themselves Jews that have very little Judaism in them. I don't like their ways. So you do have a point. Still, if you have two groups and each finds the other less than itself, you don't get much accomplished because each side has their heart and soul invested in their own beliefs.

It's like this:

1st person: I love the Cat. Its tail is so bushy. Every day I brush that wondrous bushy tail. I am the true cat lover.

2nd person: No, you do NOT love the Cat. The only way to love the Cat is to pet her head. Every day I pet that beautiful head. The tail is not important.

#3rd person: I see that neither of you have a clue about what being a true Cat Lover is. You are lost in unimportant pursuits. A true cat lover, like myself, knows that the secret is in the purr. If you can make the cat purr, it doesn't matter how. The tail, the head, the body. It's all about making the cat purr. Anyone saying that anything else matters is a fraud.

You know what I mean?

[reaganaut]

Disagreements on MAJOR points of doctrine (we are not talking minor points) like the person work and nature of Jesus is not an unimportant persuit.

I agree that sometimes Christians get focused on minor differences and that bugs me. But the differences between Mormonism and Traditional Christianity are as wide as the differences between Islam and Judaism. Seriously.

I used to be Mormon, now I am not. I understand the wide gap more than others and also see how the legalism is soul destroying.

Do you see where I am coming from?

[Elsie]

You know what I mean?

Yup: the blind men an the elephant.

---

When someone ELSE comes along and says to your cat people, "This DOG is much better than your cat - no matter HOW you treat it.", then we tend to have a problem.

[ejonesie22]

Ok, let's add one more to your analogy.

A fourth person has a ferret, telling all who will listen that it is a cat, that you should get a cat just like it and love it to and is telling this to those who don't really know what a cat is. This person may or may not believe this themselves depending on whether they are simply ignorant of the fact or there is some profit for them in the deception.

Now that is more in line with what we are talking about.

[T Minus Four]

I would know they were not Jews. Because they are not practicing Judaism

Yes, yes, exactly; you nailed it. That's how we know Mormons are not Christians. They don't practice Christianity.