RE: So as appalling as becoming god sounds I understand it and don’t (now) find it offensive.
For the sake of sharper thinking, there still is an important point.
As a Roman Catholic, you DO believe that Jesus Christ IS God ( not CREATED by God, therefore, NOT God’s son in the sense that my son was born from me ). Christ was NEVER MADE, HE ETERNALLY EXISTED. HE *IS* GOD. HE *IS* THE ONLY GOD.
Do Mormons believe this?
The Nicene Creed which I believe you subscribe to clarifies this and deifferentiates those IN the faith and OUT of the faith with this statement :
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“We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible. We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father [the only-begotten; that is, of the essence of the Father, God of God], Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds (æons), Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father;
By whom all things were made [both in heaven and on earth];
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If Mormon’s do not subscribe to this, then even Catholic tradition cannot consider them Christian.
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I have never stated that I was a member of the Roman Catholic Church. I have done all I can to not give my personal beliefs. I do not consider it important for other to know what my religion is or isn't because I do not see anyone on this earth as my judge.
Is there room for believing that Christ was not always God? I would say there are plenty of scriptures that would lead one to believe that He increased in wisdom and stature. That He completed the work His Father sent Him to do. Prior to that what was He? I can't answer the question. I can only say that to me He is God The Son. Through Him I have the opportunity to live in His presence forever. If I get to live in His presence I fully one day expect to inherit all He has. He has told me as much through His word.
I do the best I can to truly follow Christ and admire all that do likewise but I am loathe to judge them without first really understanding their beliefs.
Mormons are different than Roman Catholics, Methodists are different than Baptists are different than Lutherans are different than Presbyterians are different than Orthodox Catholics. etc. . . . .
Bluntly it’s not “even Catholics cannot consider them Christian” — orthodox belief is encapsulated in the Nicene Creed. The Mormons don’t believe in that. They are not Christian — neither are other groups outside the Apostolic Church who deny the Trinity.