I’m a Mormon, Not a Christian [Mega hit piece on Christians]

New York Times ^ | June 12, 2012 | David V. Mason

[greyfoxx39]

................... Mormons seem to be everywhere.

I want to be on record about this. I’m about as genuine a Mormon as you’ll find — a templegoer with a Utah pedigree and an administrative position in a congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am also emphatically not a Christian.

-SNIP-

In addition, these Christians had to defend their use of additional scripture and their unconventional conception of God and explain why they were following a bumpkin carpenter from some obscure backwater. Early Christianity’s relationship with non-Jews was even worse. Roman writers frequently alluded to rumors about the cannibalistic and hedonistic elements of early Christian rites. One after the other, Christians went to the lions because they found it impossible to defend themselves against such outrageous accusations. They did eat flesh and drink blood every Sunday, after all.

Eventually, Christianity grew up and conceded that it wasn’t authentic Judaism. Lo and behold, once it had given up its claim to Judaism, it became a state religion — cannibalism notwithstanding — and spent the next 1,700 years getting back at all the bullies who had slighted it when it was a child.

-SNIP-

Whatever happens in November, I hope Mormonism eventually realizes that it doesn’t need Christianity’s approval and will get big and beat up all the imperious Christians who tormented it when it was small, weird and painfully self-conscious. Mormons are certainly Christian enough to know how to spitefully abuse their power.

[svcw]

He is only “rogue”, if all TR holders are. TRs are awarded to only about 15% of the most loyal lds.

[rawcatslyentist]

I find it hard to believe either of you are still supporting/ paying for tv/cable/satellite.

It is sooo predictable.

[Colofornian]

One needs to assume 1 = 1 = 1 for that equation to work. That is, they are identical in all respects.

Why? (do you assume that?)

Oneness has to do with nature/essence...When we speak of threeness, we are talking about self-distinctions within the Godhead. Put another way, we believe in one What and three Who's.

If they were so in the case of the trinity, then why did Jesus pray to God? Being identical would imply that the inherent properties of each entity is identical to the other.

Even human speaking - wise, Jesus says a man and wife are "no longer two" -- but one. (read matthew 19) They are intimately one; they are joined together as one. They are both human (the what). Identity-wise, they share the same last name, yet are two Persons.

So are you willing to grant Jesus' premise that they are no longer 2 yet 1, but you refuse to grant a divine oneness that consists of 3? Cannot the divine be more intimately one than a mere husband and wife?

And then, for those who go radically solo in describing God, that winds up being a bare oneness --a non-social oneness of God -- a non-corporate oneness of God; and that would mean that before any angels or people were created that God was alone. Was He?

How could God be love if there was no social oneness for love to be exchanged?

God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit communicated before anyone was; love was exchanged before anyone was; so it's no surprise Jesus prayed to the Father...yet one more string in an eternal one of communication.

[svcw]

The mormons in my family and friends are “warned” not to criticize each other in public as it reflects poorly on the “church”.
It appears because of this, they will furiously defend any person regardless of what their politics are because they are viewing it as an attack on the “church”.

[Ingtar]

You are correct. However, I do not believe that his LDS membership will be the greatest wedge between Romney and Christians. Rather, it will be his pro-Death and pro-gay past.

[Belteshazzar]

This is an interesting piece of writing, weaving seamlessly together the well-ripened fruits of a good education with a near total misunderstanding - if one were to be charitable in one’s judgment - of Christianity. The piece itself is curious. The piece of work who put it together is not. He is simply a well-educated ignoramus. Sadly, this is what passes for insightfulness today.

[Colofornian]

The New York Times doesn’t give a rat’s ass about Mormonism. This is about creating a conflict between Christians and Mormons so enough Evangelicals stay home on Election Day...

If you think that's the case, then either you and/or the NY Times don't know enough about Evangelicals.

In 2010, Evangelicals were 1/3rd the entire vote. That's not 1/3rd of the Republican vote, but the ENTIRE vote!

IOW, Evangelicals do not "stay home."

Secondly, it is true that there's none-to-little steam for getting out the vote among Evangelicals. No passion. Why would there be when the GoP-E has given us a liberal, pro-abort, big govt, socialist pioneer healthcare artist who thinks he's a god-in-embryo en route to full-blown godhood?

But with all the other races & other issues, no reason for Christians to stay home...e'en if there ARE plenty of reasons for Christians to vote for Virgil Goode or some other third party.

Do I really need to trot out the various quotes from Mormon leaders thru the years -- the ones highly accusatory by Lds leaders toward Christians -- to show you that this conflict isn't suddenly "created" as you claim?

Joseph Smith tried to bury worldwide Christianity in one big spiritual graveyard. He tried the scorched earth approach...labeling us all "apostates" and "corrupt" and said all of our creeds were putrid.

Mormons assumed an in-your-face controversial conflict-driven approach from the get-go!

[greyfoxx39]

The difference being that much of what he says is what a lot a Mormons say privately among themselves. But they certainly aren’t supposed to be saying this in public. It’s a violation of Mormon Takiya

The author is pretty much expressing the anger that we see every day by FR mormons....his problem seems to be the usual attitude of mormonism that it is so "speshul" in being the "true and living church" that it is sacrilege for anyone to even discuss the sect.

The mormon membership wants everyone to leave them alone while they crow about the prophecy of a mormon on a white horse "saving the Constitution".

Sad.

[TheThirdRuffian]

“WHY do they call themselves the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?”

To mislead Christians and walk as disguised wolves among sheep.

[taxcutisapayraise]

If you want to offer sound information to your fellow Mormons and people of all faiths; might I suggest one reads “The Proper Role of Government” by the late, great Ezra Taft Benson. He was the president of the Mormon church and also Ike’s Sec. of Ag.

Link: http://www.properroleofgovernment.com/

I believe our FReeper community will find favor in his wisdom ... (except for RINO’s).

It is a quick read.

[Psycho_Bunny]

wow. Mason’s a real piece of work. What a jackass.

[chesley]

Satan has a lot of irons in the fire. He’s always ready to sacrifice one, or more, so that another may prosper.

[SoFloFreeper]

garbage. this guy sounds like a jerk.

what evah.

I am voting in November to fire the guy whose middle name is Hussein.

[muawiyah]

At last, that makes sense.

They'll have to get over it of course.

[Coldwater Creek]

In a town where there are more churches than gas stations, we get this fool teaching our young minds!

[muawiyah]

Hey, I thought that's what the Mittbots were after in Virginia ~ just keep the Evangelicals and others home and get them out of the practice of voting so that Mitt would be unopposed.

So, what you got on the stove cookin' that's going to get us to go vote now?

[Washi]

The New York Times doesn’t give a rat’s ass about Mormonism. This is about creating a conflict between Christians and Mormons so enough Evangelicals stay home on Election Day to keep Chicago Jesus in the White House.

Don’t get played.

I'm glad someone else realizes this too. There are a lot of folks here allowing themselves to "get played".

[old-ager]

> If Jesus “a bumpkin carpenter from some obscure backwater” and show such contempt and derision for Him, they WHY do they call themselves the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

Right. Mitt, while not a Christian, will find it easy to denounce this bull$hit, if he even bothers to. Mormons and even Muslims “respect” Christ while denying many essential facts and points of doctrine. They don’t know or belong to Him, but maintaining outward respect is essential to their own false doctrines and agendas.

[muawiyah]

One more time ~ folks gloss over "mainline" and "mainstream" thinking they may mean the same thing.

They don't.

Mainline originally referred to the churches patronized by the wealthy people who lived out along the Main Line ~ a railroad that headed into Philadelphia in the early day.

A "mainstream" church actually doesn't have much cachet ~ you get outside the Roman Catholic church, which is the biggest Christian institution of any kind, all the others are quite small.

The RCC is the only MSM Christian church when you get right down to it.

So, what term do we want to use so that we don't needlessly confuse or insult our fellow Christians?

One radio host who has been popular on and off for years uses "Within the Pale of Christian Orthodoxy" ~ and that brings in just about everybody but not the Unitarians, Universalists, Mormons, one branch of Pentecostalism, and some other minor quasi-Christian offshoots.

I simply use "Christian" and you pick the meaning to see if it fits you. Best to avoid "Mainstream" and "Mainline" even if the particular usage is correct!

[muawiyah]

One more time ~ folks gloss over "mainline" and "mainstream" thinking they may mean the same thing.

They don't.

Mainline originally referred to the churches patronized by the wealthy people who lived out along the Main Line ~ a railroad that headed into Philadelphia in the early day.

A "mainstream" church actually doesn't have much cachet ~ you get outside the Roman Catholic church, which is the biggest Christian institution of any kind, all the others are quite small.

The RCC is the only MSM Christian church when you get right down to it.

So, what term do we want to use so that we don't needlessly confuse or insult our fellow Christians?

One radio host who has been popular on and off for years uses "Within the Pale of Christian Orthodoxy" ~ and that brings in just about everybody but not the Unitarians, Universalists, Mormons, one branch of Pentecostalism, and some other minor quasi-Christian offshoots.

I simply use "Christian" and you pick the meaning to see if it fits you. Best to avoid "Mainstream" and "Mainline" even if the particular usage is correct!