Mormons Aren't Christians (Columnist also calls Luther a heretic)

Dallas Morning News ^ | 12/16/07 | Rod Dreher

[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?

[Mobile Vulgus]

Right on Rod!!

[devere]

Mormons believe that Jesus was the divine son of God who died and was resurrected, and therefore they are Christians, regardless of any other doctrinal differences. To say otherwise, in my opinion, is just playing with words. Unitarians believe that Jesus was an inspired prophet of God, but not himself divine, so Unitarians are not Christians. We’ve had Unitarian Presidents and the country did OK. I’m quite sure we’ll do alright with a Mormon President, if they’re otherwise well qualified.

[Mobile Vulgus]

You obviously didn’t bother to read the article. Shame.

[Utah Girl]

Dreher is all over the place in this article, trying to cover all his bases.

[donna]

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.

I’m not voting for a person who believes women are inferior before god.

[devere]

I read it and disagreed with it. Frankly I’m sick of the subject, but wished to express my opinion at least once. The U.S. constitution says very clearly there will be no religious test for federal office, but many so-called conservatives don’t seem to take that document very seriously, or so it seems to me.

[Jeff Chandler]

1. Of course, by any criteria agreed upon by Christian denominations of nearly every stripe, Mormons aren't Christians. If anyone doesn't know what I mean, read this book:

   

   Mere Christianity.

2. I have no problem voting for a Mormon, or for that matter, an atheist, depending on his character and conservative philosophy.
3. Mrs. Chandler disagrees with #2.

[donna]

no religious test for federal office

That means the government can't test - voters can and should.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

But the crooked timber of humanity is frail indeed. If God doesn't exist, then by what standard do we decide right from wrong?

By the same standards we've always used to decide right from wrong - human devised standards which came about to allow human societies to form and function without imploding. It's likely that we can even do a better job of devising such standards than the iron-age desert dwellers who created the major religions of the West.

[Jeff Chandler]

Being a “Christian” has had a particular meaning for 2000 years. It does not mean whatever anyone wants it to mean.

[Jeff Chandler]

(Obama on cocaine: "Pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow when you could afford it.")

I am ignorant. What is "blow"?

[Jeff Chandler]

It's likely that we can even do a better job of devising such standards than the iron-age desert dwellers who created the major religions of the West.

Yeah, screw the tree trunk. We can build our own branches.

[Graybeard58]

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.

[Brad from Tennessee]

[What is “blow”?]

Cocaine hydrochloride—cocaine in powdered form.

[Antonello]

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.

I’m not voting for a person who believes women are inferior before god.

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.

[ari-freedom]

oh yes those stupid Jews again...

[BackInBlack]

I remember picking up Mere Christianity and being very excited to read it, because it was advertised as a thinking-person’s guide to the faith. Wow, was I disappointed. Lewis tried (pathetically) to prove by reason and evidence what can only be “proved” — or rather, experienced — by faith.

To wit: his assertion that Jesus was either a madman or was the Son of God he claimed to be; since he obviously wasn’t a madman, he must have been the Son of God. When secular liberals hear such laughable reasoning, they immediately think there’s nothing Christianity has to offer, and they don’t bother trying to enter into relationship with God, which should be the central point.

[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...

[Starwolf]

Mormons believe that Jesus was the divine son of God who died and was resurrected, and therefore they are Christians, regardless of any other doctrinal differences. To say otherwise, in my opinion, is just playing with words.

There is a major chasm between Mormonism and historic Christianity. Its much more than playing with words. They are in fact irreconcilable theologically and doctrinally. Each considers the other heresy and apostasy. They both can not be Christian. Note that I am not saying which one I think is correct.

I’m quite sure we’ll do alright with a Mormon President, if they’re otherwise well qualified.

I quite agree. Unfortunately Mitt is a RINO. No votes for him, regardless of his religion.

[BackInBlack]

Mormons themselves believe other Christians have rejected the core faith. As such, they do not define the “core faith” the same way that other Christians do, and therefore do not share this core faith. Ergo, they’re not Christians in any meaningful sense of the word.