Posted on 10/30/2011 4:05:59 PM PDT by Kaslin
A number of years ago, I was on Larry King Live and was asked point-blank if I had a problem with the appointments of Justices Roberts and Alito (both are Roman Catholics). My answer was very clear that I did not, as long as they shared my own conviction of upholding the Constitution — not trying to rewrite it — and as long as they were committed to the Biblical values of the Founding Fathers. I was certain that both men were.
Many people today are quoting a statement reputedly made by Martin Luther, the great reformer, that he “would rather be ruled by a competent Turk (a Muslim) than an incompetent Christian.” First of all, there is no evidence whatsoever that Martin Luther ever said these words. But even if he did say them, it would have been a gross exaggeration used to make a point. He never lived under a Muslim ruler and did not know what that would be like. But I did. And I can tell you, there is no such thing as choosing between Muslim and non-Muslim leaders under Islam.
pastedGraphic.pdf In America, we have the great privilege of choosing candidates based on our core values, rather than how they identify with our theological point of view.
In looking at some of the candidates for the 2012 election, one cannot help but notice the controversies that have arisen regarding the Mormon religion. As I considered Luther’s quote and the concerns regarding electing a Mormon president, I noticed some peculiar similarities between the Mormon faith and Islam as they relate to orthodox Christianity.
It's hard to believe that two religions that are worlds apart geographically have so many things in common. Here are some examples:
1. Both believe that Christianity was corrupt and incomplete until their respective founders came on the scene. For Islam, it was Muhammad; for Mormons, it was Joseph Smith.
2. They both have their own book of “sacred scripture.” While both tip their hats to the Bible, each see God’s Word as insufficient by itself. Both Islam and Mormonism use many biblical themes, narratives and personalities. But the Qur’an draws heavily from the apocryphal books rather than the authoritative cannon of the Bible.
3. In both cases, Islam and Mormonism see their religion as complete within itself. Above all, both repudiate Biblical Christianity and identify orthodox Christianity as a false faith.
4. Both religions reject the doctrine of the Trinity. The Mormon’s concept of god includes many gods, not just one. Muslims view god as one, but as an aloof, remote god who could never become a man or relate to humanity. Allah can have mercy if he wants to, but he is also a cunning god.
5. Both religions reject the Bible as the sole and sufficient authority of faith. For Mormons, the Book of Mormon and other writings of the Latter Day Saints represent God’s final revelation. For Muslims, the Qur’an and the Sunna (traditions of Muhammad) constitute God’s final authoritative word.
6. They both reject the Biblical teaching of original sin. Muslims believe Adam did not become completely depraved after disobeying God; he merely slipped but quickly recovered. Therefore to Muslims, humanity does not need redemption. Salvation in Islam is very uncertain, even when keeping the Five Tenants of Islam; although some teach that jihad will help in that quest for salvation. Mormons believe that they are not condemned by what many call “original sin.” In other words, they are not accountable for Adam’s transgression in the Garden of Eden.
Here are two questions Christians must ask when considering political candidates:
First, has the candidate been consistent in his/her political and moral values, or is he/she pandering? Second, has the candidate upheld their philosophical convictions throughout their public and private life, or did they change their political convictions to suit their audience?
All believers need to be good stewards and spend time in deep prayer before exercising their right to vote. God will give us wisdom so that we will not be persuaded by the slickest and the cleverest. We can trust Him to help us choose those who have proven core values.
Exposing a cult is not bigoted. Do yourself a favor, and study up on a subject before you talk about it. In fact go ahead and read the Book of Mormon. Google it! You have no idea!
careful the whackjobs will jump into this thread and post their talking points
Missed the big one - both were founded by individuals with a predilection for multiple wives, and both (mirabile dictu) were belief systems that sanctioned polygamy (at least, in the case of Mormonism, in its original form).
I believe it is okay in both religions to give a falsitude.
I might have had some of it coming. It wasn't a heated debate at all. It was over lunch. The guy had a Master’s degree from the University of Chicago. But I did know a lot of the “questionable” things about Mormonism, which probably what ticked him off. I was agitating the logical part of his mind.
I was raised in Utah and have a mormon (polygamous) ancestry back to the 1830’s.
My wife is an X-mormon. She is a born again Christian. Praise the LORD!
My brother-in-law (Bishop now in the stake presidency) let his guard down once and told me if the government didn't have a law against polygamy he probably would be polygamous. He belongs to the “mainstream” branch of mormonism.
I have a friend that was raised a mormon and is still over in Utah. He is at best agnostic (I'm still working on him) Anyway, he has an analogy of people there. He said they all stand around in a circle holding hands repeating the church the church the church the church the church.
Back in the early eighties, I know of a Professor at the University of Utah in the business department said. “Utah is a closed and inward society and a place where everyone reinforces each others delusions.” (paraphrase). This was back in the early eighties things have changed a lot in Utah since. Salt Lake City is similar to Boulder, Colorado now. Which is another story.
Up until fairly recently, by historical standards, the Catholic Church had no problem with burning people at the stake, consfiscating their property without trial, torturing people until they confesed to 'heresy', etc.
It'd be interesting to tally up whether islam or Catholocism has the higher body count over the last 1500 years or so.
When I was going to the U of U I had many friends that were Iranians.
So don’t live there, pretty simple.
There are foreigners in most of our universities. Utah isn’t special.
lol!
“It’d be interesting to tally up whether islam or Catholocism has the higher body count over the last 1500 years or so. “
Not all that interesting, Islam has killed far far more.
You probably read my post #9 like you read the Book of Mormon.
I did my Senior project with an Iranian. That would be unusual don’t you think?
The LDS were very aggressive, and the reason Americans hated and feared them so much is that they came in and literally took over these isolated frontier towns. Mad Mo did exactly the same.
You probably jump to conclusions and make assumptions. yes I find that you are so closely tied with Iranians to be suspicious. Obviously you need to be sent to Guantanamo.
The Whack jobs being the naysayers? Lots of those on this thread today very sad to say.
not really
If the Mormon church takes over the government you see the same sex marriage bill widen to include multi-wives. The more kids the embryo gods have on planet earth, the more power they have when they receive their very own planet when they die.
"President Barack Obama was presented with five large leather-bound volumes today by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that detail his family history going back multiple generations covering hundreds of years. The presentation was made by Church President Thomas S. Monson and Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. They were accompanied by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, who is also a member of the Church.
President Monson said: 'President Obama’s heritage is rich with examples of leadership, sacrifice and service. We were very pleased to research his family history and are honored to present it to him today.'
Elder Oaks, who oversees the Church’s family history program, said, 'The Church has great resources and experience in genealogy work, and we are proud to have researched such a unique and impressive family history.'
(Photo, by Pete Souza of the White House, shows President Barack Obama reviewing geneaological records with (from left) Senator Harry Reid; Joshua DuBois, Director of the White House Office for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships; LDS Church President Thomas Monson and LDS Elder Dallin Oaks in the Oval Office, July 20, 2009.)
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Mormons, Muslims get along by creating books, not destroying them
Kevin Barney, Independent Mormon blogger for By Common Consent
The threat by Pastor Terry Jones to burn the Qur'an was all over the news. What if, instead of destroying Muslim books, we were actually to create them, by translating the classic works of the Islamic golden age into English?
That is the project Dan Peterson, a professor of Arabic at Brigham Young University has been engaged in for more than a decade, a project that has built tremendous goodwill and resulted in many lasting friendships between Muslims and those of the Mormon faith.
This past Sunday evening, Peterson was in town as part of a BYU humanities outreach to give a lecture at the Mormon Church in Naperville on BYU's Islamic Translation Series. Several hundred people were in attendance, including several dozen Muslim dignataries and guests.
Peterson recalled that when he was first appointed as a professor and began to teach a course in Islamic philosophy, he was chagrined by the lack of classic Islamic texts available in English translation. You can walk into any Borders or Barnes and Noble and find multiple translations of the great thinkers of Greece and Rome, but not so for Islam...
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