All Protestants are Trinitarian Christians. Mormons (as well as Unitarians) are not Protestant. Mormons do not call themselves Protestant. Protestants don't call Mormons Protestant. Nobody calls Mormons Protestant but Roman Catholics who incorrectly use the term as an umbrella for all non-RC churches.
In contrast, Protestants refer to their Christian faith as "catholic" (universal) and once again it's Roman Catholics who take exception.
Evidently there’s a
‘secret’ TAKE EXCEPTION RANT, WHINE, WAIL, fuss and throw dust verse hidden somewhere in the Hail Mary.
Maybe there’s some kind of spiritual genetics involved. Sure seems to be a chronic habit virtually regardless of the stimulus.
Dr. E,
I want to concur with what Cronos said. The use of the term "catholic" with the lower case "c" is absolutely without comment and should be without comment by any "Catholic" (upper case "C").
In that case, the word is being used as an adjective, modifying the noun "church." It is used to describe the "invisible, universal" church that is being taught in your ecclesiology. (If I'm wrong on that, please set me straight)
While the use of the upper case "C" in "Catholic" is part of a proper noun that refers to the particular churches that are in communion with the Bishop of Rome. (Having said that, from an ecclesiological view, it would include all particular churches with a valid apostolic succession, especially Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches, but that is not how the term is used in the English language)
Having said that,
All Protestants are Trinitarian Christians. Mormons (as well as Unitarians) are not Protestant. Mormons do not call themselves Protestant. Protestants don't call Mormons Protestant. Nobody calls Mormons Protestant but Roman Catholics who incorrectly use the term as an umbrella for all non-RC churches.
One time, a few years ago, Alex Murphy called me out on making that same mistake. I asked him how they should be broken out and he provided the following breakout:
"Reformed/Protestant" (16th century, those that trace denominational and creedal roots back to the Reformation),
"Evangelical" (17th century, like xzins' Wesleyans/Methodists or the Baptists, largely anabaptist, that arose after the Reformed groups);
"Restorationist" (19th century, independent "first century style" churches / denominations that can be traced back to the Stone/Campbell movement in NY's Hudson River valley); and
"Charismatic" (20th century, any "Spirit-led" but anti-creedal church or denomination that followed or appeared alongside the Restorationists, but especially those that originated with the "baby boomer" generation i.e. the Calvary Chapel/Vineyard churches).
Those terms seem to be fairly workable. Of course, you have other Restorationist groups that aren't descendents of Stone-Campbell, such as the LDS, the Millerites, and the Russelites.
And then you have other outliers, such as the Unitarian-Universalists, an outgrowth of Congregationalists. While technically an outgrowth of the Reformed movement, they can't be called Christian anymore (in fact, I don't even think they call themselves Christian).
But the real question comes in with groups that claim the Scriptures as an authority (and who would call themselves Christian), but are non-Trinitarian in their view of the Godhead. Of course you have the JW's, who embrace an Arian view (and, of course, there are other groups that hold that Arian view, such as the Iglesia ni Cristo, Christadelphians, as well as a number of other smaller groups). But you also have Oneness (or Jesus' Name) Pentacostals, who hold a Modalist view. There are even a few "binitarians" out there who identify themselves as Christian. I know that Catholics would hesitate to acknowledge somebody who denies the Trinity as Christian, but I would be curious to hear a 'reformed' view on the subject.
Dr. E,
I want to concur with what Cronos said. The use of the term "catholic" with the lower case "c" is absolutely without comment and should be without comment by any "Catholic" (upper case "C").
In that case, the word is being used as an adjective, modifying the noun "church." It is used to describe the "invisible, universal" church that is being taught in your ecclesiology. (If I'm wrong on that, please set me straight)
While the use of the upper case "C" in "Catholic" is part of a proper noun that refers to the particular churches that are in communion with the Bishop of Rome. (Having said that, from an ecclesiological view, it would include all particular churches with a valid apostolic succession, especially Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches, but that is not how the term is used in the English language)
Having said that,
All Protestants are Trinitarian Christians. Mormons (as well as Unitarians) are not Protestant. Mormons do not call themselves Protestant. Protestants don't call Mormons Protestant. Nobody calls Mormons Protestant but Roman Catholics who incorrectly use the term as an umbrella for all non-RC churches.
One time, a few years ago, Alex Murphy called me out on making that same mistake. I asked him how they should be broken out and he provided the following breakout:
"Reformed/Protestant" (16th century, those that trace denominational and creedal roots back to the Reformation),
"Evangelical" (17th century, like xzins' Wesleyans/Methodists or the Baptists, largely anabaptist, that arose after the Reformed groups);
"Restorationist" (19th century, independent "first century style" churches / denominations that can be traced back to the Stone/Campbell movement in NY's Hudson River valley); and
"Charismatic" (20th century, any "Spirit-led" but anti-creedal church or denomination that followed or appeared alongside the Restorationists, but especially those that originated with the "baby boomer" generation i.e. the Calvary Chapel/Vineyard churches).
Those terms seem to be fairly workable. Of course, you have other Restorationist groups that aren't descendents of Stone-Campbell, such as the LDS, the Millerites, and the Russelites.
And then you have other outliers, such as the Unitarian-Universalists, an outgrowth of Congregationalists. While technically an outgrowth of the Reformed movement, they can't be called Christian anymore (in fact, I don't even think they call themselves Christian).
But the real question comes in with groups that claim the Scriptures as an authority (and who would call themselves Christian), but are non-Trinitarian in their view of the Godhead. Of course you have the JW's, who embrace an Arian view (and, of course, there are other groups that hold that Arian view, such as the Iglesia ni Cristo, Christadelphians, as well as a number of other smaller groups). But you also have Oneness (or Jesus' Name) Pentacostals, who hold a Modalist view. There are even a few "binitarians" out there who identify themselves as Christian. I know that Catholics would hesitate to acknowledge somebody who denies the Trinity as Christian, but I would be curious to hear a 'reformed' view on the subject.