Skip to comments.
What is the definition of 'anti-Mormon'? -
Anti-Mormon Caucus (Just Kidding)
Mormon Times ^
| March 5, 2010
| By McKay Coppins
Posted on 03/05/2010 8:15:44 AM PST by greyfoxx39
What is the definition of 'anti-Mormon'?
I have often heard the criticism that Latter-day Saints classify everyone who disagrees with our beliefs as "anti-Mormon." Of course, the people who say this are usually anti-Mormons. Am I proving their point? I don't think so.
I actually agree that this is a problem in our church. After all, our belief system, if firmly embraced, demands a lot of personal sacrifice, and we often become hyper-defensive when we sense a threat to our faith.
Unfortunately, this often leads to irrational name-calling and blindly neglecting to differentiate between non-Mormons and anti-Mormons.
Of course, that's not to say anti-Mormons don't exist, or that it's unimportant to identify them. We just need to properly define the term.
First of all, we shouldn't call people who simply don't believe in Mormonism "anti-Mormons." We should call them Catholics or Baptists or Muslims or atheists. People who ascribe themselves to faiths or philosophies that contradict Mormonism should not automatically be seen as antagonists. They should be credited with having their own beliefs.
Now, what about people who try to convert Latter-day Saints to their belief systems? Are they anti-Mormons?
No.
The believing Baptist who testifies of his church's doctrine to a Latter-day Saint is trying to do something he believes is constructive. Even if he attempts to point out supposed flaws in Mormon doctrine, if his genuine intent is to save a soul and he maintains a polite, rational tone, I don't think he deserves the anti-Mormon label. After all, should Mormon missionaries be considered anti-Catholics or anti-Protestants?
The line, I believe, that separates non-Mormons from anti-Mormons is motivation. Anti-Mormons are people who put down Mormon beliefs, practices and people simply for the sake of destroying their faith. Not many anti-Mormons would admit that is their primary goal, of course, but that doesn't mean it isn't so.
For the most part, anti-Mormons should be ignored. But before that can happen, they have to be identified
TOPICS: General Discusssion; Other Christian; Other non-Christian
KEYWORDS: antimormonthread; apostate; beck; bitter; christian; glennbeck; hatemonger; lds; mormon; mormon1
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 301-320, 321-340, 341-360 ... 501-506 next last
To: restornu; T Minus Four; SkyDancer
The Bible is universal it does not belong to anyone group or faith but to many who used the scriptures to define their own creeds.
- - - - - - - -
And THIS is exactly what Joseph Smith did, twisted scripture to define his own man made doctrines!
Again, consistency, Resty.
321
posted on
03/09/2010 6:23:24 PM PST
by
reaganaut
(You say 'Jesus Freak' like it's a bad thing....)
To: Tennessee Nana
322
posted on
03/09/2010 6:23:55 PM PST
by
SZonian
(We began as a REPUBLIC, a nation of laws. We became a DEMOCRACY, majority rules. Next step is?)
To: restornu; SkyDancer
the Lord defined who He is, not tradition nor man.
- - - - - - - -
Exactly. God himself (through the Bible) defines who He is.
Yet the LDS church redefined Him in their own image and twisted who He is to fit their own tradition of man.
The ‘lord’ of the LDS church is the ‘god of this world’, not the Lord of Lords and King of Kings that Jesus Christ is. The LDS Jesus is NOT the Jesus of the Bible. The Jesus of the Bible died to save us from our sins, the ‘Jesus’ in the Book of Mormon KILLED THOUSANDS when he showed up. Not the same Lord at all.
Still looking for consistency, resty.
323
posted on
03/09/2010 6:29:26 PM PST
by
reaganaut
(You say 'Jesus Freak' like it's a bad thing....)
To: Tennessee Nana
324
posted on
03/09/2010 6:38:49 PM PST
by
Vendome
(Don't take life so seriously... You'll never live through it.)
To: mrreaganaut; SkyDancer
325
posted on
03/09/2010 6:43:58 PM PST
by
Vendome
(Don't take life so seriously... You'll never live through it.)
To: reaganaut
You are saying to a group of people who consider a work of fiction scriptural, a con artist a prophet and think the world is run by a committee of gods and that one day they too can enjoy such benefits yet when called on the facts, or lack thereof, go into either some of the most artistic obfuscation ever seen or to a victim hood mode unparalleled in modern times that they can't have it both ways.
Yeah, that’ll work...
326
posted on
03/09/2010 6:48:21 PM PST
by
ejonesie22
(Palin bashers on freerepublic, like a fart in Church...)
To: ejonesie22
“pointing out absurdity by being absurd”, the last thing I expect is consistency from a religion that is so inconsistent.
327
posted on
03/09/2010 6:56:47 PM PST
by
reaganaut
(You say 'Jesus Freak' like it's a bad thing....)
To: Godzilla; T. P. Pole; greyfoxx39; mrreaganaut
The early church had the same problem with groups with heretical doctrines wanting to be called Christian and thinking theirs was the only true church. Today, we call them Gnostics and they were determined by the Councils not to be considered Christian.
The Gnostic heresies are precisely why the early creeds were developed and the canon solidified. They are both measuring sticks of orthodox (correct) doctrine versus heterodox doctrine.
And many who insist that you can be outside orthodox Christian doctrine and still be a ‘Christian’, forget that there is a term called “pseudo-Christian” which is what most people actually mean when they say Mormons are not Christian, that they are ‘pseudo-Christian’, simply based upon their heterodox doctrines and practices.
328
posted on
03/09/2010 7:07:11 PM PST
by
reaganaut
(You say 'Jesus Freak' like it's a bad thing....)
To: SkyDancer
the point is what the LDS says He is .... whatever others think is irrelevant to the conversation.
- - - - - - - - - -
BINGO!
329
posted on
03/09/2010 7:09:15 PM PST
by
reaganaut
(You say 'Jesus Freak' like it's a bad thing....)
To: mrreaganaut
LOL. Sad thing is that as I read it, I heard you saying it in my mind.
330
posted on
03/09/2010 7:16:52 PM PST
by
reaganaut
(You say 'Jesus Freak' like it's a bad thing....)
To: SkyDancer
331
posted on
03/09/2010 7:18:35 PM PST
by
reaganaut
(You say 'Jesus Freak' like it's a bad thing....)
To: greyfoxx39
There is nothing about that goal that is accepting of Christianity that was established by Jesus Christ. Nothing. Because mormonism claims that the Christianity of Jesus Christ was erased and replaced by the theology of Joseph Smith.
- - - - - -
Well said.
332
posted on
03/09/2010 7:25:08 PM PST
by
reaganaut
(You say 'Jesus Freak' like it's a bad thing....)
To: reaganaut
Hey Thanks!!!
333
posted on
03/09/2010 7:49:07 PM PST
by
SkyDancer
(If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed)
To: SkyDancer
334
posted on
03/09/2010 8:02:06 PM PST
by
reaganaut
(You say 'Jesus Freak' like it's a bad thing....)
To: Elsie
Then QUIT stumbling over ALL the things in MORMONism that just don’t add up and get a church that can actually TEACH you what the Word means.
- - — - - - -
AMEN!!!!!
335
posted on
03/09/2010 8:04:53 PM PST
by
reaganaut
(You say 'Jesus Freak' like it's a bad thing....)
To: Tennessee Nana
Nana, you AWESOME! I laughed ‘til I cried and then read parts of it to the perplexed Mr. TM4, who now understands why I was almost literally rolling on the floor :-)
336
posted on
03/09/2010 8:14:11 PM PST
by
T Minus Four
(Christians follow Christ, not other Christians.)
To: Elsie
The lord of the LDS church is the god of this world,
337
posted on
03/09/2010 8:16:38 PM PST
by
reaganaut
(You say 'Jesus Freak' like it's a bad thing....)
To: T Minus Four; Tennessee Nana; mrreaganaut
I laughed til I cried and then read parts of it to the perplexed Mr. TM4,
- - - - - - -
I read parts to my SIL and sent the link to Mrreaganaut so he could enjoy it as well.
338
posted on
03/09/2010 8:34:00 PM PST
by
reaganaut
(You say 'Jesus Freak' like it's a bad thing....)
To: humblegunner; greyfoxx39; reaganaut; Elsie
Sit coms have a funny end bit...
So here goes..
___________________________________
Next day...
Nana is cooking in the kitchen of the lower level of the mormon after life. As usual Joey Smith comes in ...
Joey: Hi Nana, whatcha cookin ?
Nana: I’m frying fish for the TEA...They caught some beauts yesterday in the Milky Way...Look at this monster ... chocolate covered and nugget eyes...nuts on its tail...looks odd but smells delicious...Elsie caught that one...He had to pull it out with his tractor...
Joey: His tractor ? Elsie has his tractor here ?
Nana: Of course...Elsie said we needed it so we had it delivered... Dont these fish smell Heavenly ?
Joey: Oh yeah... Hey this is fish from the river...no box...
Nana: That’s right...
Joey: Nana can I...
Nana: Now, Joey you know I was born British...
Joey: Yeah I love your cute accent...
Nana: And we didnt call the evening meal supper or dinner...
Joey: Ah, oh ?
Nana: No we didnt....We called it.... TEA..
To: T Minus Four
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 301-320, 321-340, 341-360 ... 501-506 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson