I've also known gutter trash such as the stinky cabal who follows these threads around on Free Republic and elsewhere promoting the "Mormons aren't Christians" or "Mormons promote gay marriage" or other similar ridiculous themes. They basically fall under three categories.
The "evidence" which they offer to support these themes is based on spotlighting the exceptions as the rule. i.e. Butch Cassidy was raised as a Mormon, but he robbed banks. Or their own private interpretation of scripture. Or the fact that the majority of Christians have a different view of the relationship of the three different parts of the trinity than do Mormons.
Those who don't fall into the gutter trash category (i.e. those who would've gladly stoned Stephen for his unorthodox preaching) are overwhelmingly in the final category.
On the final category, I do have to say that the Mormons have a very strong and compelling case both from the scriptures and the historical perspective. The baptism of Jesus puts all three elements of the trinity as separate entities . . . the earthly Jesus with a mortal body, the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove and the voice of God the father from heaven plus John 3:16 and numerous others which put Jesus as the only begotten son of God.
The historical case also puts the mainstream view of the trinity as originating from the Nicene Creed, a 4th century interpretation of Christianity which became mainstream by Constantine's burning of Arian books, exiling of Donatist clergy, and even his early attempts to reconcile Roman paganism with Christianity. In the very least, Constantine was not a nice man in these early years.
The bottom line is that if mainstream Protestants can claim the right to rebel against the Catholic church against the Christian mainstream as was constituted in the 16th century, then there is nothing illogical about Mormons (or anyone else) claiming the right to rebel against the Christian mainstream as it became constituted in the 4th century.
Thus, if God even has a favorite church, it will only be found in one of the following branches:
A. Catholicism, including the Eastern Orthodox variants, all of which claim apostolic succession from St. Peter, the rock upon which Christ built his church.
B. Restorationism, of which the Mormons are the largest sect by far.
C. The ancient purity of Christianity as preached (at least in partial form) by Jan Hus and the persecuted and exiled elements of thee Arian and Donatist clergy in Constantine's Day.
Obviously, I put myself in the "C" category but remain open to compelling evidence in "A" or "B". I believe this evidence will come to light by the time of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ as the various sects decide whether to align themselves with him or the fashionable philosophies of men in its various forms today manifest as political correctness, state sponsored religion or gutter trash oozing about wailing that only their private interpretation of religion is true and it doesn't matter what you actually do, only what you believe.
Like the stuff FROM Mormonism that I've posted in this thread?
Why don't you address that?
Interesting post, VM. I would obviously fall into category B, but I don’t have much interest in trying to prove my point via debate or argument.
Personally I am convinced, but each person needs to seek light and knowledge themselves from the Source of truth. “
“Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find”
#1...Vigilanteman, may I remind you that the word "trinity" actually has a specific basic meaning: "tri" = 3; "nity" as a contracted word for "unity."
Christianity doesn't deny the "tri" of the trinity: It actually teaches a tri-personal God!
#2...then for you to conclude that the tri-personal reality of God = plural "entities"...you've now crossed into the realm of polytheism, which any clear plain reading of the entirety of the Bible is NOT Judeo-Christian.
Finally, #3, let's compare all this to a parallel teaching of Jesus Himself, shall we? Note ESPECIALLY the highlighted below:
Matthew 19:
4 “Haven’t you read,†he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be UNITed to his wife, and the two WILL BECOME ONE flesh’? 6 So they are NO LONGER TWO, BUT ONE flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.â€
I can just imagine, you, Vigilanteman in the crowd...listening to Jesus as He's proclaiming Matthew 19:
"Sorry, Jesus. I've seen men and women. Separate entities. All of 'em. How dare you call them 'one.' How dare you say, 'they are NO LONGER TWO!' Of course, they're two! They're 'separate entities' I tell you! Separate!"
So, Vigilanteman: Are you claiming that a husband and wife is more "one" than God the Father & His Son? Really?
All on the basis of your strange "logic"???