Posted on 02/10/2012 12:14:55 PM PST by OKSooner
Is it a fair question to ask... Is Mormonism Christian or is it not?
If you care enough to respond and tell me it's not a fair question, please explain why not.
Won’t go into the numerous criteria of what is a cult but Mormanism fits the definition on several levels. Catholicism fits the criteria as well. Pray to the Pope? Not I. Nor will I pray to “Mother Mary”.
All that you say is true, and the problem is this: These issues are hanging in the wind waiting for a full and complete public trial AFTER Romney is nominated. The Dems will turn Mormonism into a modern-day witch hunt in order to win. If I were a Mormon, and I wanted to continue to live the LDS fantasy, I would worry greatly about the day that any Mormon was offered up as a sacrifice for the Dems via the MSM.
Well, my wife and i have interesting discussions about that.
Catholics believe in literal transubstantiation. I do not.
My wife is not technically a Catholic although she believes a lot of their teachings.
I also don’t believe in praying to Mary either.
It is possible to be an Evangelical Christian and a Catholic at the same time. Catholics don’t deny the Trinity IIRC.
I am basically now a Baptist as well, although I was raised Methodist.
” It is NOT Christian “
Please explain why.
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Mormonism is closer to Islam than Christianity
Joey Smith wanted it that way...
He denounced Christianity and invented his own religion..
“I Will Be a Second Mohammed”
In the heat of the Missouri “Mormon War” of 1838, Joseph Smith made the following claim, “I will be to this generation a second Mohammed, whose motto in treating for peace was ‘the Alcoran [Koran] or the Sword.’ So shall it eventually be with us—‘Joseph Smith or the Sword!’ ”[1]
It is most interesting that a self-proclaimed Christian prophet would liken himself to Mohammed, the founder of Islam. His own comparison invites us to take a closer look as well. And when we do, we find some striking—and troubling—parallels. Consider the following.
Mohammed and Joseph Smith both had humble beginnings. Neither had formal religious connections or upbringing, and both were relatively uneducated. Both founded new religions by creating their own scriptures. In fact, followers of both prophets claim these scriptures are miracles since their authors were the most simple and uneducated of men.[2]
Both prophets claim of having angel visitations, and of receiving divine revelation to restore pure religion to the earth again. Mohammed was told that both Jews and Christians had long since corrupted their scriptures and religion. In like manner, Joseph Smith was told that all of Christianity had become corrupt, and that consequently the Bible itself was no longer reliable.
In both cases, this corruption required a complete restoration of both scripture and religion. Nothing which preceded either prophet could be relied upon any longer. Both prophets claim they were used of God to restore eternal truths which once existed on earth, but had been lost due to human corruption.
Both prophets created new scripture which borrowed heavily from the Bible, but with a substantially new “spin.” In his Koran, Mohammed appropriates a number of Biblical themes and characters—but he changes the complete sense of many passages, claiming to “correct” the Bible. In so doing he changes many doctrines, introducing his own in their place. In like manner, Joseph Smith created the Book of Mormon, much of which is plagiarized directly from the King James Bible. Interestingly, the Book of Mormon claims that this same Bible has been substantially corrupted and is therefore unreliable. In addition, Joseph Smith went so far as to actually create his own version of the Bible itself, the “Inspired Version,” in which he both adds and deletes significant portions of text, claiming he is “correcting” it. In so doing he also changes many doctrines, introducing his own in their place.
As a part of their new scriptural “spin,” both prophets saw themselves as prophesied in scripture, and both saw themselves as a continuation of a long line of Biblical prophets. Mohammed saw himself as a continuation of the ministry of Moses and Jesus. Joseph Smith saw himself as a successor to Enoch, Melchizedek, Joseph and Moses. Joseph Smith actually wrote himself into his own version of the Bible—by name.
Both prophets held up their own scripture as superior to the Bible. Mohammed claimed that the Koran was a perfect copy of the original which was in heaven. The Koran is therefore held to be absolutely perfect, far superior to the Bible and superceding it. In like manner, Joseph Smith also made the following claim. “I told the Brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding its precepts, than by any other book.”[3]
Despite their claim that the Bible was corrupt, both prophets admonished their followers to adhere to its teachings. An obvious contradiction, this led to selective acceptance of some portions and wholesale rejection of others. As a result, the Bible is accepted by both groups of followers only to the extent that it agrees with their prophet’s own superior revelation.
Both Mohammed and Joseph Smith taught that true salvation was to be found only in their respective religions. Those who would not accept their message were considered “infidels,” pagans or Gentiles. In so doing, both prophets became the enemy of genuine Christianity, and have led many people away from the Christ of the Bible.
Both prophets encountered fierce opposition to their new religions and had to flee from town to town because of threats on their lives. Both retaliated to this opposition by forming their own militias. Both ultimately set up their own towns as model societies.
Both Mohammed and Joseph Smith left unclear instructions about their successors. The majority of Mohammed’s followers, Sunni Muslims, believe they were to elect their new leader, whereas the minority, Shiite Muslims, believe Mohammed’s son was to be their next leader. Similarly, the majority of Joseph Smith’s followers, Mormons, believed their next prophet should have been the existing leader of their quorum of twelve apostles, whereas the minority, RLDS, believed Joseph Smith’s own son should have been their next prophet. Differences on this issue, and many others, have created substantial tension between these rival groups of each prophet.
Mohammed taught that Jesus was just another of a long line of human prophets, of which he was the last. He taught that he was superior to Christ and superceded Him. In comparison, Joseph Smith also made the following claim.
“I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him, but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet.”[4]
In light of these parallels, perhaps Joseph Smith’s claim to be a second Mohammed unwittingly became his most genuine prophecy of all.
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[1] Joseph Smith made this statement at the conclusion of a speech in the public square at Far West, Missouri on October 14, 1838. This particular quote is documented in Fawn M. Brodie, No Man Knows My History, second edition, (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1971), p. 230–231. Fawn Brodie’s footnote regarding this speech contains valuable information, and follows. “Except where noted, all the details of this chapter [16] are taken from the History of the [Mormon] Church. This speech, however, was not recorded there, and the report given here is based upon the accounts of seven men. See the affidavits of T.B. Marsh, Orson Hyde, George M. Hinkle, John Corrill, W.W. Phelps, Samson Avard, and Reed Peck in Correspondence, Orders, etc., pp. 57–9, 97–129. The Marsh and Hyde account, which was made on October 24, is particularly important. Part of it was reproduced in History of the [Mormon] Church, Vol. III, p. 167. See also the Peck manuscript, p. 80. Joseph himself barely mentioned the speech in his history; see Vol. III, p. 162.”
[2] John Ankerberg & John Weldon, The Facts on Islam, (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1998), pp.8–9. Eric Johnson, Joseph Smith & Muhammed, (El Cajon, CA: Mormonism Research Ministry, 1998), pp. 6–7.
[3] Documentary History of the [Mormon] Church, vol.4, pp.461.
[4] Documentary History of the [Mormon] Church, vol.6, pp.408–409.
(Decker, Ed, My Kingdom Come: The Mormon Quest for Godhood, Xulon Press, 2007)
Notice how you ignore all the danger signs? It doesn’t much matter if it’s OK with you, what really matters is whether or not this becomes the focus of the national discussion prior to November. Fact: Most Americans are NOT Mormon, so they are sure to be easily swayed into a morass of doctrine when the public forum is once again in the spotlight (two days before the general election). Why on EARTH would we want a demonstrably false religion to be the center of discourse at that time? Romney is a DEAD LOSER in November.
Notice how you ignore all the danger signs? It doesn’t much matter if it’s OK with you, what really matters is whether or not this becomes the focus of the national discussion prior to November. Fact: Most Americans are NOT Mormon, so they are sure to be easily swayed into a morass of doctrine when the public forum is once again in the spotlight (two days before the general election). Why on EARTH would we want a demonstrably false religion to be the center of discourse at that time? Romney is a DEAD LOSER in November.
Read the first two chapters of a book by Tricia Erickson title CAN MITT ROMNEY SERVE TWO MASTER? on Amazon. It will answer your question.
It will answer your question....You can download it to Kindle or buy a paperback copy.
“Evangelical Christians consider it a cult.”
Evangelicals are taught to consider their Jesus superior to all other Jesuses out there and that any worship that’s not like theirs is cult-like and illigitimate.
Sort of like the Pharisees - full of pride and judgement.
Last time i checked EVERYONE sins and breaking one sin is like breaking them all in the eyes of the Lord - meaning, the Evangelicals are as much sinners as the Catholics and Mormons that they decry as cultists. As a Catholic, I forgive their tresspasses against me the way the Lord forgives my tresspasses against Him.
Nobody gets to heaven except through Christ.
Interesting and very misunderstood subject.
Disclosure: I am not a Mormon. I identify myself as a Christian. I am not presently a member of any church or organized religion.
A Christian is a person who self-identifies as a Christian.
A church or religion can also identify itself as Christian. There are hundreds of organizations that self-identify as Christian. Are they all wrong, or all right? There is no authority beyond one’s conscience to make such a determination.
The proclamations of churches on this subject are meaningless and have no authority over any person other than those choosing to accept a certain church’s authority.
I accept no church’s declaration on this subject. I accept no individual’s declaration on this subject. My Christian identity is mine. Statements on the matter by others are irrelevant.
An individual or organization’s identification is only meaningful to the individual or organization making the identification.
No individual or organization has any standing to approve or deny an identification by another.
Now get ready to hear a lot of specious claims, bible quotes and meaningless chatter from those who profess authority in an area where they have none.
Mormons have no say in whether other churches are Christian, and other churches have no say in whether Mormons are Christian.
Authoritarian claims to the contrary are an invitation to meaningless sectarian wars, and we have seen plenty of those for centuries.
May many blessings be yours on your spiritual journey.
Heres another fair question..
Is there some reason this question was not put where it belongs...
over in the Religion Forum ???
It would seem more genuine if you had put it there...
If necessary you could have easily found an article on the subject to post..
are you serious about your request when the threads are full of the same info that the Inmen have given you ???
Mormonism certainly considers itself Christian because it believes in a Jesus Christ. The “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.” The Mormon prophet and founder Joseph Smith proclaimed all other churches and the Christian Bible to be false and apostate. Joseph Smith produced completely new teachings of a “plurality of gods” and that human beings could themselves become gods. Smith also taught, among other things, that the American Indians are descended from the lost tribes of Israel.
Biblical Christians (Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants), on the other hand, of course, completely reject the claims of Mormonism that the Christian Bible and Christian teachings such as the Holy Trinity are false.
Which is correct and which is apostate? It depends which side of the fence you are on. But the two are not compatible.
QUESTION: Is There More Than One True God?
CHRISTIANITY: NO
MORMONISM: YES
QUESTION: Was God Once a Man Like Us?
CHRISTIANITY: NO
MORMONISM: YES
QUESTION: Are Jesus and Satan Spirit Brothers?
CHRISTIANITY: NO
MORMONISM: YES
QUESTION: Is God a Trinity?
CHRISTIANITY: YES
MORMONISM: NO
QUESTION: Was The Sin Of Adam and Eve a Great Evil Or a Great Blessing?
CHRISTIANITY: GREAT EVIL
MORMONISM: BLESSING
QUESTION: Can We Make Ourselves Worthy Before God?
CHRISTIANITY: NO
MORMONISM: YES
QUESTION: Is Salvation through Christ alone?
CHRISTIANITY: YES
MORMONISM: NO
QUESTION: Does Christ's Atoning Death Benefit Those Who Reject Him?
CHRISTIANITY: NO
MORMONISM: YES
QUESTION: Is The Bible The Unique and Final Word of God?
CHRISTIANITY: YES
MORMONISM: NO
QUESTION: Did The Early Church Fall Into Total Apostasy?
CHRISTIANITY: NO
MORMONISM: YES
There's more, but this should give you something to think about!
So if it would eliminate him right before the election, why don’t we do the American people a favor and spread the word now.
Do you really think Christianity is defined by those who can shout and scream the loudest?
Or even majority vote?
Or do you suppose that Jesus Christ will make the final decision?
As for myself, I watch how people act, how they vote and what type of people they turn out. You can also pick up Leo Rosten's classic book Religion in America and judge for yourself. While I realize Mr. Rosten was a Jewish guy, he is also eminently fair in his book.
As a last resort, you might also try one of the websites maintained by the Mormon church such as lds.org or mormon.com (org?).
As weird as it may sound, I find far more factual information on, for instance, the Catholic Church by going to an official Catholic website than I do by venturing into a moonbat website like allpriestsarechildmolestors.com
I suppose the same might be true for the Mormon faith.
What do you mean by this?
I would think that most people of good moral character who believe in a respectable religion will stick together. When the administration in power is waging a war on all believers, then it is logical for all believers to coalesce against that administration. Many non-believers will join with them for various reasons.
Later on, when they have won, they may start fighting among themselves.
Tu eres bueno, muchas gracias.
Why, this topic has nothing to do with Lutherans.
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