CHRISTIANITY DEFINED - (LDS Site Defining Christianity) OPEN

LDS site Foundation for Christian Studies ^

[greyfoxx39]

Open threads are a town square. Antagonism though not encouraged, should be expected

Posters may argue for or against beliefs of any kind. They may tear down other’s beliefs. They may ridicule.

On all threads, but particularly “open” threads, posters must never “make it personal.” Reading minds and attributing motives are forms of “making it personal.” Making a thread “about” another Freeper is “making it personal.”

When in doubt, review your use of the pronoun “you” before hitting “enter.”

Like the Smoky Backroom, the conversation may be offensive to some.

Thin-skinned posters will be booted from “open” threads because in the town square, they are the disrupters.

http://www.freerepublic.com/~religionmoderator/

 

Additional comment by the Religion Moderator:

This should also be repeated from my profile page:

I am not the protector of your beliefs.

I am not the arbiter of truth, for that posters must turn to God or whoever they consider to be the final authority.

I am not the arbiter of logical proofs, for that the posters must turn to the mathematicians, logicians and philosophers.

I am not the arbiter of fact, for that the posters must turn to the scientists, physical evidence, testimonies and historians.

I am not the arbiter of the meaning of words, and I'm not sure there exists such a final authority so the burden rests with the posters to explain what they mean.

For instance, two different posters may look at the world around them and say it is a fact that it is [pick a number] years old. I will not step in and say one is wrong and the other is right.

Ditto for two different posters looking at the history of a matter - or manuscripts - and coming to completely different conclusions.

Such disagreements may be very heated - but they are not hate-mongering.

We moderators know hate mongering when we see it: the false Jesuit Oath, Jack Chick materials, Islamic fundamentalism, white supremacy, anti-Semitism.

This should also be repeated from my profile page:

I am not the protector of your beliefs.

I am not the arbiter of truth, for that posters must turn to God or whoever they consider to be the final authority.

I am not the arbiter of logical proofs, for that the posters must turn to the mathematicians, logicians and philosophers.

I am not the arbiter of fact, for that the posters must turn to the scientists, physical evidence, testimonies and historians.

I am not the arbiter of the meaning of words, and I'm not sure there exists such a final authority so the burden rests with the posters to explain what they mean.

For instance, two different posters may look at the world around them and say it is a fact that it is [pick a number] years old. I will not step in and say one is wrong and the other is right.

Ditto for two different posters looking at the history of a matter - or manuscripts - and coming to completely different conclusions.

Such disagreements may be very heated - but they are not hate-mongering.

We moderators know hate mongering when we see it: the false Jesuit Oath, Jack Chick materials, Islamic fundamentalism, white supremacy, anti-Semitism.

[greyfoxx39]

Ping

[aMorePerfectUnion]

mormonism defining Christianity?!!

Might as well have an Hindu define Christianity. At least when they talk about their 300 million gods, they are forthright. Mormonism tries to hide their polytheism of billions or trillions of gods.

Might as well have Shirley McClain define Christianity. She claims to be god and doesn’t try to hide it. Mormonism teaches that every mormon male has the potential to become a god of his own world. They secretly hope for it. It gives them a feeling of significance while they are failing at keeping the law.

Might as well have a Scientologist define Christianity! They have their own secret planet, secret spirit children, secret knowledge, secret way of extorting money. Mormonism hides all that (Kolob, eternally pregnant goddess wives with celestial sex, secret temple handshakes and mumbo jumbo, and extorting money for temple recommends).

Might as well have a Hare Krishna define Christianity. At least their “special” clothing is evident for all to see. Mormonism hides their secret underwear with the occult symbols.

Might as well have someone chosen from random out of the phone book in Thailand define Christianity. I’d bet they would be more accurate.

Might as well go to any world religion or cult to define Christianity. They all HAVE to do something with Jesus Christ - good teacher, rabbi, prophet, etc. Mormonism steals the name of Jesus Christ and redefines Him from who the Bible reveals Him to be.

[svcw]

What I would like someone to explain to me is this: why for decades ldsers bristled at the thought of being called christians and now they weep and cry to be called christians. (Yes I did not capitalize Christian on purpose.)

The entire foundation of lds is based of Christian hatred and distorting centuries of tradition and scripture.

Please someone tell me why you now want to be called christian.

[Invincibly Ignorant]

As good a definition as anyone else’s.

[narses]

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Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment

Obama: “If they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”

[svcw]

Grey, doesn't the first half of this alleged study spend its time trashing Christians and redefining the word, then the second half crying and weeping over how ldsers are christians?

Humble these ldsers are not.

[aposiopetic]

We can peacefully and considerately coexist as brothers and sisters in Christ, while ascribing to different Christian beliefs and church affiliations.

Could "subscribing" be what the FCS meant?

[greyfoxx39]

ascribe

Verb

[-cribing, -cribed]

1. to attribute, as to a particular origin: headaches which may be ascribed to stress

2. to consider that (a particular quality) is possessed by something or someone: specific human qualities are ascribed to each of the four elements [Latin ad in addition + scribere to write]

ascription n

USAGE: Ascribe is sometimes used where subscribe is meant: I do not subscribe (not ascribe) to this view.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ascribe

[hocndoc]

I didn’t know that you were a moderator.

Nevertheless, most of us will rely on a few verses for telling the Good News. (and most of us will capitalize any reference to the Creator, the Lord or His Son.)

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes on Him shall not perish, but have life everlasting.

Romans 5:3 but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Important for this conversation are

Genesis 1: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Mark 12:29 Jesus answered, “The most important one is ‘Hear, oh Israel, the Lord our God is One!’”

Gal 1:6-9 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”

[greyfoxx39]

Grey, doesn't the first half of this alleged study spend its time trashing Christians and redefining the word, then the second half crying and weeping over how ldsers are christians?

After more than 150 years claiming persecution, it's second nature for them to play the...

I find this site to be highly deceptive, from the logo of the site which claims to be the "Foundation for Christian Studies, to the website URL, "studychristianity dot org."

This is obviously a ramping up of the LDS' intent to be known as Christian, by hook or by crook. The hook doesn't seem to be working, (such as the offer of a "Free Bible" in TV commercials to obtain names and addresses for missionary purposes), or they wouldn't feel the need for such deception.

[greyfoxx39]

I didn’t know that you were a moderator.

I'm puzzled..what is there in narses' post leads you to say this?

[hocndoc]

I read more closely, and see that you were quoting a Moderator, sorry.

However, I worry about these threads and their divisiveness, their ability to give ammunition to atheists and weaken those already weak.

On the other hand, what do we do when we find fraud such as this site?

[greyfoxx39]

On the other hand, what do we do when we find fraud such as this site?

Well, some of us try to shed light on such deception.

You know, atheists aren't jumping up and down demanding to be known as Christian, and atheists aren't going out every year more than 60,000 strong trying to convert Christians by telling them that their beliefs are wrong and that they, the atheists have the ONLY truth.

[ejonesie22]

Marketing.

The LDS is a business, not a faith.

[ckilmer]

The most fashionable heresy of the last 200 years has been arianism. theological problems aside churchs that adapt arianism soon die.

this is what happened to most european churches. this is what is happening now to american liberal churches.

mormonism is the exception...

arianism is the belief that jesus is fully man but not fully God. It stems from a 4th century dispute started by an egyptian named Arius that was resolved at the counsil of Nicea. The nicean creed spoken in many denominations comes from this period.’

The arian heresy was brought back to life and popularized in the english speaking by Issac Newton. Likely he got it from the tree of knowledge put out a century early by the french philosopher Decartes and the englishman Francis Bacon. They put theology—along with witchcraft — down as a branch subbranch of philosophy.

Decarte’s & Bacon’s tree of knowledge does bear some similiarities to the tree of knowledge in the garden of eden. But you’ll notice that God resides outside of the garden of eden and outside the tree of knowledge.

[count-your-change]

Hardly a surprize, eh? Let’s see what else is here... topic for discussion to the left....premortal existence.

Here’s a keeper for sure:

“The doctrine of premortal existence is a key element of Christian theology and helps tie together a number of principles that are taught in several advanced doctrines. It is the doctrine of the premortal existence that distinctly answers the many questions that were posed at the opening of this section regarding “where did I come from?”

A True and Loving Heavenly Father
The Apostle Paul wrote: “Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?” (Hebrews 12:9).
In this scripture Paul personalizes the role of Heavenly Father as not just the Creator, but as the Father of our spirits. Since he is our Father, it is completely consistent that we would have been with him before coming to the earth. This personalization is further supported in Acts 17:29 where men and women are referred to as “... the offspring of God...”; in Psalms 82:6 where we are referred to as “... children of the most high...”; and in Deuteronomy 14:1 where we are referred to as “... children of the LORD your God.”

Notice the adroit passage of “Father of spirits” into “Father of OUR spirits”?

And this leap across a Grand Canyon of Logic:

“Since he is our Father, it is completely consistent that we would have been with him before coming to the earth.”

But it is circular reasoning , text book quality, we came to the earth so it is consistent with being with the Father before we came to earth. And how can we know we came to earth? Why, because humans are called children of God!

That Leap of Logic didn’t get daylight under its feet.

But in defining Christianity this Mormon apologia says’

“The doctrine of premortal existence is a key element of Christian theology....”. Of Mormon theology, yes. Of Christian theology, no.

[greyfoxx39]

The arian heresy was brought back to life and popularized in the english speaking by Issac Newton.

IMO, mormonism is the attempt by man to equal God, and Joseph Smith, the founder of mormonism, has said: I have more to boast of than 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 work as I (History of the Church, Vol.6, pp. 408-09).

[count-your-change]

No google site, no connection. Hmmmm.

[ejonesie22]

We confront it, vigorously.

And it is working, this LDS based site is proof. They are getting more bold, more desperate, going with a subtle but a direct approach. Their numbers are dropping, the Internet is exposing them. So now they have been moving to a “if we can't beat ‘em will appear to join ‘em” approach.

Now is not the time to back down...