What is the definition of 'anti-Mormon'? - Anti-Mormon Caucus (Just Kidding)

Mormon Times ^ | March 5, 2010 | By McKay Coppins

[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

[Tennessee Nana]

Mormons believe men and women are equal. In fact, we believe women are naturally more righteous than men. This is why the Priesthood is given only to men since we need it in order to approach the spiritual level of women.
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Equal eh ??? 50/50 ...

In 180 years how many women have been “prophet” or “president” of the mormon corporation ???

How many women have been in the “first presidency” the quorum of 12, or one of a 70 ???

How many women have been bishops, stake presidents, ward presidents ???

How many women have been a mission president or taught at the MTC ???

How many women professors are there at BYU ??? Teaching religion ???

Gosh how many women have addressed a conference as other than a RS ???

OK then how many women have taught priesthood classes ???

How about that polygamy forever thingy...How many “spirit husbands” can a woman have when she gets her own planet ???

[ejonesie22]

Spiritual and functional, it's what I am all about. The fact that Jesus was a carpenter before his career change is a bonus...

[CommerceComet]

And to them, a Christian saying they have assurance they are saved is the ultimate in arrogance whereas Christians see that the idea we can ‘do our part’ in our salvation through works is the ultimate in arrogance.

This is also the way that Muslims view Christians. If I were LDS, it would bother me that so many LDS criticisms of Christians are used by Muslims too.

[Grunthor]

“We’re anti-mormonISM, not anti-mormon.”

To most fair minded albeit less educated people this is a distinction without a difference. I am a Protestant. If someone is attacking what I believe and treasure, they might as well be attacking me personally.

[Elsie]

If someone is attacking what I believe and treasure, they might as well be attacking me personally.

That your choice to get all huffy I guess.

If MY beliefs get 'attacked' I show just from where I get them and let the chips fall where they may.

[mrreaganaut]

Generally, you have to be at a Baptist or community service to get 7 or 9 verses to a hymn (Baptists love adding verses!) I only know the first verse of “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” and I’m “gobsmacked” (where is that graphic?) to find out that there are 10!!!

[reaganaut]

EJ22 said no go on those, not flattering at all. We opted for a green apron with pockets for nails and such.

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Oh, good idea. The fig leafs pattern will make great looking pockets!

[mrreaganaut]

Is one of the qualifications to being a "true" Christian the attendance at an Easter sunrise service?

Sigh. The mindset of your question is blindly Mormon: true qualifications, testing and works. It is possible for Christians to do something, even at church, simply for the joy of doing it - not because it is commanded, not to show a testimony, not because there will be a test later, but a consequence of joy.

P.S. Don't respond with a one-up claiming that Mormons do things out of joy, and look at our wonderful pageants, and our work in Haiti, and blah, blah better than thou; it will just prove that you misunderstand completely.

[greyfoxx39]

To most fair minded albeit less educated people this is a distinction without a difference. I am a Protestant. If someone is attacking what I believe and treasure, they might as well be attacking me personally.

Do you consider sending out daily more than 50,000 single missionaries and uncounted couple missionaries to convince folks that their faith is false and salvation can only be attained by joining the mormon church an attack on YOUR faith, whatever it may be....or does your personal faith get a pass?

LDS leaders have the goal of seeing every soul alive or EVER alive included in their numbers.

I for one, have done that, got the T shirt, and hope to do my part in foiling that goal.

[reaganaut]

Mormons believe men and women are equal. In fact, we believe women are naturally more righteous than men. This is why the Priesthood is given only to men since we need it in order to approach the spiritual level of women.

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Oh that is SUCH A CROCK! If women are ‘more spiritual’ then men then how come women don’t know their husband’s ‘temple name’ and how come women had to vow to obey their husbands?

Please, women are treated as second class citizens by most of the LDS men I have ever known.

[greyfoxx39]

[reaganaut]

Mormons believe men and women are equal. In fact, we believe women are naturally more righteous than men. This is why the Priesthood is given only to men since we need it in order to approach the spiritual level of women.

- - - - - - - - - -
Oh that is SUCH A CROCK! If women are ‘more spiritual’ then men then how come women don’t know their husband’s ‘temple name’ and how come women had to vow to obey their husbands?

Please, women are treated as second class citizens by most of the LDS men I have ever known.

[reaganaut]

Oh, LOL.

[reaganaut]

Joseph Smith ‘prophesied’ that he would be a ‘second Mohammad’ and there are a lot of similarities be the LDS and Islam, so it would make sense that their criticisms of Christianity would be similar.

[reaganaut]

Only the first verse? Really? How come I know the first 6? LDS only sing 4.

[mrreaganaut]

Sorry! Reading it, I realized that I did know the first 6 verses, but since there’s no chorus, I thought of it all as one verse. I guess I only ever heard it on Easter (which makes sense). Didn’t we try to teach this to the AWANA kids one year?

[reaganaut]

Didn’t we try to teach this to the AWANA kids one year?

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Yeah we did. The year you were in charge of music and thought they should learn hymns.

[T. P. Pole]

Tadpole: Is one of the qualifications to being a "true" Christian the attendance at an Easter sunrise service?

MrReaganaut: Sigh. The mindset of your question is blindly Mormon: true qualifications, testing and works.

It is regrettable that a forum like this does not allow for full communications to take place. My question was somewhat joking, much like my occasional "lies for Jesus" comment, and somewhat a stunned shock.

I fully recognize the difference between orthodox Christianity and mormonism in regards to faith vs works. The problem is that sometimes, from a mormon viewpoint, a "works" type qualifier is place upon us as a reason for us not being Christian. Hence my question. If I was going to an Easter sunrise service or not was being presented as if I was not a Christian if I didn't. That seemed rather strange a conflict in our normal claim of differences.

But in the end what differentiates us is who we say Christ is and our relationship to Him. Not the manner of our worship. While we have clear difference in both Christ and our worship methods, it is the Christ part that (accurately) makes many say we are not (orthodox) Christian.

[T. P. Pole]

I know what the term Christ means literally, but my point was that so many LDS say it by rote, without thinking about it. Even your definition ‘Jesus is indeed the person that did all the stuff we talk about’ is pretty vague, to be honest.

Alas, you asked for a "simple definition" and I was trying to explain what we meant in a simple way. But it is just not to be. Jesus is the Christ = Jesus is my Savior. Explaining that to a non-Christian in a simple way is just not possible. And explaining what a mormon means by it to an orthodox Christian is also very difficult due to different meanings assigned to words.

You are right, though, about the formula nature of its use. There seems to be a few key phrases that we use without really thinking about what it sounds like. "Jesus is the Christ" or "the church is true" or "the BoM is the word of God" or whatever. Someone brought up in the culture understands what is being meant, but to an outsider it must be very strange and confusing.

[Tennessee Nana]

Wheres that thread from a couple of weeks ago that had the Moslems and Mormons as great buds ???

Was it locked ???