Comments about ‘Mormonism is different, but is it too Christian?’

Check out the excerpt from Stephen Webb's recent book, "Jesus Christ, Eternal God: Heavenly Flesh and the Metaphysics of Matter," that was published in BYU Studies last year. The excerpt is titled "Godbodied: The Matter of the Latter-day Saints." Webb came across Joseph Smith when he was researching what he calls "an obscure heretical position on the nature of Jesus Christ" (Heavenly Flesh Christology) and became fascinated with Joseph's teachings.

Webb's perspective on Mormonism isn't always fully accurate, but it is always insightful, and, interestingly, Mormons could gain many valuable insights into their own religion by reading what this professor or religion and philosophy at Wabash College has to say about their beliefs.

Snowman: Those requirements you mention aren't in the New Testament. Nor are they in the Old Testament. The NT says you accept Jesus and you're saved. I realize there is a comment about works but what the intent is, isn't clear. There is no mention of temple work in the bible, not the way LDS view temples. Biblical temples had no ceremony similar to LDS ceremonies.

I'm just trying to clarify why Christians don't view LDS as being Christian. I'm not sticking up for their views, I'm stating why they see LDS as not being mainstream Christian.
There are also big differences on how both LDS & Christianity interpret God.

@Jared
"That The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church does not diminish the good of other churches"

Actually it does. The need to proxy baptize people who were baptized Christian is an insult to the faith of others (likewise the churches that don't accept LDS baptisms are insulting to the LDS faith).

I have read the Book of Mormon all the way through more than 50 times. I am at the point where there are only very few verse you can read to me without me being able to tell you which book and chapter you are in, and very often I can tell you the verse number as well. Yet every time I read it I realize that the book is deeper than I thought. The book is simple enough that I was able to effectively use it to teach my children to read. Yet that simplicity is misleading, it is like a game of chess against an opponent you think is making weak moves, but try as you might you keep falling into traps while trying to find a way to punish him. To see the depth of the Book of Mormon requires the Holy Ghost, I do not always have it, but when I do I notice the difference.

This was a very interesting article. I believe it shows that everyone, including Mormons, are insecure and perhaps pay too much attention to what others think about them.

Professor Fulman’s statement, "With politics and religion so inextricably linked in our culture,” upsets me because it is true. The only way that statement should have validity is both religions and politics are deeply divisive but, sadly, it is evident that many political decisions are based on individuals making political decisions based on their religious beliefs. This teaching and practice, to me, violates the basic constitutional restriction ‘no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office…” Constitution, Article v1
The founding fathers included this because England, 12 of the 13 colonies, and several foreign nations required all public officials to be members of a particular state approved religious doctrine

@sharrona
Hate to nit-pick but Mormons do not believe or teach that Christ was born in Jerusalem. Just wanted to clarify that in my sixty-plus years on the planet, NEVER have I taught or been taught that Christ was born anywhere but Bethlehem. Ten miles is not much but NEVER have we taught that the birthplace was other than Bethlehem.

Each person must define their own faith because when other people try to do it for you, they are always wrong or at least very incomplete in the attempt!

sharrona "Mormon view;"

Your view of the "Mormon view" is off base. Mistakes are made when you don't quote from scriptures and add your own interpretations.

And this whole "God once was" and "Man may become" is not LDS scripture but a beautiful personal interpretation of what is possible in eternity. No beginning and no end...only progression or damnation. I don't believe Heaven is the end, but a step to Christ's message to be more perfect. What lies beyond Heaven is too much to comprehend now and not so important today.

Re: sharrona

"The Jesus of Mormonism was born at Jerusalem" - there's no need to continue spreading tired misconceptions of what that means - it's been answered many times over the years and backed up by other ancient religious documents as a common way to refer to an area. Saying Christ was born at Jerusalem means in the area of Jerusalem (they are only 6 miles apart) - notice that it doesn't say "in Jerusalem". As a modern example people in the Seattle area say they are from Seattle but if you ask them, it's likely that they are from one of the surrounding suburbs.

Many of your other stated Catholic/Protestant beliefs about God and Christ are not particularly Biblical; they come from Greek influences on Christianity.

Mormons believe in living prophets who take precedence over past scripture (this does not diminish what's been written but what's most important is what the living prophets teach). This is the case in the Bible - the teachings of Noah were important for Noah's day but they were not sufficient for Moses' day or Isaiah's or Christ's or Peter's or Paul's.

Ernest T. Bass wrote:

"Christians don't see LDS as Christian because..."

Stop right there. That is a very narrow interpretation of Christians. Most Christians don't agree that Mormons are not Christian. And many agree that to call someone "not Christian" is not being Christian.

Mormonism is fundamentally different from Traditional Protestant Christianity. Everyone agress on this. Now, let's see about respecting each other's views, and agreeing to practice our particular faiths as we see fit. case Closed.

I really bristle when I read Mormons claiming that their Church does not attack , speak badly about, or deride other religions.

"...they were ALL wrong; ...ALL their creeds were an abomination in [God's] sight; that those professors were ALL corrupt; that: 'they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof'"

(Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith History 1:19).

That is a sweeping indictment and condemnation of all other religions and all other preachers, pastors, teachers, and leaders of all other religions, and it is contained in the official, sacred, canonical "scriptures" of the LDS Church.

And that is just the tip of the iceberg. If we were to count the attacking, critical, demonizing, horrible attacks on other religions and their leaders that are contained in the Journal of Discourses and many other writings, lovers of peace would be/should be aghast!

As far as I know, Mormons are the only Christian-based faith who claim they are the only true church. They go farther than that .. they claim that if you are given a real opportunity to learn the gospel (meaning the mormon gospel and also meaning you have to pay 10% of your earnings for the rest of your life to the mormon church) but you reject that mormon gospel you will not get to live with God after you die. How insulting is that to other Christian faiths. For you myopic mormons, try looking at this from an outsider's perspective before you try to convince your audience about how loving and accepting you are. It all comes down to money as far as I'm concerned .... more money for the big corporate church who uses this to scare people half to death about whether or not they will have the opportunity to return to live with God.

We members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints need to chill a little. We get upset if people say we are not Christians. Now we are upset because someone says we are are too Christian. Not everyone is going to have our beliefs. To condemn someone because they felt the Book of Mormon is dull makes no sense. The person doesn't have to believe it. Be happy that he at least read it. It is a start. We need to live our religion and invite others to learn about our religion. If they don't want to believe it that doesn't mean to turn our back on them. Look at President Hinckley's relationship with Mike Wallace. President Hinckley didn't shut him out, they remained friends.

Razzle2: I wasn't attacking anyone. I was referring to the Christians who claims LDS aren't Christian. My intent wasn't to make a blanket statement about all Christians, just those born-agains who makes claims about LDS not being Christian.
There are obviously theological differences. The Old & New Testament say one thing and LDS theology adds to it. That's my point and it's why some christians don't view LDS as being christian.

Sharrona
Your view of the LDS is very narrow I see with frequent repetitive answers to any comment you see that doesn't fit your current view

Ernest has some points but here are some things he forgets or that maintline Christians don't know about the temple. One the baptismal font in LDS Temples are the same as the one built in Solomon's temple. The washings and anointings as mentioned in Exodus are alsom done with in the walls of LDS Temples. There is the mention of ordinances done within the walls of Solomon's temple. These ordinances are not spelled out in the Old Testament.

There is some knowledge that some of the symbolism we use today goes back to the time the Temple of Solomon was built.

Therefore this leaves the basis that Joseph Smith didn't create anything new but RESTORED what had been lost with the destruction of the temple and the ordinances performed therein.

Sharrona we have gone back and forth pertaining to what Joseph Smith has said of the nature of our Heavenly Father and what mainline Christians believe. The problem is that there are modern day Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the earth today just as there were before the birth of Jesus. Contradictions between LDS is between theology and the creeds.

Scientist
going back to any prophet of the church in the last 100 yrs find even one quote where he attacks another religion? Listened to President Hinckley or Monson lately? No attacks there only advise to respect everyone and service by the church is provided to everyone regardless of believe
Get with the current you wont have to bristle so much

Dear Joseph Walker: Thanks again for keeping us aware of what others are saying about the LDS Church and its members.

The lack of animosity of Mormons toward other religions has been documented by the authors of the book American Grace, based on extensive surveys of American religious believers. They found specifically that Mormons have a very positive view of people in other denominations and religions, more than any other church toward another church, while members of most other religions view Mormons very negatively, just a little better than they view Muslims.

Essentially, most Americans are so ignorant of Mormonism that many of them are willing to believe any accusation, since they have nothing to compare it against and are totally unwilling to invest any effort to find out what is true. Since Mormonism is a blank slate in their minds, they project onto Mormons all sorts of negative characteristics they find in other churches.