Quote:
Originally Posted by AnthonyB
LDS appears to me to be a bit like Islam (and to lesser extant Catholicism) there is officially declared core doctrines and then there are a large number of "folk beliefs", wide spread beliefs that aren't official doctrines but comonly held.
I (and I think many other non-LDS) still get confused between which beleifs are core LDS and which are "folk beliefs" (things which may be true but have never been codified into scripture).
Many Protestants once saw a number of Catholic practices and beliefs in an extremely negative way, today although we may still disagree many have learned that with proper study and understanding of what is being done and believed that the gaps are not as large as we once thought.
Probably more pertinient to LDS is the SDA example, as they were once widely held as being a "cult" by many Protestants but are now largely seen as eccentric fellow Christians (even to some extent being excepted as Evanglelicals).
I don't see the gap with the LDS ever being closed (although once many would have thought the same of Catholics and Protestants), you are a distinct expression of Christianity that is at several points irrevocabley separated from the rest of us.
I do however think that if the essential LDS doctrines were expressed carefully and nuanced correctly, the differences in a large numbr of areas are not as great as they appear initially.
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Well, I suggest that the same can be said of just about any other religion. Many would be amazed at aspects of Catholic worship, for example, in certain places in Central and South America or even Southeast Asia. Many charismatic and Pentecostal traditions have incorporated many beliefs and rituals from local traditions. The Christian church at Rome in the second century adopted traditions that came from old Latin festivals, celebrations and communal rituals. They are still here today.
In fact, you would be surprised that many fellow evangelicals and protestants in general (I am referring to ordinary church members) would admit to similar perplexities in regards to the Trinity and the nature of God. By far, most Christians donot devote a significant amount of time to pondering and researching issues of deep doctrine. I think we are statistically an anomaly here in this forum. We should not make inferences otherwise. Also in the LDS church we are encouraged to seek inspiration and personal interpretation of the scriptures. Most people actually state such clearly and say things like: "this is interpretation according to me". I am, for once, not inclined to speculate much since we already have enough clear and pristine principles we should master before we go out on a limb and try to swim in a sea of conjecture.
If we must know absolutely and precisely correct doctrine and theology to be saved then most of humanity will be lost.