Antimormons

[Maureen]

My thoughts are this, coming from a type of anti-Mormon – mine is more anti-Mormonism – focusing more on doctrine and not person – and definitely not history because that’s the best part. (I do believe a person can be a member of the LDS church and also be a member of “the body of believers” in Christ. I believe a relationship with God is more important than membership with a religion.)

Catholics and Protestants more or less agree on many of the black and white doctrines of Christianity, ie Trinity, Justification by Faith, (although Catholics might not agree totally about this one), Word of God etc. There are gray areas of course but many of those do not affect a person’s salvation.

Mormon doctrine tends to not agree with many of the above and Mormons believe and espouse that they belong to the “one true church” – the church of Jesus Christ.

With Christianity being approximately 2000 year old and going through it’s ups and downs, ie early heretics (leading to the Nicene creed and such), Spanish inquisition, Reformation; many tried and true doctrines have figuratively been carved in stone. So when another religion comes along placing themselves above all other religions and other religious followers, animosity (read LDS church history regarding persecution) and a need to defend your faith comes into play.

Catholicism and Protestantism also have a firm belief in hell. The unsaved are doomed to hell. What makes a person not saved? The bottom line would be, not having faith that Christ is the only way back to God. Who is Christ? And that’s where it all begins. If a religion’s idea about Christ is different than what has been established over these 2000 years then chances are if you do not believe in Christianity’s Christ you are going to hell.

I don’t have to spell out the differences between how the Mormon religion sees Jesus compared to a Protestants view – or do I? For example:

A Mormon view – Christ was Heavenly Father’s first born of spirit children – he was Lucifer’s brother, as he is everyone’s older brother.

A Protestant view – Christ is God. He has always been God, has existed throughout eternity as the second person of the Trinity – he is equal in glory to the Father and the Holy Spirit.

For the older Protestant view, Mormonism is looked on as blasphemous. By not acknowledging Christ as God and giving him the status and glory he rightly deserves, those innate reflexes with defending ones faith come into play. And the need to steer the lost soul (for those blasphemous beliefs) into the right direction, for the sake of their eternal soul.

So two main ideas come into play:

1. Defending your faith and;
2. Convincing the (to use an old term) heretic that they are in need of true doctrine, which will lead them to true salvation.

In a way it seems kind of old fashion (to me anyway) – but I believe it’s due to the doctrine of hell. If hell wasn’t looming over there then there really wouldn’t be the need to have to convince the heretic of their doom.

Since Mormonism does not believe in the same hell as Catholicism and Protestantism then the style of proselytizing will be different.

I personally am not sure about hell (as in everlasting burning and such). I’m not sure whether to read into hell as mentioned in the Bible as figurative or literal. For me at this time in my life, I have decided that “freedom to choose” what to believe is most important. I appreciate that right myself and feel very comfortable in respecting other people who have different beliefs than myself. I enjoy sharing what I believe with others but I do not feel the desire to convert others into believing the same as myself.

M.

[Snow]

Maureen,

You don't qualify as an "anti". You may disagree, you may even be a critic but you aren't an "anti"

[/quote]A Protestant view – Christ is God. He has always been God, has existed throughout eternity as the second person of the Trinity – he is equal in glory to the Father and the Holy Spirit.[/quote]

Ah kind of. Christ is/was fully God and fully Man. That's two, two, two thing in one. Not only is Christ equal in glory to the Father he is ontologically the same as the Father. 1 in 3, 3 in 1.

Mormons also believe that Christ is God.

[Maureen]

Originally posted by Snow@Mar 19 2004, 05:26 PM
Maureen,

You don't qualify as an "anti". You may disagree, you may even be a critic but you aren't an "anti"

A Protestant view – Christ is God. He has always been God, has existed throughout eternity as the second person of the Trinity – he is equal in glory to the Father and the Holy Spirit.[/quote]

Ah kind of. Christ is/was fully God and fully Man. That's two, two, two thing in one. Not only is Christ equal in glory to the Father he is ontologically the same as the Father. 1 in 3, 3 in 1.

[/quote]
Snow - thanks for not seeing me as "anti".

Mormons also believe that Christ is God.

Yes, I believe that some do; but I've never read GBH saying that he believes Christ is God, or that Mormonism believes Christ is God. And Mormonism does teach that Jesus is mankind's older "spiritual" brother (not quite sure how to word that). I thnk it is these odd beliefs that get many other denominations bent on converting Mormons.

M.

[Snow]

Originally posted by Maureen@Mar 19 2004, 05:39 PM


Yes, I believe that some do; but I've never read GBH saying that he believes Christ is God, or that Mormonism believes Christ is God. And Mormonism does teach that Jesus is mankind's older "spiritual" brother (not quite sure how to word that). I thnk it is these odd beliefs that get many other denominations bent on converting Mormons.

M.

Maureen,

It is a central tenet of the gospel. I can't imagine that there is a single educated Mormon anywhere that does not believe that Christ is God:

"Latter-day Saints believe in God the Father; his Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost (A of F 1). These three Gods form the Godhead, which holds the keys of power over the universe. Each member of the Godhead is an independent personage, separate and distinct from the other two, the three being in perfect unity and harmony with each other (AF, chap. 2)." Encyclopedia of Mormonism

He is God the Son and not God the Father. Actually is also the Father is term of a title for the role he has filled but he is not ontologically the same as the/his Father.

[sgallan]

**** A person who is opposed to something, such as a group, policy, proposal, or practice.
QUOTE]

Sooo....anti...mormon...a person who is opposed to something, such as MORMONS...*****

This definition is too broad. I know many devout members who do not like aspects of the Church. I don't like some aspects of your faith to be sure; but I only wander into true anti territory when things get political (the homosexual thing), but that would just be politics and is not specific to this religion, or even religion entotal. Otherwise, the values of this religion do not fit mine, but I would fight to the death to allow you to practice a faith, whose values do not agree with mine. Think about it, because as Snow has pointed out there is a group who has decided; "if you aren't with us you are against us". Are you part of this group?

[anti-heretic]

Originally posted by Ammon@Mar 19 2004, 04:08 PM
As many of you know by now, I consider myself an LDS apologist. I visit various "Christian" websites with the objective of answering their questions and clarifying the incredible lies and mistruths proffered regarding our beliefs. In all my time doing this, I am still shocked at the bitterness of true antimormons. And I find that the focus of their bitterness lies in the fact that they perceive us as excluding them from exaltation unless they conform to our beliefs. The interesting point here is that if they don't really believe our beliefs, why do they care what we teach? They SHOULD just go on with their merry lives believing that their saved, but instead they attack our beliefs... not out of Christian love to save our souls, but to prove us wrong and prove themselves right. I find this most odd, perhaps pride... fear, I know not. Thoughts? Especially from those of you who have visted such sites recently. Thanks.

Have you gone here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/browse

PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain, narses and Romulus would benefit from your witness.

I agree with you snow... for as long as I have known sgallion,maureen , even though we dont agree I dont see them as anti...just fun debators

[Fuzz Bucket]

It's not so much that I'm "anti Moron" per say as much as I just can't stand idiots.

Fuzzy Wuzzy..................... you just love a good debate, and we love to hear your...you were missed.

LaurelTree

[Lindy]

FUZZ!
We DID miss you!! Now my day is complete!