I am neither Christian nor Mormon, but it seems as though Mormon beliefs cannot be defined as Christian. I am curious about how Mormons are viewed by other Christian churches.
2006-11-15 23:54:09 · 10 answers · asked by rickymojo8 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Does Mitt Romney have a shot at the Republican Presidential nomination considering he is Mormon?
2006-11-16 00:01:51 · update #1
Most non-Christians consider anyone who beliefs in Jesus Christ as the Savior as mankind to be a Christian. Sure, the Mormons have some unique beliefs, but they still worship Christ. I'm not sure where people get their ideas that Mormons deny the deity of Christ; after all, Mormons believe that Jesus is the same being as Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament. Most of the animosity toward Mormons, I'm afraid, is fueled by a very large amount of misinformation.
2006-11-16 05:06:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
In order to understand why Christian churches don't consider Mormons to be fellow Christians, you need to understand the differences in beliefs about Jesus Christ.
To Mormons, Jesus was a spirit child like you or me...and Satan. By dying on the cross, he opened up a door for us to be saved. However, Mormons believe that you have to walk through the door yourself to be saved-- So, essentially, Mormons believe that you're saved by your works.
To Christians, Jesus is apart of the trinity-- He is Lord and has always been and will always be. He is in no way on any same level as us...and especially Satan. Jesus was the creater and not the created. Christians believe that it is through our faith in Jesus Christ that we are saved. However, as Romans 3:21-end says, our faith convicts us to follow the law that was set.
This may seem like a minor difference, but this is HUGE! Mormons claim to be something their not--and that's Christian. You're right--they can't be defined as Christian. We don't hate Mormons, but we insist that they realize these critical differences between Mormonism and true Christianity.
www.carm.org/mormon.htm
2006-11-16 12:01:48 · answer #2 · answered by applesoup 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Mav does not consider Mormon a christian organization - more para-christian.
Mav also does not consider Mormon a cult. Perhaps at one time in it's history it would have been, but though there is some cult like behavior, they are allowed to visit other churches - though they aren't encouraged, they are allowed.
2006-11-16 07:56:56 · answer #3 · answered by Mav here! 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Galatians 1:8-9 identifies the Mormon religion as a false one; therefore it's not a valid Christian denomination:
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
It's highly important to keep in mind that Joseph Smith, the Mormon's founder, received the "Book of Mormon" from an "angel." These teachings deny the purpose of Jesus' sacrifice; deny Jesus is God in the flesh; deny Jesus was the ONLY begotton Son of God; and put forth other blasphemies. As Paul wrote in verse 8 above, we should disbelieve one who appears as an angel, if he brings "another gospel." Paul wrote at 2 Cor. 11:14b that " ... Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light." I know I sound like the "Church lady," but this is proof the Mormons received their "gospel" from Satan himself.
The Greek word translated as "accursed" at Galatians 8 and 9 is "anathema," which means:
a thing devoted to God without hope of being redeemed, and if an animal, to be slain; therefore a person or thing doomed to destruction
a) a curse
b) a man accursed, devoted to the direst of woes.
Sadly, this describes the Mormons, who have left Jesus Christ to follow after another gospel. We cannot candy-coat this truth; if we do, we've lost our ability to love the Mormons enough to show them they're wrong and lead them back to Jesus.
Peace.
2006-11-16 08:22:36 · answer #4 · answered by Suzanne: YPA 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Being Christian means taking upon the name of Christ and trying to live a Christ like life. This is a basic tenant of our Church.
Basic beliefs. Some of the basic beliefs of the Church are:
* God is our Heavenly Father. He loves us and wants us to return to Him.
* Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is our Savior. He redeems us from death by providing the Resurrection. He saves us from sin as we repent.
* Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can return to live with God if we keep His commandments.
* The Holy Ghost helps us to recognize truth.
* The first principles and ordinances of the gospel are faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.
* The Church of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth.
* The priesthood authority of God exists in His Church today, just as it did in the original Church.
* The Bible and the Book of Mormon are the word of God.
* God reveals His will to prophets today, just as He did anciently.
* Our life has a sacred purpose.
* Families can be together forever.
* Through serving others, we can experience joy and draw closer to God.
There is a lot of false propoganda generated about our Church due to the size and the growth. Usually I find the people who feel this way use the argument against modern revelation as part of the problem. (They feel the New Testament is complete and the Church has no need of further guidance after Christ's sacrifice.) Yet, many times these are the same people who totally embrace modern revelation and believe in the rapture . . . a belief that started in 1827 to the 1830s thanks to what many describe as "prophetic" visions by Mary McDonald and the tireless work of John Darby. Read the Wikipedia article yourself . . . so how can you one preach against our religion over a denial of modern revelation and embrace a modern revelation from this woman at the same time?
And remember the idea of the trinity was from a Roman Ceasar via the Nicean Creed and not scriptural . . . just reading the baptism of Christ disproves the theory. The Ceasar used it to take control of Rome and to form the Catholic church.
2006-11-16 08:17:39 · answer #5 · answered by whozethere 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Being friends with some former Mormons, ( 30 years into the religion) they tell me it is NOT Christian, and they are very happy to have come out of it!
2006-11-16 08:03:08 · answer #6 · answered by JoJoCieCie 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The essence of Christianity is the deity of Christ. Mormons reject that and therefore do not fall under the Christian label.
2006-11-16 08:09:47 · answer #7 · answered by oldguy63 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I am affraid Mormons are not Christians, by pure definition. To be an affiliate of the Christian faith, you would need to allign your dogma (statement of belief) to that of the traditional christian teaching; being that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, thus He is God, our savior, and that He is part of the Trinity, being One True God.
The Mormon faith does not recognise the Deity of Jesus as Equal to the Father, and does not recognise His Divine nature to be uniquely God, and does not believe in the Trinity, buit rather equate Him to every other human being, calling Him our 'heavenly brother'.
Thus, traditional Christianity does not recognise Mormonism except as being a 'Cult', and that is a term that is cast upon the Mormon belief from a pure technical perspective. In this instant, a Cult is a group that deviates totally from the mainstream and dramatically alters the statement of belief. I do not mean a cult in the general sense that they are a group of blood-thirsty mungrols that seek evil upon non-believers, not at the slightest bit...but as I said, it is meant in its purest technical term.
No to say that the Church sees them as bad people. The Church destinguishes the person from their belief. and just because someone's faith is somewhat confused, it does not exclude them as being beloved by God, but rather are viewed as mislead and confused, that is all.
I hope this gives you a clearer picture of the Traditional Church's view of Mormonism...God Bless.
2006-11-16 08:08:04 · answer #8 · answered by copticphoenix 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
They are a cult. They are NOT Christian. Churches frown and have nothing to do with them. It's blasphemy to even compare them to christians.
2006-11-16 07:57:50 · answer #9 · answered by Jonno 2 · 2⤊ 3⤋
it's not a Christian religion. it's a false religion.
2006-11-16 07:56:15 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋