Why cant Mormons be Mormons, Catholics be Catholics and Christians be Christians?

Question

I was reading a post earlier and the person said "BTW - Mormons ARE Christians".

I know that the general idea is that all of these faiths are one in the same, but if you do research, you find that they are all very very different.

In fact, one of the only things that we have in common is that we all believe in one God, and we believe in Jesus. (Which other faiths do as well)

As a Christian, I dont believe in any part of the Mormonism or the Catholic beliefs, and while I respect you if you DO believe in these things, why cant you be "OK" with calling your faith what it is? We are confusing enough as it is without having those who pray to Mary and those who follow Joseph Smith telling everyone they are "Christians".

Please explain why

1. These faiths are all assumed to be "one"
2. The Catholics and Mormons insist on being called "Christian".
3. Why is it not enough to be a "Mormon" or a "Catholic".

Thanks!

Vana - Yes, they are. I encounter so many people who are Mormon or Catholic who say "we are Christians". Or someone who is not of any faith who says "they are all the same".

Believe me, as a Christian, I hear it ALL the time.

I know according to each doctrine, they are separate - Because I have studied each, but according to people, they are melded.

In response to "west" - But I am not any of those - I am considered "non-denominational" meaning, I just believe what the bible teaches. Should I go around telling people the faith I believe in is "Non-denominational"? No one would understand...

Answer 1

Because the defintion of Christian is Christ follower. SO while their individual DOCTRINE differs, the man tenant of the faith, Christ, is the same, hence Christian.

I know, it confuses me to, but its just the way it is, definition wise.

Answer 2

I just hate it when idiots like you and all the others who answered this question thus far, have to categorize everything. Why the hell does it matter to you if a catholic wants to be a christian? Who the hell cares if mormons want to be christians? And by the way, anyone who has looked into the mormon faith should know that their name is the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints. One should also know that they don't worship Joseph Smith, any more than catholics worship Mary. You people just take little bits of information and twist it around to make people look bad. Like the dummy who said that mormons think Jesus and satan are brothers. Where do you get your information? Honestly? Off the bathroom wall? Also, one who knows anything about catholicism would know that the reason they pray to Mary, is to ask her to go to God on their behalf. I think that you should all pull your heads from your butts. Find out what the hell you are talking about before you go spouting it off all over the place and looking like idiots. Also, I think that you should choose the guy who said that you don't matter as the best answer. That is the best piece of advice I have heard all day.

Answer 3

Christianity applies to that whole range of churches (the protestant, mormon, catholic, baptist, etc). There are not alot of people out there who will say that they are JUST Christians. They usually belong to a certain church (like the ones listed above).

Protestant churchs came from the Catholic church (centuries ago). They are ALL Christian churchs.

Catholics and Mormons insist on being called Christians because that is what they are.
It is not enough to just be called a Mormon or a Catholic because they are still Christians.

Yes there are many little things that seperate the Church. But there has to be something to unify all the people that have the same certain core believes.

Answer 4

I like your question.
I'm Mormon. I converted from being a Methodist several years ago. When I was Methodist I said "I'm Methodist" when asked what religion I was. I now say I'm Mormon, or LDS, or Latter-Day Saint (all three are the same religion, it just depends on who I'm talking to - member, non-member, familiar or stranger)

A lot of Protestant Christians do not think we believe or worship Christ. We do. There's a LOT of misinformation out there about us, and so in an effort to clarify we tell people we are Christian too. Most people who have a major problem with us are those who do not know what our beliefs are, but instead have relied on hear say from former members, or non-member friends or families of members.

I can not speak for Catholics as I've never been one, but I would assume it's similar for them. We want to be called Christians because we consider ourselves Christians, and there are a lot of people who do not consider us Christians. It has been my experience, growing up in a 98% Protestant town, that Protestants feel they have the only legitimate claim on the Christianity market. When I say, I'm Mormon, and I'm talking to someone I know is Baptist, the reaction I get is one of disdane and sorrow because they think they have to start out any religious conversation we may have with the basics of God exists, He loves us and sent His Son to die for us. So when I say, I'm Christian, or Mormons are Christians too, I've learned it saves time and they don't feel the need to catch me up on what Christianity is.

I am satisfied with identifying my religion as LDS, but most people don't know what that is, or they think that I'm so high I can't even spell LSD right. So, I say I'm Mormon.

I have noticed here on YA R&S that Mormons will identify themselves as Mormons, Catholics will id themselves as Catholics, but rarely do you see a Pentacostal, Church of Christ, Methodist, Baptist, or any of the other Protestants identify themselves as the particular type of Protestant they are. More often than not I see questions or answers that say the person is Christian. You yourself did the same thing. It makes me feel that you as a Protestant (obviously) think that the only other Christians on the planet are other Protestants, but that just isn't so.
As I've said before, there are Catholics, Protestants, and those who are neither Catholic or Protestant, but are still Christians. Mormons are part of that third group of non-Catholic, non-Protestant, Christians.

UPDATE: To your second detail - my point exactly. If you can call yourself a Christian and not get flak for not calling yourself a Non-Denominational, then why can't I get the same respect when I call myself a Christian.

Answer 5

A Christian is someone who exercises faith in and follows the example of Jesus Christ. If you can glibly call yourself a Christian, then anyone else who believes in Jesus can do so also, regardless of what church they attend. However, Jesus did not teach that 'all roads lead to God' as many believe. Read Matthew 7:13-23. Jesus described beyond doubt how many people would claim to be his followers, but their actions would prove otherwise. There can only be one true religion, one that teaches the truth from God's Word and doing God's will. Worry about the fact that Jesus said his followers would worship in spirit and truth, and examine your own statement of being a Christian.

Answer 6

Maybe it's because they they are all believers in "christ"? Perhaps the ones who wish to take the term "christian" from others should realize that it's a general term, and use the more accurate, "Protestant" or "Baptist", or what have you, and stop hating on those who have the same messiah, but different beliefs about him.. Technically, since Catholics predate most og the sects around today, they should get the original title of Christian, and the others should have to rename..

Answer 7

I'm Catholic, and here's how I see it:
Everybody has got to be right and feel superior, and treat everybody different badly.
It almost seems to me like, all the different sects of Christianity are children in a family, and we all want to be Dad's favorite, ya know?
Even though I KNOW I'm Christian, and somebody Muslim or Buddhist or whatever would probably call me Christian, I don't say "I'm a Christian", I say "I'm Catholic". To me it is enough to be Catholic, and I'm proud to be Catholic (not too proud! wouldn't want to go to hell!), and I like to think that I am tolerant of everybody else's beliefs.
I just don't like it when people harp on you and tell you that you're wrong. My uncle's dad is like that, and went so far as to say "I think you should go to church with us because there is SOOO MUCH wrong with the Catholic church." I had to try to be polite but I was so angry. The sect of Christianity he belongs to is super strict and they don't sing or anything in church. I basically said "I'm Catholic and I always will be, and if you have the audacity to pass judgement on other religions, then I don't want to know ANYTHING about your religion and learn to be judgemental of others like that." He's never brought it up again.
A VERY common misconception about Catholics is that we pray to the Saints and the Virgin Mary. THIS IS NOT TRUE. To put it simply, we believe that the saints are like God's secretaries. Most every "prayer" to a saint includes the words "pray for us", etc. We are asking the saint to pass the message on to God for us...face it, the Big Guy is a busy man!
My step mom is Jewish and one day she said to me, "all the Christians pray on Sunday, and the Jews on Friday and Saturday...I pray on Wednesday to make sure he has the time to listen". It was soooo cute!

Answer 8

I am Mormon - I just wanted to answer... We consider every marriage "good" before God, that is performed the correct way, whether civilly or in the temple. BUT, the only marriages that will last through out eternity are the ones sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise in the Lord's temple. All others will end when "death do you part." Even in a temple marriage, the couple is still bound by covenants, there is no guarantee, but as long as we keep our covenants, our marriage will be in full effect in the eternities.

Answer 9

Christian is just a simple over-arching term for a faith that's based on Jesus Christ as redeemer. It's just offensive when someone says "your not a Christian" because to me, that feels like they're saying that I don't believe in Jesus at all, and who Jesus is, and what He did/does is such a huge part of who I am, that it's just painful to hear that.

Besides, if we were so worried about calling every religion like that - it would be more accurate for you to call yourself a protestant. Would you honestly prefer that?

Answer 10

In a nutshell - it all boils down to what is central to their beliefs. Anyone that is NOT a born-again believer (Christian) is relying on their own works to be accepted into heaven while born-agains accept the Bible's Truth that it is by faith alone we have been saved (see Romans 3, Ephesians 2, John 3:16). Just bec some religious group says they are Christians, they deny Him and His work when they say they need more than what's already been done for then through Christ!

Answer 11

The definition of "Christianity" is that you believe in Christ as your personal Savior. All three of those religions believe in Christ as their personal Savior; therefore, they all fall under the umbrella as Christians. There are a couple of common umbrellas for religions as a whole.

You are, in a since, "naming" your religion Christian. Much like Mormons are named "mormons", Catholics are named "Catholics, you named yourself "Christian"

By the way, despite what you are told, Mormons are Christian. They believe in the same Christ in the bible, (it's one of their basic texts, along with the Book of Mormon) the same Christ that died for the sins of the world and they accept him as their personal Savior (the definition of Christianity). Some of these people need to do their homework and not just believe what they are told (ya know, actually search out the answers outside of their own church!)