What do you think and why? Should Mormons be considered Christian in the same sense that orthodox Christianity uses the term Christian? What about Jehovah's Witnesses or Unitarians? Why or why not?
I'd like you to read the following article before answering:
http://www.ontruth.com/mrm2.html
2007-07-10 19:00:45 · 15 answers · asked by ? 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Many people will say that anyone who believes in 'Christ' can be considered Christian. While this is true in the most technical sense, is it true if we're seeking to determine the actual character and sentiment of the term (i.e., the spirit, intent and purpose rather than the 'letter of the law'). In other words, if I claim to be an American simply because I was born in America this would be technically true. But, if I held to beliefs that were overtly unAmerican (e.g., communism, unreasonable search and seizure and other things that go distinctly against the original tenets on which America was founded), should I still be allowed to claim that I am American?
2007-07-10 19:11:21 · update #1
No they are not Christian. Just because you believe Jesus existed does not make you a Christian. They believe that Jesus was a prophet and that is all. I believe that dinosaurs existed but that does not make me a caveman.
2007-07-11 02:36:47 · answer #1 · answered by tinkiewinkietoo 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Never looked into mormonism, but I believe Jehovah Witnesses and Unitarians are Christians with interpretations that differ from the majority of Christianity.
2007-07-10 19:03:22 · answer #2 · answered by enarchay 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, Jehovah's Witnesses are Christians.
Sadly, trinitarians repeatedly pretend that Jehovah's Witnesses are not Christian. Trinitarians use an artificial, trinity-specific definition of the term "Christian" which excludes anyone who does not believe that Jesus is God Himself, rather than the Son of God. Interestingly, pagans in the first century pretended that Christ's followers were Atheists(!) because the Christians had a somewhat different idea from the pagans about the nature of God.
Jehovah's Witnesses teach that no salvation occurs without Christ, that accepting Christ's sacrifice is a requirement for true worship, that every prayer must acknowledge Christ, that Christ is the King of God's Kingdom, that Christ is the head of the Christian congregation, that Christ is immortal and above every creature, even that Christ was the 'master worker' in creating the universe! Both secular dictionaries and disinterested theologians acknowledge that Jehovah's Witnesses are a Christian religion.
The Trinitarian arguments are intended to insult and demean Jehovah's Witnesses, rather than to give a Scripturally accurate understanding of the term "Christian".
In fact, the bible most closely associates being "Christian" with preaching about Christ and Christ's teachings. Review all three times the bible uses the term "Christian" and note that the context connects the term with:
"declaring the good news"
'teaching quite a crowd'
'open eyes, turn from dark to light'
"uttering sayings of truth"
"persuade"
"keep on glorifying"
(Acts 11:20-26) [The early disciples of Jesus] began talking to the Greek-speaking people, declaring the good news of the Lord Jesus... and taught quite a crowd, and it was first in Antioch that the disciples were by divine providence called Christians.
(Acts 26:17-28) [Jesus said to Paul] I am sending you, to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God... Paul said: “I am not going mad, Your Excellency Festus, but I am uttering sayings of truth and of soundness of mind. ...Do you, King Agrippa, believe the Prophets? I know you believe.” But Agrippa said to Paul: “In a short time you would persuade me to become a Christian.”
(1 Peter 4:14-16) If you are being reproached for the name of Christ, you are happy... But if he suffers as a Christian, let him not feel shame, but let him keep on glorifying God in this name
So why do anti-Witnesses try to hijack the term "Christian" and hide its Scriptural implications? Because anti-Witnesses recognize that it is the preaching work that makes it clear that the relatively small religion of Jehovah's Witnesses are by far the most prominent followers of Christ:
(Matthew 28:19,20) Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded
Learn more!
http://watchtower.org/e/ti/index.htm?article=article_04.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20050422/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/pr/index.htm?article=article_04.htm
2007-07-13 05:58:35 · answer #3 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a Mormon - I believe in Jesus Christ - the same Jesus as you - that makes me a Christian -
From there, you can judge and call names and re-define all you want - but Christianity is defined as one who follows Christ - Therefore I am a Christian. That's MY Christ-Test
The text you linked listed the Christ Test as:
1) Jesus Christ is uniquely fully divine, yet a distinct person.
2) Jesus Christ is uniquely fully human, yet without sin.
3) The fundamentally distinct human and divine natures of Jesus Christ are uniquely unified in one person without confusion, change, division, separation or identity.
4) Jesus Christ is the unique perfect revealer of God's essential nature.
5) Jesus Christ is the absolute LORD-Creator of all creation ex nihilo.
6) Jesus Christ is the unique and efficient reconciler of creation.
And then the text concludes that the LDS church's Christ doesnt meet these criteria - but doesn't explain how "our Christ" is different.
Why is it important to anyone whether "my Christ" is the same as "your Christ"?
If I'm publicly acting in a Christ-like manner, what difference does it make if I believe different specific things from you? What makes your belief more correct than mine? What does it matter if I believe different specific details than you?
No one picks on xyz religion because they sprinkle baptize people as opposed to abc religion that baptizes by immersion - What's the difference in that argument vs. the argument that "your Christ" is better than mine? EVERY organized religion on the planet has different views - that's why it's not organized as ONE religion - Why do you persist in hacking at the Mormons?
It's not a very Christ-like position to take.
2007-07-10 19:23:37 · answer #4 · answered by jdancy 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I don't need to read someone elses opinion in order to have an educated one of my own. I know for a fact that the Mormons are Christian. The Official name of the church says it all. The Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints. Every thing they teach is centered around the Gospel of Jesus Christ and his Atonement. His visit to the American Continent, Which is recorded in the Book of Mormon!
2007-07-10 19:10:41 · answer #5 · answered by Carolyn T 5 · 2⤊ 3⤋
If mormons were true Christians then Jesus would be the one and only. However, they decided to follow a false prophet in Joe Smith. And the men like to date and in pregnant young girls. Yeah, ok, that's someone who believes in God.
2007-07-10 19:16:22 · answer #6 · answered by Rick 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Mormonism is Mormonism, not Christianity. Mormons have a false prophet, a false gospel and a Jesus that is not the Jesus of the bible. So, no...they are not Christian. They do however have one of the best counterfeits of Christianity that exists. They cater to families, they are very "nice" people, and use all the words as Christians do. The only thing is....they mean different things than biblical Christianity.
2007-07-10 19:07:55 · answer #7 · answered by Esther 7 · 5⤊ 4⤋
They think that they are. However, experience shows that they think they believe in the same god, but it's actually completely different. Very difficult to explain, and any Mormon would deny this. I should know, I used to deny it too.
2007-07-10 19:03:14 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋
No. They do not accept the true word of God, the have there make beklive books they think are companion biooks to the bible or some twisted misinterpretation!
2007-07-10 19:04:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 4⤋
If mormons drank this would be a drinking question for them
2007-07-10 19:02:58 · answer #10 · answered by lindsey p 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋