Is there a fourth Abrahamic religion? According to Richard Land, there is. What do you think?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20071026/us_time/whatismormonismabaptistanswer;_ylt=AszrBDCZo7bobxc0zRED8bM7Xs8F

Synopsis of article above: Land says there are four Abrahamic religions. First the Jewish religion, then the Christian religion, then the Muslim religion, and finally the Mormon religion.

I'm not interested in any bashing answers. Just curious about whether you think the Mormon religion should be considered a fourth Abrahamic religion, or part of Christianity, or if you're really closed minded a cult (which by the way, even the SBC has taken off their list of cults - see article for details).

Thanks.

Answer 1

The Jewish and Muslim traditions are rooted in the sons of Abraham -- Isaac and Ishmael. So actually they both come "first"

From there, second, the Christian traditions grew from the Jewish tradition/religion and thirdly Mormanism (and other offshoots) branched off from Christianity.

I don't think Mormanism can qualify as a "fourth" because Mormons recognize Jesus of the New Testament - although they disagree with mainstream Christianity on finer points of theology surrounding Jesus. Because of that recognition, Mormans are still in the same stream as Christianity and not a branch unto themselves.

-M

Answer 2

I read the article and the idea of a 'fourth Abrahamic religion' sounds like something made up. Evangelicals have a hard time taking Mormonism at face value. It isn't nearly as complex as they want to make it. They won't accept the fact that we follow the teachings of the Bible and believe that it is the word of a living God as much as they do.
The article did not say where Land derived his opinions. Did he get his info from some sort of ancient writings or did he just pull this idea of Mormons being of the 4th Abrahamic religion out of his hat? As a Latter-Day-Saint, I would really like to know his exact reasoning for his opinion and where this information comes from because for me it's a first.

Answer 3

Well, if you wanna get technical about it, the Baa'hai Faith claims that they are also an Abrahamic religion. They were founded around the same time as Mormonism [sic] and since I'm not sure on the dates of Joseph Smiths revelation and all that, I don't know if it was before or after, but I think it was shortly after. So that would be Five, not four.

Answer 4

Did this guy talk to any Mormons?

I feel it's ok for him to say whatever he wants. He's entitled to his own opinion.... no matter how much I disagree with him.

My opinion is that Mormonism is a subset of Christianity.... if he wants to divide Christianity into multiple subsets (Catholic, Protestant, and "other," with LDS and JW, etc being "other"), or maybe use "non-trinitarian and "trinitarian" as two basic sub-sets.... then I'd be more inclined to agree with him.

I find it amazing how many people feel that "non-trinitarian Christian" equals "not Christian." Just because someone doesn't agree with in your perception of things..... Ducks.

Wait a minute!!!! Maybe that's the way everyone is about everything.......
We have the same thing in Washington-- Dems and Repubs calling each other "un-American" because they don't see eye-to-eye in how to handle various issues that come up.... when (I suspect) they both really want the same thing- the best (according to them) for the American people....

Answer 5

It's a flattering statement, but it's just not true. Because Mormons believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ and consider him to be the way to salvation, they are clearly a Christian denomination. It is true that they are not an orthodox denomination (they are neither Protestant, Catholic, nor Eastern Orthodox), because they don't accept the post-New Testament creeds, but their Christ-centered theology clearly qualifies them for the Christian label.

The only reason there is even any debate on this subject is because of certain fundamentalist Christians. Most objective scholars agree that Mormons are Christian. Consider this quote from an academic book entitled “Anthology of World Scriptures” by Robert E. Van Voorst.

“…the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints…see themselves as Christian, and most experts in comparative religions would view this labeling as basically correct. That they…accept the Christian Bible as their first cannon is a good indicator of this. Moreover, “outsiders” to [Christianity], such as Buddhists, would almost certainly recognize them as belonging to the stream of Christian tradition.”

If you'd like to learn more about the Mormons, visit my site at http://www.allaboutmormons.com .

Answer 6

From the article: "SBC documents that had previously listed the faith under a 'cults and sects' section have moved it to a 'newly developed religions' page."

Far be it from me to infer anything here, but this seems -- on the surface, anyway -- to be more of a politically expedient move on the part of the SBC than anything else. With a Mormon as a serious contender for nomination as a presidential candidate, "newly developed religion" softens the harsh-sounding "cult" and thereby makes it possible for Southern Baptists to vote for Romney (if it comes to that) with a clearer conscience.

Answer 7

Hey I already asked this question. Go answer mine! ;-)

lol

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AhnQBzGUoVPN7aWr9RuCVmfty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071101040252AAz5UHN

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AiMWPP7FFjOEhRTPzqIHAN_ty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071101035215AA3zkrp

I'm not a Mormon but it looks like an attempt to separate LDS from mainstream Christianity.

I don't know enough about the LDS church to comment on it. The only thing I know about it are what I've been told by other christians so it is probably skewed a bit. Hence my refusal to comment on the theological aspect.

-- It is funny that Mitt was told not to say he was a Christian. --

Answer 8

Christian comes from Christ (first used as an insult by the Romans to the followers of Christ) so if the mormons believe in Christ they`re Christians...Neither of the religions can`t prove its authenticity so why fight over unprovable hypothesis?!
In my my opinion, just 3 Abrahamic religions..

Answer 9

Personally, no. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is as Christian as any denomination extent. To label us as a fourth Abrahamic religion is a compromise position for the Protestants to feel like they are being accepting of our existence. If that makes them feel good and causes them to not be so prejudicial, then well and good. I can live with it for now, even if I feel they are wrong in doing so.

Answer 10

What about Bahai, Sikhism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Unitarian Universalism? Falun Gong? All can claim descent from Abrahamic traditions in whole or in part.