Is mormonism christianity?

Mormonism is a christian offshoot which teaches that God was like us at some point and that the best mormons will get their own planet. This takes the term "heavenly father" much more literally since there comes a time when we no longer are under the jurisdiction of our parents and at one point, our parents were kids under their parent's jurisdiction.

This quote sums it up perfectly:

What man is, God once was. What God is, man may become

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Masterhawk said:

Mormonism is a christian offshoot which teaches that God was like us at some point and that the best mormons will get their own planet. This takes the term "heavenly father" much more literally since there comes a time when we no longer are under the jurisdiction of our parents and at one point, our parents were kids under their parent's jurisdiction.

This quote sums it up perfectly:

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On the fringe and really straddling the line, but yes I think so.

Mormons believe in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus; ergo, they're Christians by definition. All the other weird stuff they believe certainly separates them by miles from the more "mainstream" Christian sects, but like Seventh Day Adventists and JWs, they're still Christians.

Mormons are no more Christians than Christians are Jews.

Much is shared with Christianity but it is absolutely not Orthodox Christianity in the broadest more liberal sense.

A few extremely non orthodox beliefs:

• An Extra-biblical book (Book of Mormon)
• Pre mortal existence
• Believers can become Gods
• Works (ritual) based atonement
• Jesus and Satan brothers
• Rejection of the Trinity
• Fully exclusive. Other Christian based faith streams are in error and apostate.
• Claim God has and NEEDS a body.
  

Now I am not saying that some Mormons are not indeed Christians. Nor am I making a value judgement on their beliefs. That could be another thread. But the above list takes them fully out of the broadest definition of orthodox Christianity possible.

Catholics, Protestants , Eastern Orthodox, Coptic, Evangelical, and even non associated traditions all recognize at least the first couple creeds as a foundational orthodoxy. For the most part they accept each other. But Mormonism diverges well beyond Orthodoxy.

I'm really torn about this actually.

Yes, they believe in the crucification and resurrection of Christ, but they believe it happened completely differently than anything in the Bible. They also believe in other gods, including possibly their eventual astral selves, which is very strictly forbidden by virtually every Christian tradition on earth. There's a lot in there that just seems fundamentally at odds with some very basic Christian concepts.

Are you still Christian if you pretty much write off half the Bible and replace it with a completely different prophet?

To me, that seems similar to the difference between Judaism and Christianity, or at least how the difference started. The Torah is technically still part of the Bible, but most modern Christians claim it doesn't entirely apply to their faith; the New Testament is the new rule book for Christianity, as it were.

That sounds a *lot* like the way Mormons look at mainstream Christianity. The Bible wasn't "finished," so they've cut out the bits they don't like and then added the Book of Mormon on top of it.

I can sort of see how they see themselves as Christian, and I understand from a political standpoint why they insist they are Christian. It saves them a lot of social flack on what would otherwise appear to be something almost as unfamiliar and outlandish to Western theologists as Scientology, to align themselves with the mainstream American religion.

But I think ultimately Mormonism will turn into an off-shoot religion, like Christianity did from Judaism.

The founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith, has been shown to be a complete charlatan. No, Mormonism is not Christianity in any orthodox sense of the word.

I can totally understand why some of the more 'main stream' Christians reject Mormonism as being part of Christianity. It's not my business or call though, being neither Mormon or any form of Christianity what so ever.

This has been discussed many times.
There are huge gaps between the Book of Mormon and the Bible some are not compatible or even able to be
Connected.

The biggest issue is that they do not believe that Christ is God but the literal Son of God.
God had spiritual babies. They also believe that Lucifer is Christs brother which we know is false.

They believe in 3 heavens when there is only 1 heaven.

RAMOSS said:

I can totally understand why some of the more 'main stream' Christians reject Mormonism as being part of Christianity. It's not my business or call though, being neither Mormon or any form of Christianity what so ever.

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Mormonism is certainly not standard Christianity, but that doesn't make it bad or wrong. As an agnostic, standard Christianity has always seemed very phony to me. In some ways Mormonism is an improvement. I also like Gnosticism, which explains the evil God of the Bible as a fraud god and offers us a chance to escape.

Masterhawk said:

Mormonism is a christian offshoot which teaches that God was like us at some point and that the best mormons will get their own planet. This takes the term "heavenly father" much more literally since there comes a time when we no longer are under the jurisdiction of our parents and at one point, our parents were kids under their parent's jurisdiction.

This quote sums it up perfectly:

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The concepts of what is God and the divinity of Christ is the gap that, to me, makes it different than Christianity. It has a feel of some form of reincarnation with a Christian flavor.

That aside, there are many things I like about the Mormon religion and culture, the emphasis on family and they have emergency prepping built right into their faith, which can come in handing in an environmental crisis that results in power outages and such.

ludin said:

This has been discussed many times.
There are huge gaps between the Book of Mormon and the Bible some are not compatible or even able to be
Connected.

The biggest issue is that they do not believe that Christ is God but the literal Son of God.
God had spiritual babies. They also believe that Lucifer is Christs brother which we know is false.

They believe in 3 heavens when there is only 1 heaven.

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Really? How do you "know" while they only believe? Please elaborate. I don't recall Lucifer mentioned in the Bible, and I think the Kabbala describes ten heavens.

JohnPaul said:

Really? How do you "know" while they only believe? Please elaborate. I don't recall Lucifer mentioned in the Bible, and I think the Kabbala describes ten heavens.

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It takes a few minutes to look up the core tennets of different beliefs. also Mormons themselves have come on this forum saying that this is correct.
JW have also been on this site saying the same thing.
so if you want to call them untrue please provide evidence of something.

Actually he is mentioned in the bible in several passages or at least his titles are.

I am fairly certain the jewish tradition only has 1 heaven.

ludin said:

It takes a few minutes to look up the core tennets of different beliefs. also Mormons themselves have come on this forum saying that this is correct.
JW have also been on this site saying the same thing.
so if you want to call them untrue please provide evidence of something.

Actually he is mentioned in the bible in several passages or at least his titles are.

I am fairly certain the jewish tradition only has 1 heaven.

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Sorry if I misunderstood you. I understood you to say that some of what the Mormons believed was false, not false that they believed them. I thought I remembered that the Kabbalah described ten heavens, but I don't remember my source. Even the Bible says that God created the "heavens" (plural). I hope some Jew here will comment on the Kabbalah.

JohnPaul said:

Sorry if I misunderstood you. I understood you to say that some of what the Mormons believed was false, not false that they believed them. I thought I remembered that the Kabbalah described ten heavens, but I don't remember my source. Even the Bible says that God created the "heavens" (plural). I hope some Jew here will comment on the Kabbalah.

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heavens in creation is not the same as Heaven.

ludin said:

This has been discussed many times.
There are huge gaps between the Book of Mormon and the Bible some are not compatible or even able to be
Connected.

The biggest issue is that they do not believe that Christ is God but the literal Son of God.

God had spiritual babies. They also believe that Lucifer is Christs brother which we know is false.

They believe in 3 heavens when there is only 1 heaven.

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I count three celestial levels in this Christian painting below...


The Assumption of the Virgin - Francesco Botticini. It shows three hierarchies and nine orders of angels, each with different characteristics.




If God didn't have children...then where did the archangels come from?



Below is a painting of God the Father proclaiming Jesus to be his Son....


Miniature in Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry depicting the Baptism of Jesus, where God the Father proclaimed Jesus to be his Son.




How is that different than what you said the LDS believe, ludin?

It is said that Moses parted the Red Sea by raising his staff, and wiped out the Egyptian army that where in hot pursuit of his buddies.........or was that Gandalf? I dunno.......I'm getting old and get this **** all mixed up.

I'm guessing that main stream Christianity didn't like the Mormon version of fables, or just didn't like the competition.

No, I do not think Mormonism is as bad as Christianity. As far as I know Mormons have never tortured people or burnt them alive - or even murdered Jews.

Moot said:

I count three celestial levels in this Christian painting below...

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you can count whatever you want that doesn't mean that there are 3 heavens. that bible more so revelation say 1 heaven.

The Assumption of the Virgin - Francesco Botticini. It shows three hierarchies and nine orders of angels, each with different characteristics.

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a painting is not evidence of anything.

If God didn't have children...then where did the archangels come from?

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angels are created beings. not children. in fact no where does God refer to them as children.

Below is a painting of God the Father proclaiming Jesus to be his Son....

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again a painting is not evidence of anything.

Miniature in Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry depicting the Baptism of Jesus, where God the Father proclaimed Jesus to be his Son.

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Not literal Son because Christ many times acknowledges just who he is. more so in Revelation where he declares himself the alpha and omega beginning and the end.

How is that different than what you said the LDS believe, ludin?

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Umm because none of that proves what you think it proves.

RetiredUSN said:

It is said that Moses parted the Red Sea by raising his staff, and wiped out the Egyptian army that where in hot pursuit of his buddies.........or was that Gandalf? I dunno.......I'm getting old and get this **** all mixed up.

I'm guessing that main stream Christianity didn't like the Mormon version of fables, or just didn't like the competition.

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Or the fact that joseph smiths interpretation was 100% flawed. that has nothing to do with it.

ludin said:

you can count whatever you want that doesn't mean that there are 3 heavens. that bible more so revelation say 1 heaven.

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How do you know?

a painting is not evidence of anything.

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It helps prove what Christians believe.

angels are created beings. not children. in fact no where does God refer to them as children.

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Where did the angels come from?

again a painting is not evidence of anything.

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It helps prove what Christians believe.

Not literal Son because Christ many times acknowledges just who he is. more so in Revelation where he declares himself the alpha and omega beginning and the end.

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Christ said he was the son of God. So why don't you believe him?

https://bible.org/question/does-jesus-fact-say-he-god’s-son-not-just-infer-it

Umm because none of that proves what you think it proves.

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I think it disproves your beliefs quite well.

Moot said:

How do you know?

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read and find out.

It helps prove what Christians believe.

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no it doesn't it shows what the artist might believe that is not the same thing as what Christians believe.
that is a fallacy. Look up the Nicene creed as the foundation for what Christians believe for the most part.

Where did the angels come from?

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already told you why ask again?

It helps prove what Christians believe.

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not really please see above.

Christ said he was the son of God. So why don't you believe him?

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that doesn't make him the literal Son of God does it nope. He can't be the literal son of God if he like God
was never created and has always existed.

I think it disproves your beliefs quite well.

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not really. let me know when you actually have theological evidence.

Sweden said:

No, I do not think Mormonism is as bad as Christianity. As far as I know Mormons have never tortured people or burnt them alive - or even murdered Jews.

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True...Mormons weren't as violent as other Christian faiths....but they have blood on their hands, too. Aside from their belief in blood atonement....Brigham Young's body guard, Porter Rockwell was an assassin, the Danites aka Avenging Angels were terrorists and the infamous Mountain Meadow Massacre killed entire families that were migrating to California, save for a few children.

ludin said:

read and find out.

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I did...and you don't seem to know much.

no it doesn't it shows what the artist might believe that is not the same thing as what Christians believe.
that is a fallacy. Look up the Nicene creed as the foundation for what Christians believe for the most part.

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The art was commissioned by the Pope.

already told you why ask again?

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Your answer was unsatisfactory.

not really please see above.

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The art was commissioned by the Pope.

that doesn't make him the literal Son of God does it nope. He can't be the literal son of God if he like God
was never created and has always existed.

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LDS believe that Jesus existed in heaven before he was born on earth, too.

not really. let me know when you actually have theological evidence.

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I already posted my evidence....but I didn't see yours? Let me know when you actually get some.

Moot said:

I did...and you don't seem to know much.

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so you didn't read thanks.

The art was commissioned by the Pope.

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you failed to address the fact that the painting is meaningless when it comes to theological view points.

Your answer was unsatisfactory.

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your problem not mine it was answered perfectly.

The art was commissioned by the Pope.

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again painting is not a theological argument.

LDS believe that Jesus existed in heaven before he was born on earth, too.

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only after God had sex his wife. according to LDS presidents.

I already posted my evidence....but I didn't see yours? Let me know when you actually get some.

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President Hinkley, the prophet and revelator of the Mormon church, has publicly declared that the Jesus of Mormonism and traditional Christianity are not the same.

straight from the president of the LDS himself.
no you have yet to post any theological evidence to support your argument paintings are not theological evidence.
I do it is called the bible.

it does not agree with joseph smith's flawed interpretation.

only after God had sex his wife. according to LDS presidents.

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That doesn't seem that much odder as a Jew than the idea that God had a divine son with a married Jewish woman.