No, DCP. You are being liberal with the truth again.

[_MsJack]

This is my favorite ever post on the subject:

Are Mormons Christians? Are Post Toasties corn flakes?

[_Jason Bourne]

Here are my answers to both questions:

Are Mormons Christians?

Yes, they can be.

Is Mormonism Christianity?

No.

You are correct that Mormons can be Christians. You are incorrect the Mormonism is not a part of Christianity. It is not orthodox or reformed Christianity but it is sub set of Christianity.

[_thews]

In my mind, and I've stated this numerous times on this board, there are two sub topics to be had here. Are Mormons Christians? Is Mormonism Christianity?

Here are my answers to both questions:

Are Mormons Christians?

Yes, they can be.

Christians are not Mormons and Mormons are not Christians... Mormons are Mormons. If you accept the doctrine of Joseph Smith, you are by definition a Mormon.

Is Mormonism Christianity?

No.

I agree.

Do you see the difference? I am making a distinction between what goes on in the human heart in relation to God Spirit (sorry, I have my own theology!) and what goes on in a religion.

On this thread, I am following GP's lead as to the issues that he raises. I see him as dealing mainly with theological and doctrinal differences. That's what I will confine my answers to for the time being.

I don't see the difference. This is a simple question of definition. Are Jews Christians because Christians accept both the new an old testament? The answer is no... Jews are Jews and Christians are Christians based on the doctrine they accept. Mormons who wish to be known as Christians are in denial of the doctrine they accept to be of God. Quite simply, Christians reject the doctrine of Joseph Smith as that of a false prophet of God, while "Mormons" accept the doctrine of Joseph Smith and some also accept the revised Bible as revised by Joseph Smith, making the entire set of doctrine Mormons use exclusive to LDS faith alone.

Mormons in my opinion are used to accepting conflicting thought in appeasing their cognitive dissonance by denying there’s opposing conflict. In attempting to join the generic mainstream Christian churches, Mormons are attempting to morph Mormonism into Christianity, when the two religions are so vastly different the very concept of who Jesus Christ was is completely different. In a nutshell, why are Mormons embarrassed to be called “Mormon” based on the doctrine they accept to be of God?

Quotes Mormons have to find excuses for…
http://mormonwatch.com/articles/OneTrueChurch.asp

"Should you ask why we differ from other Christians, as they are called, it is simply because they are not Christians as the New Testament defines Christianity" (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 10:230).

"Christianity...is a perfect pack of nonsense...the devil could not invent a better engine to spread his work than the Christianity of the nineteenth century." (John Taylor, Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p.167); "Where shall we look for the true order or authority of God? It cannot be found in any nation of Christendom." (Journal of Discourses, 10:127).

"With a regard to true theology, a more ignorant people never lived than the present so-called Christian world" (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 8:199);

"Both Catholics and Protestants are nothing less than the 'whore of Babylon' whom the Lord denounces by the mouth of John the Revelator as having corrupted all the earth by their fornications and wickedness. Any person who shall be so corrupt as to receive a holy ordinance of the Gospel from the ministers of any of these apostate churches will be sent down to hell with them, unless they repent" (Orson Pratt, The Seer, p. 255).

"Doctrines were corrupted, authority lost, and a false order of religion took the place of the gospel of Jesus Christ, just as it had been the case in former dispensations, and the people were left in spiritual darkness." (President Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, p.266). "For hundreds of years the world was wrapped in a veil of spiritual darkness, until there was not one fundamental truth belonging to the place of salvation ...Joseph Smith declared that in the year 1820 the Lord revealed to him that all the 'Christian' churches were in error, teaching for commandments the doctrines of men" (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, p.282).

[There is] "no salvation without accepting Joseph Smith. If Joseph Smith was verily a prophet, and if he told the truth...no man can reject that testimony without incurring the most dreadful consequences, for he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (Joseph Fielding Smith , Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, p.190).

"no man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith...every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith, junior, as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are" (Brigham Young , Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p.289).

[_truth dancer]

If Mormonism = Christianity, then Fundamentalist Mormonism = Mormonism.

If the LDS church is a subset of Christianity, then the FLDS church is a subset of Mormonism.

If the LDS church wants to be included and accepted as Christians, then they should allow the FLDS to be accepted as Mormons.

:-)

Just sayin...

~td~

[_Gadianton Plumber]

If Mormonism = Christianity, then Fundamentalist Mormonism = Mormonism.

If the LDS church is a subset of Christianity, then the FLDS church is a subset of Mormonism.

If the LDS church wants to be included and accepted as Christians, then they should allow the FLDS to be accepted as Mormons.

:-)

Just sayin...

~td~

Boy howdy

[_Inconceivable]

Why don't you consider Mormons Christian? What would they need to believe or do to be counted as Christian in your estimation?

The Atonement as presented in the Bible. I reject all Mr. Potato Head Christians.

Or as presented in the Book of Mormon.

Which they don't.

[_Jason Bourne]

I'm working on a time limit here so I'm going to throw in all the grenades I can in what little time I have!

Mormonism prevents people from entering the Temple based on their eternal score card which is watched over by human beings.

Christianity prevents no one from entering their houses of worship.

(Am I being offensive enough to spark a good debate yet?)

The temple is not required to enter the celestial kingdom in Mormon doctrine. It is required to recieve the highest reward in the celestial kingdom in Mormon Doctrine.

Many evangelical Christians require more than just devotion to Jesus. They require you get the right theological Jesus which means the way they understand Jesus. For such Christians devotion and faith is not enough. Get the wrong Jesus and you are eternal toast.

[_Jason Bourne]

This is my favorite ever post on the subject:

Are Mormons Christians? Are Post Toasties corn flakes?

Better said is this. Are Post Toasties and Corn Flakes both cereals? Yes.

Is Mormonism part of the umbrella of Christianity? Yes.

Is it fair to say many Christians view some/many LDS teachings as heretical? Yes? But it is still part of Christianity.

[_Jason Bourne]

Here comes another one, duck!

Mormonism withholds information about salvation from it's members.

Christianity supplies the information about salvation going in.

In Mormonism, you can literal spend several years of your life without knowing what is required for salvation.

In Christianity, you hear it the moment you walk in the door and the pastor starts talking.

I think you are all wet on this. What information about salvation is withheld in Mormonism?

How much does the person who answers an alter call know about the intricacies of creedal Christianity and the "right" Jesus they are expected to worship before they accept the alter call? How much do they know about Calvinism vs. Armenianism?

[_Jason Bourne]

Christians are not Mormons and Mormons are not Christians... Mormons are Mormons. If you accept the doctrine of Joseph Smith, you are by definition a Mormon.

Lutherans are Christians yet they follow some of what Luther taught.

Calvinists are Christians yet they hold to the pack of nonesenes and non biblical teachings of Calvin.

Catholics are Christians yet they follow the extra biblical teachings of the popes and their traditions.

Mormons are just as much a subset of Christianity as are other denominations.