FOX NEWS: Let Theologians Debate if LDS are Christians!

[_Joey]

Father Jonathan Morris spoke today on FOX News about the current debate as to whether Mormonism is Christianity or not. He was extremely professional with his comments and very supportive of Romney as a presidential candidate.

But with respect to the very question: "Are Mormons Christian", he provided a very fair and honest response.  He said: "That is a question for Christian Theologians to discuss and debate".  

Now, knowing that the Catholic Church officially does not accept Mormonism as Christianity, he was being very accommodating to Romney as a candidate and to the Mormons as a Church in front of a national audience.  I found his presence to be so professional for the benefit of Romney and Huntsman and yet leave the door open for the Theological community to discuss and determine, knowing that his own doctrine has already concluded that Mormonism is NOT Christianity.

So here is a very relevant question/observation:  "Are there any 'Theologians' within the Mormon church who can speak in an official capacity for the Mormon church????

From Monson on down throughout the Seventy - is there anyone of them who is a studied theologian?  Or are they all just businessmen and/or administrators?  Who would ever be able to compete with Christian theologians in such a debate and still be able to speak in an "official capacity" for the Mormon church!?!?!?

Could anyone ever imagine Monson, as a claimed "Prophet", ever speaking officially for the Mormon church on Christian theology with other theologians??   Can you spell DISASTER or EMBARRASSMENT??!!

Would the Mormon church ever step up to define their faith in a public forum and debate w Christian theologians to defend their claim as Chistians??

This is why I really believe the likes of Romney and Huntsman are left standing in isolation without any backing from their own Church!  

The "I'm a Mormon" ad campaign is great for the Mormon church because it's what they do best - hide behind promotions and never show the courage to defend their claims, doctrines, history or "theology" in public.

[_Phillip]

  
The religious journal First Things had a thoughtful article on this subject a while ago, for those who may be interested:
 
http://www.firstthings.com/article/2009/02/is-mormonism-christian-8

[_DarkHelmet]

The church could certainly send out their best from BYU to speak for them. I think the religious scholars there could hold their own in a theological debate. I don't see any of the apostles risking embarrassment, but they could send out some theologically trained guys, or girls (yeah right) to speak for them.

[_Joseph Antley]

So here is a very relevant question/observation:  "Are there any 'Theologians' within the Mormon church who can speak in an official capacity for the Mormon church????

Since when do theologians serve as official representatives of any religion?

[_Joey]

So here is a very relevant question/observation:  "Are there any 'Theologians' within the Mormon church who can speak in an official capacity for the Mormon church????

Since when do theologians serve as official representatives of any religion?

Most leaders, officials and authorized speakers of major Christian Churches, by study and church culture, are usually graduates of divinity schools and have formal theological backgrounds if not degrees.  The Mormon church is the obvious exception.  So many, if not all other Christian Churches could provide, not only an official spokesperson to theological debate, but a credentialed theologian as well.  Again, the Mormon church would be unable to do so and would be ill prepared to defend their doctrines and beliefs in a respected theological forum - at least with any credibility. 

Seriously, could anyone ever imagine Monson, or any other quorum or seventy member who could presumably speak officially for the Mormon church, attempting to discuss or debate the tenets of biblical Christianity with degreed theologians????  They would not know the first argument to make or how to defend.

And it's not like they could reach out to any graduates from the BYU school of theology/divinity!!  Nor would FARMS have anyone with the credentials to "preparation the Prophet"!

Having control over members does not equate to control over knowledge.

[_Lucretia MacEvil]

Personally, I've long been annoyed by the exclusion practiced by some Christians towards others. And, personally, I don't know why Christian can't be an all-encompassing generic term for anyone with a belief in Christ or even a person with an ancestry of folks who believed in Christ.

Instead we have some Catholics who would exclude Mormons, and Baptists who would exclude Mormons, Catholics, and just about anyone else. I don't feel too bad about the Mormons, though, because they turn around and exclude polygamists from calling themselves Mormons, and not even for theological reasons; they just don't want to be associated with them.

Anyway, good point that Mormons have no theology on their side to support their claims of being "Christian" ... although why anyone wants to be called a Christian the way the term is used these days is beyond me.

[_Lucretia MacEvil]

Personally, I've long been annoyed by the exclusion practiced by some Christians towards others. And, personally, I don't know why Christian can't be an all-encompassing generic term for anyone with a belief in Christ or even a person with an ancestry of folks who believed in Christ.

Instead we have some Catholics who would exclude Mormons, and Baptists who would exclude Mormons, Catholics, and just about anyone else. I don't feel too bad about the Mormons, though, because they turn around and exclude polygamists from calling themselves Mormons, and not even for theological reasons; they just don't want to be associated with them.

Anyway, good point that Mormons have no theology on their side to support their claims of being "Christian" ... although why anyone wants to be called a Christian the way the term is used these days is beyond me.

[_Some Schmo]

Personally, I've long been annoyed by the exclusion practiced by some Christians towards others. And, personally, I don't know why Christian can't be an all-encompassing generic term for anyone with a belief in Christ or even a person with an ancestry of folks who believed in Christ.

Instead we have some Catholics who would exclude Mormons, and Baptists who would exclude Mormons, Catholics, and just about anyone else. I don't feel too bad about the Mormons, though, because they turn around and exclude polygamists from calling themselves Mormons, and not even for theological reasons; they just don't want to be associated with them.

Anyway, good point that Mormons have no theology on their side to support their claims of being "Christian" ... although why anyone wants to be called a Christian the way the term is used these days is beyond me.

I yearn for the day when being called "christian" is a ubiquitous pejorative because it's so embarrassing (which is to say, everyone finally realizes how embarrassed they should be to wear that or any other religious label).

I don't expect it in my lifetime, however. More's the pity.

[_Phillip]

I yearn for the day when being called "christian" is a ubiquitous pejorative because it's so embarrassing (which is to say, everyone finally realizes how embarrassed they should be to wear that or any other religious label).

I don't expect it in my lifetime, however. More's the pity.

Until that blessed day arrives you'll have to content yourself with exMormon internet discussion boards and the occasional trip to Europe.

[_Some Schmo]

I yearn for the day when being called "christian" is a ubiquitous pejorative because it's so embarrassing (which is to say, everyone finally realizes how embarrassed they should be to wear that or any other religious label).

I don't expect it in my lifetime, however. More's the pity.

Until that blessed day arrives you'll have to content yourself with exMormon internet discussion boards and the occasional trip to Europe.

*smile*

I like your sense of humor, man.