Is Mormonism Christian?
POSTED BY: Succatash
UPDATED: Sunday, April 5, 2026 17:31
VIEWED: 8721
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Hello,
That's a good thrust of Christianity, but I think it leaves out some the people who identified themselves as Christian before a committee redefined and focused what Christianity was. And similarly, it leaves out many people who identify themselves as Christian today.
I think a Christian is best described as someone who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ.
And that leaves a LOT of room for people who interpret his teachings differently, including those who embrace 'apocryphal' texts.
--Anthony
"Liberty must not be purchased at the cost of Humanity." --Captain Robert Henner
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I can't think of any present-day church that follows the apocryphal texts. Yes, the Gnostics and Arians and Kollyridians considered themselves Christians, but those movements died out (were crushed, or absorbed) when the Church decided on one doctrine.
Quote:
And similarly, it leaves out many people who identify themselves as Christian today.
I think a Christian is best described as someone who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ.
And that leaves a LOT of room for people who interpret his teachings differently, including those who embrace 'apocryphal' texts.
--Anthony
I'm not sure who the "many people" are that you're refering to. Can you clarify?
I suppose a person could call themselves anything they wanted to. I could read all the books on Judaism, observe the cultural holidays, admire the tenets of the faith and apply them in my daily life, but until I study with a Rabbi and *formally* commit myself to the faith, I am not considered "Jewish" by that religious community.
The original question was:
Quote:
Is Mormonism Christian? Who gets to decide the definition of Christian? ... in the context of world religions, Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist - don't Mormons fall into the Christian category?
I think it all depends on your perspective, which side of the line you're standing on. I would imagine that the majority of Christians would not consider Mormons to be part of that group in the strictest sense, then a Buddhist or an atheist might say that they are. But that might be an oversimplification.
So who decides? Beats me!
"Can you, for a moment, imagine how depressing it is to teach one thousand years of masculine ineptitude? Why do you think there are so few women historians? I'll tell you why. Because history is not such a frolic for women as it is for men... History is a commentary on the various and continuing incapabilities of men. History is women following behind with a bucket and a mop." - Alan Bennett, "The History Boys"
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Quote:
Originally posted by EmpireX:
I'm not sure who the "many people" are that you're refering to. Can you clarify?
Hello,
At the risk of repeating myself and angering Succatash with my choice of examples, you said it yourself. The Jehova's Witnesses consider themselves Christian, while most other churches don't.
I also find the caution in Revelations against adding or subtracting from the Bible to be interesting. The Bible, as it appears today, has had a great deal subtracted from it. When the age-old council met to decide what would be included in the Bible, they tossed a lot of texts. One wonders if they are guilty of 'subtracting from' the body of the Bible. Or it could be that the caution in Revelations refers specifically to Revelations itself, and not to the collection of books as a whole.
After all, when Revelations was originally inspired and written, the Bible hadn't been assembled yet in its current form. So what could the author possibly have been referring to?
--Anthony
"Liberty must not be purchased at the cost of Humanity." --Captain Robert Henner
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Quote:
Originally posted by Succatash:
Is Mormonism Christian? Who gets to decide the definition of Christian?
They are "Christian-ish". Kind of like other off-shoots, sub-branches, and cults. Look at those Gay-hating Baptists or the White Supremists or Voodoo (some forms at least). Those are all nominally Christian and in some cases organized and structured churches and practices. I note for the record I am not comparing Mormanism to negative church groups. Personally I think they seem to be mostly fine folk doing their own thing their own way, which is the American way. I suppose less negative examples would be the Amish and Mennonites.
Oh...and your second question: Oddly I get to decide the definition of Christian. Oddly...so do you.
All that said I aint voting for Mitt Romney cause he's a fair weather conservative and seems a bit slimy in that John Kerry kind of way. He can pray how he pleases.
H
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Quote:Short answer: yes.
Originally posted by Succatash:
Is Mormonism Christian? Who gets to decide the definition of Christian?
From what I understand, Mormons consider themselves to be Christian. But Christian churches and denominations do not consider Mormonism to be Christian.
But in the context of world religions, Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist - don't Mormons fall into the Christian category?
Is it all relative? Are we doomed to listen to Christians and Mormons argue for all eternity?
"Gott kann dich nicht vor mir beschuetzen, weil ich nicht boese bin."
Long answer:
I always thought that "Christian" was anyone who believes that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. Meaning, he was born of a virgin, is the literal son of God, taught his brethren the gospel, died for the sins of man, and was resurrected.
Their first Article of Faith is, “We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.” (Found here: http://scriptures.lds.org/a_of_f/1/1-13#1.) They clearly state that they believe in Christ, and the fact that is it stated first above other beliefs means that it is the most important thing that they believe in above all else.
And, if someone says that if they believe in something, then it isn’t necessary for a third party to OK it. It is their own belief and doesn’t belong to anyone else. It is their personal choice and is a matter to be handled between only the individual person and God.
How do I know all of this? I am a Mormon. I believe in Christ. I was brought up in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and we proclaim Jesus to be the Son of God. And—personally—I don’t need anyone else to define who I am and what I believe in.
If you have any other questions, don’t be afraid to ask me.
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Hirten erst kundgemacht
Durch der Engel Halleluja,
Tönt es laut von fern und nah:
Christ, der Retter ist da!
Christ, der Retter ist da!
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund,
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'.
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
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This thread's topic is as valid as posting....Is Tooth-Fairyism Ghostish? Is Uri Geller spoonbendyism magicalish? Is pigsflyism gravitationalish? Read what I just wrote, once more, again.....
Blah..........Well, it's true.......
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Quote:LOL, good observation! I gotta write that one down!
Originally posted by AnthonyT:
Christianity is the Baskin Robbins of religion. There are at least Thrity-Onederful flavors. Mormons are one such flavor.
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Quote:
Originally posted by AnthonyT:
At the risk of repeating myself and angering Succatash with my choice of examples...
LOL, no worries about making me angry, I have no real emotions invested in this conversation.
But in the context of "Is Mormonism Christian?", you said your 31 flavors thing, and when I asked you for examples, you answered Jehova's Witnesses and Mormonism.
First, when trying to define Mormonism, you really can't use Mormonism as part of your definition. You basically said, "Yes, Mormonism is Christian because there are a lot of different kinds of Christianity, such as Mormonism." That doesn't really make sense.
Second, and I apologize to any Jehova Witnesses out there - but I don't know anyone who takes Jehova Witnesses seriously.
So I guess I was just disappointed in what I perceived as weak examples.
"Gott kann dich nicht vor mir beschuetzen, weil ich nicht boese bin."
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Actually I don't believe the church is actually called Mormon and I think that is the title of the book. I think the actual name of the Church is the Later Day Saints of Jesus Christ.
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Quote:
Originally posted by AnthonyT:Quote:
Originally posted by Kirkules:Quote:
Originally posted by AnthonyT:
Hello,
Some Christians believe that Jesus was a prophet.
This is the one I couldn't get. Thought it was Jews and Muslims that recognized Jesus as prophet but not son of god.
Hello,
This one's a bit dated, I'm afraid. The Ebionites believed that Jesus was a prophet and not divine, but clove closely to his teachings. This differs from common Jewish people, who vaguely recognize Jesus as a prophet, but don't really include any of his teachings into their religion. (More of a P.R. recognition than anything, really.)
--Anthony
"Liberty must not be purchased at the cost of Humanity." --Captain Robert Henner
Thanks for the correction. I asked a friend more knowledgeable than myself and he agreed with you. He didn't think that any of those sects still exist but they were definitely Christians. He said that the one thing all Christian have in common is belief in the resurrection. That would be his definition of a Christian.
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