Are Mormons any closer to Christians than Muslims? Short answer: no.
Long answer goes something like this: As the media shapes our understanding of the Mormon faith, now that we Americans consider electing our first Mormon presidential candidate (Mitt Romney), it might be wise for us to better understand the similarities and the differences among Christianity and these two faiths.
While many Americans might not be willing to consider electing a Muslim candidate for president in 2012, in reality Islam is about as close to Christianity as Mormonism. Certainly, neither is bad. They both have amazing people holding less significant public offices, they are just quite different from Christianity, and it seems that the media is doing a uniquely good job at fusing Mormonism with Christianity in order to better position Romney for mainstream consideration.
Many Christians feel better knowing what their candidates believe about God, and sometimes in heated debates our candidates are put on the spot to confess their faith. With sweat beads lining up neatly across their foreheads they agree that the Bible is the "word of God" to the comfort of many in our nation. Those Christians, many of whom veer to the right these days, haven't done much to demystify Mormonism but they sure would resist a Muslim candidate.
Both Islam and Mormonism have teachings from the Christian Bible and believe Jesus was "a prophet," but they had prophets after Jesus that they believe to be more authentic and current than Jesus. Jesus' teachings were a bit archived in both because Muhammad and Joseph Smith were both visited by angels who told them to receive new orders from God. Both have respected Jesus' messages but moved forward with other teachings and practices that are not consistent with Christianity.
Islam teaches that Muhammad was the last prophet and Mormonism teaches that a line of prophets extended from Joseph Smith all the way to the present with Thomas S. Monson, who is currently considered their prophet.
While in some ways neither Islam nor Mormonism is very much like Christianity, the two faiths actually have a lot of similarities. For example, both had founding prophets who received visits from an angel, leading to revelation of Scripture. Both consider the family unit as the foundation for religious life, and both have an insistence that religion is their complete way of life.
Islam and Mormonism both require fasting and ritual cleansings. They both believe theirs is the original religion of Adam. Both Islam and Mormonism allowed four wives but both forbid homosexuality and bisexuality. Both religions forbid alcohol and gambling.
This may be alarming to some, but both Islam and Mormonism teach that marriage can extend into the afterlife. Neither worships their founding prophets, but both hold them with special respect. Both religions heavily proselytize and believe everyone should belong to their faith. In order to lead, both Islam and Mormonism do not require formal seminary training, but take regular members and move them up into leadership roles.
Oddly enough, both religions had a split after their prophet's death with one side believing that the faith should continue though the prophet's descendents and the other side rejecting that. For Muslims, this caused the bloody divide between Shiites and Sunnis that we hear so much about in the press. For Mormons, this caused the divide between the Later Day Saints, which make up about 99 percent of Mormons, and others.
Both Muhammad and Joseph Smith were taunted for their work and driven out by locals. Muhammad moved from Mecca to Medina, and Joseph Smith had to move from Illinois to Missouri. Both Muhammad and Joseph Smith established their own city-states, with Muhammad ruling Medina and Joseph Smith ruling Nauvoo, Ill.
Both Islam and Mormonism have Scripture that can justify violence and murder, as does the Bible. While Mormons have not acted violently in the U.S. for quite some time, there was an incident back in 1857 called the Mountain Meadows Massacre, which happened on Sept. 11. The massacre was led by prominent Mormon leader John D. Lee, who was trying to exact revenge on some emigrants but when the emigrants surrendered, the militia killed men, women and children in cold blood, and then tried to cover it up.
We don't need to be experts on either religion to see these similarities.
They both have common ground with Christianity, and much of it. But both Islam and Mormonism are at best very distant cousins of Christianity with some of the same overarching guidance.
Neither Islam nor Mormonism is a close enough relative to ever be confused with Christianity. If a Christian of any denomination inadvertently walked into a Mormon tabernacle or a mosque, which would be fairly difficult since both allow only members of their faith to enter, there is no way the service could be recognized as a Christian devotion to Christ, but there is plenty of devotion to God going on.
All three of these faiths have scores of excellent people, possibly some who would make excellent American leaders and even U.S. presidents. But, the next time you read in the press about how Mormons are really Christians, you might want to put on your critical thinking cap.
It rarely is the religion but the candidate's behavior that determines if she or he is a good person and that is what Americans really care about, but getting a bit snowed is getting a bit old, don't you think?
Follow Eliza Wood on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@elizawoodprodu
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"Atheist" is not a bad word. It's ok to not believe in gods. It's more than OK. It's fabulous! You either really believe or you pretend to believe. Stop pretending. Reality is a wonderful thing.
You should also be equally diligent in givng the facts of your faith.
Jesus Christ is my only Savior and Redeemer. I pray to Him, read about Him, confess my sins to Him, and try to be like Him. You won't find any Mormon doctrine saying anything contrary to this.
While we believe in the plurality of gods as far as you and I being the offspring of God, and thus, gods ourselves (Psalm 82:6 and John 10:34), there is no claim made that any of us could even possibly be greater or even equal to God and Jesus Christ.
So, when you say, "You believe he is one of many gods." You're making it sound like this diminishes the greatness and importance God and Jesus Christ has our lives. No, IMO, it makes them even greater.
Hope this made sense. God bless. :)
a person who believes in Jesus Christ; adherent of Christianity.
This comes from the dictionary
Though we call ourselves Christian, you would fundamentally block, in a formal way, our claim to be so?
Here's the fundamental difference: Muslims do not claim to be Christian.
We do!
Where is your authority to label us not so?
And this comment: "But, the next time you read in the press about how Mormons are really Christians, you might want to put on your critical thinking cap.
It rarely is the religion but the candidate's behavior that determines if she or he is a good person and that is what Americans really care about, but getting a bit snowed is getting a bit old, don't you think?"
Sounds a little smarmy and bigoted, don't you think?
1. Most people who call theselves Christian do not recognize your faith as a part of Christianity.
2. The largest poll ever conducted on the subject ranked Mormons third from the top among groups Americans view unfavorably, just behind atheists and Muslims:
http://pewresearch.org/pubs/648/romney-mormon
3. Americans want to know if Mr. Romney will uphold American principles or will push the agenda of his Church. They asked the same about Kennedy in 1960. The difference is that neither Kennedy nor any other US President had never held high Church office, as Romney has.
4. Americans see Muslims in other countries who use the force of law to compel others --even people not of their faith-- to obey their religious rules. And they see Mormons willing to do the same thing here.
5. Many Americans, myself included, don't care one bit what you call yourselves or what doctrines you adhere to--that's your business. But we're very afraid when we see you using your money and power to tell other citizens who they may marry and other churches what sacraments they may legally perform.
If you really want to answer Ms. Wood, why don't you quit calling her names and figure out why anyone would ask the question she asked in the first place?
Also, *all* (not just "a lot of") Mormons consider themselves Christian ... thus the name: "The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints" (notice all-caps) - hardly what' you'd expect from a "non-christian" faith.
As a Mormon myself I know quite a few "Christians" (at least who claim such) who agree with the Muslim belief that Christ was just a great teacher - the greatest teacher, but still just a teacher. Conversely, every Mormon I've met (and I've met 1000's) deeply believe in the absolute divinity of Christ's nature and atonement.
Mainstream Christianity defines "Christianity" using the "Holy Trinity" (a Catholic invention decided by popular vote in Nice, Italy in 325AD), which describes God as an omnipresent spirit without body parts or passions (which definition is found nowhere in the bible). This is actually *much* closer to the Islamic God than the Mormon God.
Christ said himself: "by their fruits shall ye know them". Accordingly I know *both* non-mormons and mormons to be Christian, not by what they SAY, but by what they DO.
But DocG is correct that many Christians see important elements of their faith that are missing in Mormonism and Islam.
The belief that there is only one God is probably one that many Christians see lacking in Mormonism (but not in Islam). The claims of both faiths that there are new prophets after Christ with new messages from God and that there are new sacred texts written by God after the Bible are probably other sticking points for many.
But apart from doctrine issues like these, what most concerns average folks like me in our daily lives about Mormons and Muslims is not their beliefs--that's their business--but rather how these believers interact with those of us who are not of their faith.
We see Muslims in other countries who use the power of law to enforce their religious beliiefs upon others, as when they force women--even non-Muslims--to wear a scarf or ban pork from Christian markets. And we see Mormons in this country willing to do the same thing.
Here's what frightens me and my family: believers who use their money or influence to force us to obey their religious rules, not whether they believe in Muhammad or in golden plates.
Its easy to ascertain that your spin has been debunked.
Nice Try
Desseret Books
Interesting
http://deseretbook.com/Testimony-Glove-Only-Kristen-M-Oaks/i/5048530
I have no doubt you will now begin to hear from those more interested in generated "feelings" rather than fact. You know they prayed and were answered that it was true.
Smith had one reported vision when he was 14. We call it the "First Vision" in the Mormon church.
"... angel called Moroni ..."
When he was 17, and once a year thereafter, until he was 20.
"... a thousand years or more ago from the Yucatan area, or thereabouts ..."
The record was completed about 321 AD. We do not know exactly where the record was transported from, nor how long after its completion it got there.
"... The Nephites were light skinned (good) and the Lamanites were dark skinned (bad). ..."
Nephites and Lamanites were from the same family - named after Nephi and Laman, who were siblings. Laman and his followers rebelled and the groups separated. This had nothing to do with skin color.
"... teaching the 'ignorant' Mayans ..."
There is no indication, in the record, of either group - Nephites or Lamanites - having any interaction at all with the Maya. This is true despite some renditions by LdS artists of Nephites in a setting depicting Mayan or Aztec structures.
Kiwi puffs out his chest because of a spoof website and now this is his proof that Josep Smith is not worshiped.
I say pastrominey on lie. ( a new sandwich) There are after all the non spoof statments such as those found in this video at time mark 1:09.52
BYUTV cant get much more "official" than that.
"Blessed be his Name " (joseph smith that is)
http://byutv.org/watch/84dc3994-4e9f-4f80-a41d-cce773f625d4
Where are the prayers addressed to Joseph Smith? There are none. Where are the hymns sung to him (as opposed to a couple about him)? None. Where are the candles, flowers, votive offerings? Nowhere. Where is the church erected over his tomb? It doesn't exist. Whose name do we take upon ourselves at baptism? Not Joseph's. Whose name do we promise to take upon ourselves every Sunday when we take the Sacrament? Still not Joseph's.
So a few people say a few nice things about him. No, really? Well, Americans regularly say nice things about George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King and others. Is that "worship?" No.
I've said it before but it bears repeating: The fact that we do not worship Joseph Smith, and never have worshipped Joseph Smith, is utterly non-controversial. Nobody disputes it, and that is a mathematically precise fact.
Its very interesting conversing with those that prefer feeling over truth.
Thanks
"Praise Jesus !" (not worship)
"Praise Joseph Smith!" (not worship)
Right!
Kiwi57
14 Fans Become a fan
" 05:57 AM on 08/05/2012
Yes. Pines in particular loves to hide his accusation under the rather coy initials "L.F.T.L."
Oh dear. "
An examination of L.F.T.L
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhNOx1TjeLg&feature=relmfu
Oh Dear Oh Dear Oh Dear Oh Dear !!!
There are 4 ellipses in the snippet. The second one, between "his own judgement" and "one who chooses" leaves out 19 paragraphs. Paragraphs that explain why it unwise to try and teach Calculus and Analytical Geometry to kindergarten kids, for example. Why no reputable school would permit a beginning student to register for Advanced Chemistry without some knowledge of the elements, of atoms and molecules, of electrons, of valence, and of compounds and properties.
Or why teachers of LdS young people - this was a CES fireside, after all - should probably not be teaching "advanced history."
This is not "lying for the Lord." It's plain old common sense.
Never mind the truth, teach "the feeling"
got it.
gues what? It is only malice because of the level of amimal magnetizm you suffer.
I suppose it could be mormonspoken with the following. Tell less than you know in order to protect and safeguard the church.
I guess Oaks had malice in his heart when he made the instruction.