Are Mormons Christian?

[Eran of Arcadia]

This seems to be a question that has come up often, so I figure it is worth making a thread. This is not to discuss whether the claims of Mormonism are true, or even plausible, but whether Mormonism as a whole, and especially the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, can be considered Christian.

 

[Trajan12]

I don't think so. It is much to different. It may as well be a whole different religion.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Okay, here you seem to be defining "Christianity" as a single religion, and "Mormonism" as another. You are, aware, of course, of the major differences between Christian denominations?

 

[Masquerouge]

Yes they are Christians, they're just another denomination of it (along with Catholics, Protestants, Anglicans, Orthodox, Copts, and then Baptists, Methodists...).

I don't think so. It is much to different. It may as well be a whole different religion.

I'm curious to see why it's "much too different".

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

To answer this question, we need a concise definition of "Christian". It is not enough to say that a Christian is anyone who calls themselves one, with the exception of Mormons. Historically, there have been a wide variety of beliefs within Christianity; many of these are no longer poular, but that does not therefore make them un-Christian.

I said before in another thread that a Christian should:

1. Believe that Jesus has a special relationship to God not shared by any other human.
2. Believe that Jesus rose from the dead after his death.
3. Believe that through Jesus, our sins may be redeemed and we may be reconciled to God.

Mormons are 3 for 3, and I don't think any further definition is valid.

 

[bhsup]

Of course they are Christians. They accept Christ as the Son of God and the Savior of Man. They accept the ressurrection and (unless I am way off base) the virgin birth.

Sure, there are some specific theological points that are (at times vastly) different from the Protestant, Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox branches of Christianity, but big whoop.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Yes, we accept the Virgin Birth.

I think it is fair to say that the differences between, say, Jack Chick's Christianity and that of ther Syrian Orthodox Church are not so great that they cannot both be considered Christian; that difference is not greater than between us and other Christians, at least not on the issues that matter.

 

[Masquerouge]

1. Believe that Jesus has a special relationship to God not shared by any other human.

I agree with your three points, but let me just tell you that the lack of precision of your very wording that I bolded has been cause for heresies, schisms and religious wars

 

[Trajan12]

They can be Christian but I think that it wouldn't make much sense. Protestants don't say that Jesus had a wife or that God was a polygamist. If I'm correct on that.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

That is not a lack of precision, it is open-ended. Ie both sides of the holy war or inquisition, although they are killing each other over the exact nature of the relationship, could be called Christian.

 

[GenMarshall]

Nontrinidarian Christianity is what I see Mormonism fall under.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

They can be Christian but I think that it wouldn't make much sense. Protestants don't say that Jesus had a wife or that God was a polygamist. If I'm correct on that.

Neither are LDS doctrine, exactly.

But at any rate, you are falling victim to the "True Scotsmen" fallacy. It is not enough to point out that no other church believes such things, you have to show why they would be grounds for disqualification from Christianity. It is like saying that since no Christian church believes in the authority of the pope, that therefore Catholics aren't Christian.

 

[Trajan12]

Neither are LDS doctrine, exactly.

But at any rate, you are falling victim to the "True Scotsmen" fallacy. It is not enough to point out that no other church believes such things, you have to show why they would be grounds for disqualification from Christianity. It is like saying that since no Christian church believes in the authority of the pope, that therefore Catholics aren't Christian.

Meh, I don't really care much one way or another. Just that I've heard some wierd things about it.

 

[Truronian]

Yes, but then I have broad criteria for the term 'Christianity'.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Meh, I don't really care much one way or another. Just that I've heard some wierd things about it.

Well, yes, we do have some doctrine held by no one else that is considered "unusual". That has no bearing on whether we are or are not Christian.

Yes, but then I don't have very narrow criteria for the term 'Christianity'.

And why should you? Christianity has been believed by billions of people in hundreds of countries. Why should it have a narrow definition?

 

[bhsup]

It is like saying that since no Christian church believes in the authority of the pope, that therefore Catholics aren't Christian.

Excellent comparison. As a Protestant, I view the concept of the Pope with bewilderment. I have the upmost respect for the man, and have no doubt that Catholics are Christians, but I could never, ever become a Catholic while that peculiar office exists.

 

[Red Door]

In my opinion, no you're not.

Of course, I'd need to learn a little more about Morman doctrine, but at what I can tell about it, you are not Christian, and many Catholics would agree with me.

 

[The Last Conformist]

Of course they are Christians. They accept Christ as the Son of God and the Savior of Man. They accept the ressurrection and (unless I am way off base) the virgin birth.

I'd take the same stance - accepting Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ (=Messiah) is the defining trait of Christianity.

Taking Catholicism as the archetype of Christianity, some medieval sects (eg. the Cathars) were more out there than Mormons are, yet hardly anybody would argue they weren't Christians, albeit heretical. So why complain about the Mormons' odd ideas?

 

[Masquerouge]

Meh, I don't really care much one way or another. Just that I've heard some wierd things about it.

And you're not interesting in getting the matter straight? I mean,

"yeah, I've read some weird things about Trajan12. But I don't really care much one way or the other"...

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

In my opinion, no you're not. Of course, I'd need to learn a little more about Mormon doctrine, but at what I can tell about it, you are not Christian, and many Catholics would agree with me.

What you need is not more knowledge of LDS doctrine (although that is always good) but a definition of "Christian". Why do you say we are not? What doctrine do we lack?

Taking Catholicism as the archetype of Christianity, some medieval sects (eg. the Cathars) were more out there than Mormons are, yet hardly anybody would argue they weren't Christians, albeit heretical. So why complain about the Mormons' odd ideas?

And the Catholics can claim to be the archetype of Christianity only on historical, not doctrinal grounds. The Catholicism of the 11th Century would have apepared heretical to many 1st Century Christians. Heresy is relative.