In this FoxNews.com report the mormon church [sic] responds to 21 doctrinal questions posed by Fox editors.
Their response to the very first question immediately causes a serious investigator to question their agenda; it is a purely defensive response ...The fact that the word cult is a well defined term, and in use for centuries, should not be ignored ...Q: Why do some call the Church a cult?
A: For the most part, this seems to stem from a lack of understanding about the Church and its core doctrines and beliefs. Under those circumstances it is too easy to label a religion or other organization that is not well-known with an inflammatory term like 'cult.' Famed scholar of religion Martin Marty has said a cult means a church you don't personally happen to like. We don't believe any organization should be subjected to a label that has come to be as pejorative as that one.1. a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremoniesA simple, rational, and direct answer could have been couched in terms consistent with the above.
2. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult... .
6. a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader
By definition mormons are a cult, but no more so than Southern Baptists or Catholics. There's nothing to fear by being honest; their spin will not dispel suspicions.
It is true the historical Christian church (Catholic/Protestant) has co-opted and abused the term "cult" for its own unique usage, but that should not color an honest person's response to an honest inquiry.
The next three questions received an identical "canned" response (7 of the 21 questions were answered in this fashion) ...Q: Does the Mormon Church believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God?This is clear evidence the LDS are hiding something. If the answer to the first is to be taken as a candid answer to a legitimate question regarding the person of Jesus, the second cannot be ... it is evasive and is so for a specific reason: Jesus is divine to them in the same way they believe they will one day be divine.
Q: Does the Church believe in the divinity of Jesus?
Q: Does the Church believe that God is a physical being?
A: Mormons believe Jesus Christ is literally the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer, who died for the sins of humankind and rose from the dead on the third day with an immortal body. God, the Father, also has an immortal body.
One could imagine a response to the first question to be somewhat theologically subjective, but the second required a simple "yes" or "no," followed by a statement as to what the word "divine" means to the LDS.
Using the same answer to the third question (an abject evasion) only reinforces the conviction the LDS fear revealing real doctrine by providing a clear response to the question.
This kind of duplicity would make a reasonable man question the entire machinery of the LDS. I personally could not vote for a man who participates in such childish distortions.
Notice the one critical question (alluded to in the second through the fourth questions) is not asked, therefore not answered: did the Son of God come in the flesh?
The question regarding "gods and goddesses" should inform the reader that Mormonism (at its deepest roots) is a works (not a grace) based form of redemption ... this means they're out of the mainstream of post-reformation Christian orthodoxy.
The remainder of the questions are interesting but not as substantial as the first four. If you are a serious Christian with an earnest interest in knowing the enemy, you should click over and read the remainder for yourself.
OTHERS BLOGGING:Barnson
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David Hughes
Mining Grace
Mormon Coffee
Scott W. Kay
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
MORMONS: Given enough rope they'll hang themselves ...
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Or you could click over to mormon.org or lds.org. The lds.org site contains all of the actual scriptures and lesson manuals of the church as well as archives of the last 30 years of magazines and addresses by the Church leaders.
ReplyDeleteI've decided to permit the above comment even though it is damage control ... the truth has nothing to fear.
ReplyDeleteThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the restored New Testament Church, but that's not necessarily a reason to vote for Romney.
ReplyDeleteMy understanding of cultism is that it claims to be the ONLY path to salvation. Like JW's.
ReplyDeleteTrying to seem ecumenical Mormons etc... won't admit that in the end that's what they believe but it's their official position... hey it's the Catholics' too...but I didn't think it was the SBC's...