growing tired of mormonism being labelled non-christian or different to christianity

[daboosh]

people tend to forget that the name 'mormon' is a colloquial. we are Saints. the bottom line is that the church we adhere to, bears the name of Christ. there is no disparity between the "mormon jesus" and the "christian jesus".

even our leaders have said that Christ heads our church. he leads it above all else.

rant over.

[Guest]

Daboosh. I don't really care what we're "called". Christians don't want to asign the label Christians to Mormons because we are not Trinitarians. Therefore, there is a big disparity between the "mormon Jesus" to the "christian Jesus". And if being called a Christian means I have to abide by the Trinitarian quality of Jesus, then I don't mind not being called Christian.

It's really as simple as that.

[jerome1232]

Daboosh. I don't really care what we're "called". Christians don't want to asign the label Christians to Mormons because we are not Trinitarians. Therefore, there is a big disparity between the "mormon Jesus" to the "christian Jesus". And if being called a Christian means I have to abide by the Trinitarian quality of Jesus, then I don't mind not being called Christian.

It's really as simple as that.

+1.

[Traveler]

people tend to forget that the name 'mormon' is a colloquial. we are Saints. the bottom line is that the church we adhere to, bears the name of Christ. there is no disparity between the "mormon jesus" and the "christian jesus".

even our leaders have said that Christ heads our church. he leads it above all else.

rant over.

Perhaps the greatest problem that exists within opposing or competing societies of the human species is not that they are actually that different as much as key phrases are interpreted differently. This allows for one group to criticize others and justify themselves (and vice versa) for very similar philosophical thoughts. Perhaps the most stunning example is the LDS presidency model employed in understanding the leadership roles at many levels including the G-dhead and the trinity doctrine.

Though many LDS are somewhat distraught over the exclusionary attitudes employed against us by just about every other Christian sect – the reality is that we LDS are perhaps more exclusionary in our doctrinal attitudes of the restoration as the single only “true and living” Christian Church currently on the earth. The truth is that we are the different, separate and exclusionary “Christian” sect” in our official attitudes towards all other religions it that we do not accept any of their ordinances, revelations, covenants and doctrines as being eternal binding or officially directed by G-d or his uniquely chosen prophets. In essence we believe other “lesser (or non-empowered) Christians” as having a “form of G-dlyness but denying the power thereof” and that before they can be accepted by G-d only after they abandon their non-LDS notions and accept our authority and “works for the dead”.

That Mormons are not Christian pill, should be no more difficult for us to swallow than that pill we ask them to swallow that their creeds are an abomination.

The Traveler

[prisonchaplain]

Here's a Mormon who disagrees with the OP (hope the NYT is not considered an "Anti" site! j/k) He says that Mormons do have a different understanding from "Christians" about Jesus, and that he is fine with being Mormon, and not Christian.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/13/opinion/im-a-mormon-not-a-christian.html

[Traveler]

Here's a Mormon who disagrees with the OP (hope the NYT is not considered an "Anti" site! j/k) He says that Mormons do have a different understanding from "Christians" about Jesus, and that he is fine with being Mormon, and not Christian.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/13/opinion/im-a-mormon-not-a-christian.html

Thank you PC for you input. I think you and I are a fine example of terms being used and interpreted differently. What you and many others call Christian or Christianity - I call Traditional Christianity or Traditional Christian.

The Traveler

[Deputy]

Here's a Mormon who disagrees with the OP (hope the NYT is not considered an "Anti" site! j/k) He says that Mormons do have a different understanding from "Christians" about Jesus, and that he is fine with being Mormon, and not Christian.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/13/opinion/im-a-mormon-not-a-christian.html

Well, I haven't even read what he wrote before. I simply guess that a Mormon is a Christian. And not only that: He is a Christiian who receives always the spirit(as a priest) and who can say that in former times the churches went down to that kind of abominable status, when God the Allmighty turned his Face from them and decided to start it all again. I believe what Brigham Young once said, that if the Church of Jesus Christ ever will get in friendship or relationship with all or one of the other (fallen) churches, thee will be on her way to hell. This is what can be taken from the historic records of the Church.

What might "Prison Champlain" mean with "OP"? I don't know. I only know that God is God, and that there is his Son, and that there is a Ghost who is the Holy Spirit, and that they are ONE in willing an intention! Prison Champlain always wants to tell us how lost we are... I wouldn't even wish him to be by my side even if I was shortly before being executed on the electric chair! Leave me alone with that fine "chaplain" who has been here in this forum for quite a long time (too much). Amen.

Edited August 6, 2012 by Deputy

[Backroads]

I'm only frustrated when a big deal is made of it.

[annewandering]

I am a Christian. Not sure what those other guys are, who think God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost are some buddha like amorphous nonhumanoid type being. If they want to call themselves Christians I dont care.

[RipplecutBuddha]

I don't worry about what others call me. If Christ can call me a 'Good and faithful servant', then that's all I need to worry about.

[Deputy]

I am a Christian. Not sure what those other guys are, who think God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost are some buddha like amorphous nonhumanoid type being. If they want to call themselves Christians I dont care.

But I would. On the other hand: don't let us start a thirty years' war again, einen" Dreißigjährigen Krieg", wie er in Europa stattgefunden hat. I more believe in a mental "strife" than in a mental "fight", so let's our swords sleep in our hands...

[Bini]

I don't really care what others refer to me as, either. Being labelled "Mormon" or "LDS" as opposed to "Christian" is just fine.

[Anddenex]

I would agree with the majority of the posts. I would agree and wouldn't mind myself, however, in my experience when a traditional Christian proclaims a Mormon isn't a Christian, it just isn't a term, but used as an insult.

This may not be the case for all traditional Christians.

Names have power, or better said, how humankind interprets names is what gives them power. If I walked around calling every child born out of wedlock a "******* Child" I think people would start having problems with my language, especially those who were born out of wedlock, even though it be just a name.

I have no problem with a sincere traditional Christian telling me we are not mainstream Christians. This would be correct. I do have problems with traditional Christians making blanket statements stating we are not Christians.

It doesn't matter our different theologies. Despite our different theologies I would never be so rude to call any of my traditional Christian friends, non-Christians. They believe in Christ, although they follow a different theology.

[prisonchaplain]

Anddenex makes a fair point. In the article I cited, the author correctly noted that having different theologies about Jesus is uber-signifcant. He would rather be called a Mormon, so folk understand which camp he is in. At the same time, it is mightily different for one who is LDS to say, "Let's avoid confusion--call me Mormon," versus an evangelical saying, "You are not a Christian."

[Windseeker]

I like the response of the Christlike Bishop of D from Les Miserables when asked who he was.

His response "I am a worm."

[mnn727]

While I will freely admit we are not tradition Christians, or main stream Christians or even Trinitarian Christians, however we are indeed Christians and I also hate it when someone claims we are not Christians.

I follow Jesus Christ - thus I am a Christian.

Edited August 6, 2012 by mnn727

[annewandering]

Daboosh. I don't really care what we're "called". Christians don't want to asign the label Christians to Mormons because we are not Trinitarians. Therefore, there is a big disparity between the "mormon Jesus" to the "christian Jesus". And if being called a Christian means I have to abide by the Trinitarian quality of Jesus, then I don't mind not being called Christian.

It's really as simple as that.

But I would. On the other hand: don't let us start a thirty years' war again, einen" Dreißigjährigen Krieg", wie er in Europa stattgefunden hat. I more believe in a mental "strife" than in a mental "fight", so let's our swords sleep in our hands...

Why would it be a war? I dont care if they call themselves Christian even though they believe in a very strange being.

[Traveler]

One thing I find very interesting, at the time of Christ; the term Christian was not defined. The covenant people of G-d that preserved and kept the scriptures were called Jews. This came from both tradition and culture. The traditional Jews called Jesus a Samaritan; which at the time was a religious slur that was meant to be far more demeaning than saying someone today is not Christian.

Jesus on the other hand used the example of a Samaritan as what a Jew ought to be. This was not because of doctrine or creeds but because of kindness, love and compassion. Jesus said that there would be a way to identify his followers - He said there there would be love where those gathered in his name. I assume that name calling is not what Christ intended for those that know and love him. As I think about it - I do not think he is that happy with the way I use the term Traditional Christian. Hmmmmmm perhaps it is me that needs a change of heart.

The Traveler

[AnthonyB]

Christian is used in two senses....

Firstly it is used of anyone who consideres themselves somehow connected to Jesus Christ. That includes everyong TC's, LDS, JW, Christadelphians, etc

Secondly (I think wrongly) it is sometimes used by people to define those they think are truly "in Christ", actually part of his church. Everybody has a different list of people they think is and isn't in. Partly I think we should leave that judgement up to God but we all have beliefs about the nature of authentic disciplehsip of Jesus.

There is always going to be some tensions between LDS and non-LDS, your churches claims to exclusivity and your very distinctive doctrines will ensure that. However it always should be done within the ethos of Jesus, we both should always act from love and concern for those we disagree with.

I have no problem that you wish that I accept the need for priesthood authority and the restored gospel. Hopefully you'll understand that I wish you would give up the extra doctrines that Joseph Smith and the LDS prophets that succeed him have added. But that doesn't negate the need for each of us to respect one another.

Edited August 6, 2012 by AnthonyB

[prisonchaplain]

Context is important. At LDS.net the use of Traditional Christianity works well. The New York Times writer's point was certainly valid, in how he wants to be addressed. I again agree that when evangelicals etc. tell LDS they are not Christians, it is always meant as a pejorative. At least we evangelicals would do better to figure out what we think constitutes being "born again," and then discuss that with LDS, probably through a conversation about the Plan of Salvation. Barna claims that 44% of the LDS his group interviewed expressed a personal experience that fits the evangelical definition of being born again.

[annewandering]

Sometimes we just get tired of it all. I dont iike being on the defensive. On here we can talk nice and people talk nice to us, like PC is a great example of polite and nice. Outside here it is a whole nother question. Everyday I run into someone who has something nasty to say and it usually includes us not being Christian. (I do not go to anti mormon sites either)

Sure we should turn the other cheek but sometimes my neck just gets a crick in it.