Are Mormons Christians?

WinePusher · Post by **WinePusher** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 10:52 pm

I have some christian family members who say that Mormons are not really christians. Most mainstream christian theologians, (William Lane Craig,
Dinesh D' Souza, Scott Hahn, Billy Graham) also say that Mormons are not really Christians.

I am not educated on Mormon theology, and it only leads to misinformation when you judge something that your not educated on, so I have no position on the issue.

Are Mormons Christians? I would invite any Mormons on this site to defend or explain their beliefs.

Crazy Ivan · Post by **Crazy Ivan** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 11:53 pm

May I ask what a "Christian" is to you?

WinePusher · Post by **WinePusher** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 12:15 am

Crazy Ivan wrote:May I ask what a "Christian" is to you?

Someon who believes Jesus Christ is their savior. Plain and simple as that.

The belief that Jesus was the son of God is the core principle of any christian faith. And any religion that denies this assumption is not christian, but some other type of faith. I'm not saying they're wrong, but they aren't christians.

Crazy Ivan · Post by **Crazy Ivan** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 12:36 am

winepusher wrote:
Crazy Ivan wrote:May I ask what a "Christian" is to you?
Someon who believes Jesus Christ is their savior. Plain and simple as that.

The belief that Jesus was the son of God is the core principle of any christian faith. And any religion that denies this assumption is not christian, but some other type of faith. I'm not saying they're wrong, but they aren't christians.

Than I will quote wikipedia:

wikipedia wrote:A Mormon is an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism(...)The term derives from the Book of Mormon, a sacred text published in 1830 regarded by the faith as a supplemental Testament to the Bible(...)The book is believed by Mormons to be a literal record of God's dealings with pre-Columbian civilizations in the Americas from approximately 2600 BC through AD 420, written by prophets and followers of Jesus Christ. The book records the teachings of Jesus Christ to the people in the Americas as well as Christ's personal ministry among the people of Nephi after his resurrection.[1] Mormons believe the Book of Mormon is another witness of Jesus Christ, "holy scripture comparable to the Bible"

It seems they're as Christians as any other fellow that "believes Jesus Christ is their savior". To those "mainstream christian theologians", inclusion of another book as "witness" negates their right to believe Jesus is their savior? Why else would they not acknowledge them as Christians?

Slopeshoulder · Post by **Slopeshoulder** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 12:40 am

I question the premise. Those aren't mainstream theologians, and D'Souza isn't a theologian at all. They are biblicists and right wingers.

WinePusher · Post by **WinePusher** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 12:46 am

Slopeshoulder wrote:I question the premise. Those aren't mainstream theologians, and D'Souza isn't a theologian at all. They are biblicists and right wingers.

Well, D' Souza is an educated man who has an extensive knowledge of christian theology. What would your example of a mainstream theologian be.

WinePusher · Post by **WinePusher** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 12:46 am

Crazy Ivan wrote:
winepusher wrote:
Crazy Ivan wrote:May I ask what a "Christian" is to you?
Someon who believes Jesus Christ is their savior. Plain and simple as that.

The belief that Jesus was the son of God is the core principle of any christian faith. And any religion that denies this assumption is not christian, but some other type of faith. I'm not saying they're wrong, but they aren't christians.
Than I will quote wikipedia:

wikipedia wrote:A Mormon is an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism(...)The term derives from the Book of Mormon, a sacred text published in 1830 regarded by the faith as a supplemental Testament to the Bible(...)The book is believed by Mormons to be a literal record of God's dealings with pre-Columbian civilizations in the Americas from approximately 2600 BC through AD 420, written by prophets and followers of Jesus Christ. The book records the teachings of Jesus Christ to the people in the Americas as well as Christ's personal ministry among the people of Nephi after his resurrection.[1] Mormons believe the Book of Mormon is another witness of Jesus Christ, "holy scripture comparable to the Bible"
It seems they're as Christians as any other fellow that "believes Jesus Christ is their savior". To those "mainstream christian theologians", inclusion of another book as "witness" negates their right to believe Jesus is their savior? Why else would they not acknowledge them as Christians?

I don't know, that why I posted it up, to provoke thought and disscussion

Crazy Ivan · Post by **Crazy Ivan** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:08 am

winepusher wrote:I don't know, that why I posted it up, to provoke thought and disscussion

Well, there's not much to consider. Under your own understanding of "Christian", which I agree is the very essence and all that's required, Mormons are Christian. And the opinions of people like D' Souza, who I have zero respect for, and who I think has been consistently intellectually embarrassed, shouldn't be a reference to you or anyone else.

WinePusher · Post by **WinePusher** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:16 am

Crazy Ivan wrote:
winepusher wrote:I don't know, that why I posted it up, to provoke thought and disscussion
Well, there's not much to consider. Under your own understanding of "Christian", which I agree is the very essence and all that's required, Mormons are Christian. And the opinions of people like D' Souza, who I have zero respect for, and who I think has been consistently intellectually embarrassed, shouldn't be a reference to you or anyone else.

Well, again thats why I posted it up. Mormons believe Jesus was the son of God so I think that qualifies them as christians. But then you have these authories and the majority of actual christians who say they aren't. So something is kinda wrong here

I wouldn't call a best selling author, former White House Advisor and one of the leading authorities on chrisitian apologetics an "intellectual embarrasment." He's probably the most reasonable and respected apologist out of them all.

Crazy Ivan · Post by **Crazy Ivan** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:25 am

winepusher wrote:Well, again thats why I posted it up. Mormons believe Jesus was the son of God so I think that qualifies them as christians. But then you have these authories and the majority of actual christians who say they aren't. So something is kinda wrong here

Well, you got yourself a seasoned militant atheist supporting your perspective... but I assume you'll find that suspicious.

winepusher wrote:I wouldn't call a best selling author, former White House Advisor and one of the leading authorities on chrisitian apologetics an "intellectual embarrasment." He's probably the most reasonable and respected apologist out of them all.

You said it...