The Question: Are Mormons Christian? A Biblical Approach

[_The Erotic Apologist]

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach [to you] a gospel other than the one that we preached to you, let that one be accursed!

You were kind enough to share an entertaining and culturally significant myth with me, so I reciprocated by sharing an entertaining and culturally significant myth with you. That much I can understand, but I don't get what you're now trying to communicate to me by quoting "...let that one be accursed!"

Whoever said or inspired that sentiment doesn't sound very sane or healthy, and definitely isn't the kind of person I'd let my kids play with. Moreover, the vaguely threatening nature of that quote makes me suspect the mythical being who supposedly inspired it has a long history of abuse, intolerance, and violence. I find it both tragic and interesting how certain people can grow to love, idolize, or even worship their abuser, even if he only exists in their imaginations.

[Guest]

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach [to you] a gospel other than the one that we preached to you, let that one be accursed!

You were kind enough to share an entertaining and culturally significant myth with me, so I reciprocated by sharing an entertaining and culturally significant myth with you. That much I can understand, but I don't get what you're now trying to communicate to me by quoting "...let that one be accursed!"

Whoever said or inspired that sentiment doesn't sound very sane or healthy, and definitely isn't the kind of person I'd let my kids play with. Moreover, the vaguely threatening nature of that quote makes me suspect the mythical being who supposedly inspired it has a long history of abuse, intolerance, and violence. I find it both tragic and interesting how certain people can grow to love, idolize, or even worship their abuser, even if he only exists in their imaginations.

I think perhaps you take me more serious than I'm taking myself.

I know what you were doing!

But! I posted what I believe is scripture, and so played along with your modern scripture....from the Church Of The Masses.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/churchofthemasses/

But true, St. Paul never minced words, some people need to hear things straight up.

[_The Erotic Apologist]

If you'd rather that I not take anything you say, post, or quote seriously, you need only to ask!

[_madeleine]

If you'd rather that I not take anything you say, post, or quote seriously, you need only to ask!

I thought you were already there.

[_The Erotic Apologist]

If you'd rather that I not take anything you say, post, or quote seriously, you need only to ask!

I thought you were already there.

You thought I was already where?

[_madeleine]

You thought I was already where?

Not taking me serious!

(Who's on first?)

I'm out! Time for a redneck BBQ.

[_The Erotic Apologist]

You thought I was already where?

Not taking me serious!

Certainly not! That's why I made a point of asking if you wanted to be taken seriously...do you? Even if you don't, I take everything most xians say very seriously (with the possible exception of Little Nipper). Moreover, I take the Bible seriously, too. I look at the Bible as a valuable storehouse of cultural, anthropological, and literary knowledge. There are many other people who also appreciate the Bible in this way, even if they don't accept its (and xianity's) supernatural, unfalsifiable faith claims. I feel the Bible is every bit as important to our collective culture as, for example, the Qur'an. I simply think that to read the Bible, or to read the Qur'an, or even to read Dianetics in the same way in which one reads the US Tax Code is to do them all a disservice.

[_madeleine]

Not taking me serious!

Certainly not! That's why I made a point of asking if you wanted to be taken seriously...do you? Even if you don't, I take everything most xians say very seriously (with the possible exception of Little Nipper). Moreover, I take the Bible seriously, too. I look at the Bible as a valuable storehouse of cultural, anthropological, and literary knowledge. There are many other people who also appreciate the Bible in this way, even if they don't accept its (and xianity's) supernatural, unfalsifiable faith claims. I feel the Bible is every bit as important to our collective culture as, for example, the Qur'an. I simply think that to read the Bible, or to read the Qur'an, or even to read Dianetics in the same way in which one reads the US Tax Code is to do them all a disservice.

I agree.

I think where you see rigid dogmatism, I see a continuity of knowledge and even culture. It is a western mind, a modern culture, that makes and expresses rigidity, when it is not really there. A removal of what it means to be human, is what I see. But, I'm not the best expression of what I believe. :) Also difficult to communicate ideas without a framework, which requires rigor.

Some seek to rebuild the frame, others to repaint what it frames. I don't think it is dogmatic to say, "hold on there buster!"

[_The Erotic Apologist]

Yes, I am somewhat familiar with Western vs. Eastern views on the subject of dogmatic rigidity, having lived a number of years in Asia where I taught ESL, completed a degree in Mandarin Chinese, and consulted at Beijing Film Academy on the subject of historic process photography. The bad habit many Westerners have of using the Bible as a proof text to asses the "truth content" of other supernatural belief systems is--thankfully--less common in Asia. It would be nice if more xtians would recognize the fact that xianity is simply one supernatural belief system among many other supernatural belief systems.

[_madeleine]

Yes, I am somewhat familiar with Western vs. Eastern views on the subject of dogmatic rigidity, having lived a number of years in Asia where I taught ESL, completed a degree in Mandarin Chinese, and consulted at Beijing Film Academy on the subject of historic process photography. The bad habit many Westerners have of using the Bible as a proof text to asses the "truth content" of other supernatural belief systems is--thankfully--less common in Asia. It would be nice if more xtians would recognize the fact that xianity is simply one supernatural belief system among many other supernatural belief systems.

Nice. Where I work, there are people who work with the Beijing Film Academy in a kind of cultural exchange. I'm in a dark back room, they feed me once in a while, but don't let me out among the "talent".

It is different when discussing Christian belief and understanding with LDS, than any others, Christian or non-Christian. I've tried to pin down why, and have the opinion there is a Puritan aspect that informs the LDS way of thinking. Puritanism has had a great influence on American thought.

Catholics aren't Puritans, and there is a lot of room in Catholicism for a wide range of theological understanding. The basics though, are uniform, and have hundreds of years of rigorous academics applied to them. Which, ironically, can be seen in this thread as viewed as either too dogmatic, or too dynamic. Catholics understand these tensions are there, as Christianity has numerous tensions, creating a sort of "middle way".

Eastern Catholics do not have the obsessive nature to describe everything to death. That tendency is definitely a western way of doing things. I like a middle ground, where explanations are needed in order to convey belief, but lets not forget the supernatural aspects. Catholics have a deep cultural understanding that there are mysteries of God, that we are not God, and therefore can only go so far in expressing a human understanding.

LDS apply a "certain knowledge", which has gnostic qualities, making God in the image of themselves, and see this same view in those who never held it at all.