Does the Idea of a Mormon Jesus Really Offend Jews?

Post by **_Mister Scratch** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 6:00 pm

for what it's worth, I think that, ironically, LDS actually tend to be more offended by the concept of a "Mormon Jesus." This is precisely the phrase used (i.e., "Mormon Jesus") in the cartoon segment of The Godmakers that is viewable over on youtube. My sense is that LDS want (rightly) for others to view them as Christians, and thus tend to somewhat downplay the radically different role that Christ plays in LDS scripture and history. (E.g, Christ commits genocide in the Book of Mormon; a stark contrast from his behavior in the New Testament.)

Post by **_Jersey Girl** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 6:02 pm

EE,

If I relocate this thread up into the Celestial Forum, will you continue our exchanges there? I didn't have a chance to get your responses to my questions. I won't be able to transfer the exchanges until later in the day.

Jersey Girl

_Yoda · Post by **_Yoda** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 6:05 pm

Enuma Elish wrote:Jersey Girl,

Thanks. Even though we don't always agree, I really do miss interacting with many of the posters who frequent this board. I've always liked Dr. Shades. And I really enjoy Moska's humor. Rollo always offers some great insights; Harmony is very kind, etc. In hindsight, I'm not going to allow someone's anger to rob me of my cyber buddies. Therefore, I'm going to take Harmony's advice and simply try to ignore.

Misery, I'm happy to continue this or any other conversation with you, however, I'm going to respectfully ask you to please try and keep your posts to a PG or PG 13 level.

If I ever want to have a swearing match with you, I promise I’ll go down and join you in the Telestial Kingdom.

I'm glad you have decided to stay, EE! :)

Sorry if I have derailed your thread. Misery and I kind of went off-topic side-tracking on the Holocaust subject.

Jersey Girl actually asked you an earlier question I'm also curious about, which more directly relates to your original OP:

How do you describe Gnostic Christianity?

Post by **_Jersey Girl** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 6:11 pm

liz3564 wrote:
Enuma Elish wrote:Jersey Girl,

Thanks. Even though we don't always agree, I really do miss interacting with many of the posters who frequent this board. I've always liked Dr. Shades. And I really enjoy Moska's humor. Rollo always offers some great insights; Harmony is very kind, etc. In hindsight, I'm not going to allow someone's anger to rob me of my cyber buddies. Therefore, I'm going to take Harmony's advice and simply try to ignore.

Misery, I'm happy to continue this or any other conversation with you, however, I'm going to respectfully ask you to please try and keep your posts to a PG or PG 13 level.

If I ever want to have a swearing match with you, I promise I’ll go down and join you in the Telestial Kingdom.

I'm glad you have decided to stay, EE! :)

Sorry if I have derailed your thread. Misery and I kind of went off-topic side-tracking on the Holocaust subject.

Jersey Girl actually asked you an earlier question I'm also curious about, which more directly relates to your original OP:

How do you describe Gnostic Christianity?

Liz,

That's exactly the question I'd like to probe further. I have asked EE here and via PM's if he would be agreeable to taking it out of here and up to the Celestial Forum to continue. I'll be back later in the day to see what he's decided.

If he's agreeable to it, I will be transferring only those posts relevant to the topic.

Jersey Girl

_Yoda · Post by **_Yoda** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 6:13 pm

Liz,

That's exactly the question I'd like to probe further. I have asked EE here and via PM's if he would be agreeable to taking it out of here and up to the Celestial Forum to continue. I'll be back later in the day to see what he's decided.

Jersey Girl

Cool! :)

It probably deserves it's own thread anyway, since we're kind of straying in a different direction.

Post by **_Jersey Girl** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 6:19 pm

I've had a chance to hear from EE. He is agreeable to participating in the discussion as it stands here in the Terrestrial Forum however, I am not. I will move the posts later in the day that I think are relevant to the topic. It may be evening before I do so.

Jersey Girl

_Yoda · Post by **_Yoda** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 6:21 pm

I can jump-start it if you want me to...and then if there are any other posts you want moved up that I missed, you can move them up later.

:)

Post by **_Enuma Elish** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 6:26 pm

Hello Scratch,

for what it's worth, I think that, ironically, LDS actually tend to be more offended by the concept of a "Mormon Jesus." This is precisely the phrase used (i.e., "Mormon Jesus") in the cartoon segment of The Godmakers that is viewable over on youtube. My sense is that LDS want (rightly) for others to view them as Christians, and thus tend to somewhat downplay the radically different role that Christ plays in LDS scripture and history. (E.g, Christ commits genocide in the Book of Mormon; a stark contrast from his behavior in the New Testament.)

This is a very good point that hit me as well. The reality is that Latter-day Saints do not believe that Jesus is a Mormon. When it comes right down to it, we don’t believe that we ourselves are truly “Mormons.” Of course we believe that our Church belongs to Jesus Christ, which would, I suppose, make him a member of the institution.

But I’m not comfortable with the comment that Jesus is a Mormon.

I actually watched the youtube cartoon of the Godmakers with my 12 year old daughter last weak to show her how some outsiders view our faith.

Interesting experience.

Post by **_Enuma Elish** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 6:31 pm

Liz, Jersey Girl,

Gnostic Christianity is about 600 years removed from my expertise, but I would enjoy trying to put together a response to this issue. I'm so glad that you ladies want to discuss these things, lot of fun.

Warm regards.

Post by **_Rollo Tomasi** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 6:36 pm

Enuma Elish wrote:The reality is that Latter-day Saints do not believe that Jesus is a Mormon. When it comes right down to it, we don’t believe that we ourselves are truly “Mormons.” Of course we believe that our Church belongs to Jesus Christ, which would, I suppose, make him a member of the institution.

I'm not so sure about this. Perhaps the semantics would put off LDS members, but most understand Jesus to be the head of the LDS Church, and that the Church institution is the "Kingdom of God" on Earth. I've even heard some teach that the Church institution will continue as the administrative arm in the hereafter. It's almost as if the Church institution has become a living, breathing entity. I personally don't buy into this -- I see the Church as filling an administrative need, that's all.