Ceeboo wrote:
Moving past water, if we were discuss things like Joseph Smith, Jesus, God, Salvation, etc, I can't imagine that we would find agreement on what is or is not true. Can you?
I think we would find a lot of agreement. God loves us. God created the world. Jesus is the messiah. Yes, we'll disagree on a lot of metaphysics and specific dogmas. Meh. I don't think those dogmas are all that important and I imagine that when we get to the other side we'll all be surprised.
???? (Confused)
The sources are contradicting!
How does one decide what is true in this case?
My point here is that if we choose our ideology (Mormonism, Catholicism, Conservatism, Socialism) and place it before truth then we are likely to turn to our ideology for answers first, rather than seek them out for ourselves.
It is for each individual to decide what is true and what works for them. No one -- not a Mormon, Catholic, or Muslim -- can instruct humankind on how to identify spiritual truth.
One example: Mormonism teaches that Jesus was/is our literal brother, a created being, and that our salvation (In addition to the blood spilled from the cross) rests upon many other things that we must do to earn our salvation.... and that those many other things that we must do are found only within the LDS church.....and that if we do not do all of these things, we will not be dwelling with Almighty God for all eternity.
Biblical Christianity teaches an entirely different "truth" as to who Jesus is/was and what is needed for our collective human salvation.
Well, I think you are oversimplifying Mormon doctrine a bit but I know what you are saying.
You are focusing on the minutia of metaphysics. Does God sit inside or outside time? I don't know and I don't really care given that knowing the answer to this question -- as if there is an answer we humans could grasp -- would help me be a better Christian and a better husband.
Take it up a metaphysical level, Mr. Boo. The truth Catholics and Mormons share is obviously true: care for the poor, seek peace, and live in kindness.
Dogma about the nature of Christ, "spirit brotherhood" etc.... ultimately doesn't mature, in my opinion. But it makes for interesting conversation!
