Any LDS DUers out there? I know you exist...

Or at least liberal Mormons.

Yes, I'm an atheist, but I kinda think we all have the right to practice whatever religion, faith or philosophy we wish. Just as you would hate for Jefress to force you to follow one religion over another, I would too.

Anyway, I know you guys are out there. Just want to see a show of hands

yes of course!

Nt

He's not on DU though.

Where at?

I've met damn few liberals here period.

As I said my cousin Ben is a Communist (registered as such) and a Mormon...but he lives in NV. Harry Reid's a Democrat and he's a Mormon.

It must be a Nevada thing.

It's odd your cousin professes to be both a communist and a Mormon. The Mormons claim Communism is some sort of plot by Satan to pervert the Godly institution of the United Order.

Granted, he's no liberal. You're right. But there has been a distinct trend.

Then again, maybe I'm just being too optimistic.

I met a bunch in the Peace Corps though. Most of them wanted to do a "mission" without cramming religion down others throats.

Met a bunch in California too...

But yeah, Utah gets real conservative and Republican. Ironic, since part of the original Republican platform was Anti-Mormonism.

businesses were being targeted for having bought into prop H8.

that, IMO, were following the teachings of Christ based on things they said on this board.

I'm more agnostic than Christian, although I was raised Christian. And I believe that folks have the right to believe as they wish in this country, and as long as they don't try to push their beliefs on me, I'm just fine if a Mormon is elected. I just don't want Romney elected.

But that's because he's a robber baron

I've read my post several times and I don't follow what you are asking about.

I was just wondering if, since there seems to be several different Mitt Romneys - (he flip/flops into someone else every time he runs for something)- if there is one particular one of him you like more than the others. ;-)

I haven't posted in a while, not much since Obama was elected anyway. With Bush gone, I don't have as much to rant about, I guess. :-)

At any rate, I'm an active, or practicing Mormon and a voting Democrat. I live in North Central CA, and while I still most Mormons I know are republican, I do know some LDS democrats who live in my area.

:toast:

This drink's for you, dear Mormon!

Actually, you probably already do spread the word :)

was not intended as a comment on any beliefs you may hold regarding beverages

thanks to trotsky for pointing out clearly my lapse of mindfulness

It actually made me laugh. My favorite beer is root. :-)

I am an atheist, but while I disbelieve on any anthropomorphic god, I certainly believe our fore-bearers fought and died for your right to practice your faith (and also fought for my right to my religious skepticism).

I have no objection to Mormonism that is really any different from my objections to any other faith, and I am not seeking to disparage anyone's faith.

I mention all of this as a preface to the question that I have not heard anyone address (probably because religion is such a touchy subject).

When Baptist pastor Robert Jeffress said that most mainstream Christian denominations in the US do not consider Mormonism to be a Christian religion, isn't that pretty much true?

I will grant you, first, that Pastor Jeffress is an asshole and his comments calling Mormonism a "cult" were hurtful, and I'm not asking whether any religion is a cult or not a cult and I'm certainly not defending Pastor Jeffress.

But it seems to me that it is factually accurate that many Christian denominations do not consider Mormonism to be a Christian religion.

For example, I was under the general impression that when a Catholic converts to Lutheranism or a Baptist becomes an Episcopal or any of the members of these faiths converts to another Christian faith, the person who is converting does not have to be re-baptized, but the Catholics, and Methodists, and Baptists, and other Christian denominations in the US do not accept Mormon baptisms and those who need convert from Mormonism need to be re-baptized.

Do you know if that is true?

As a Mormon, do you get the impression from other denominations that they do not consider Mormonism a Christian religion?

I ask only out of curiosity and ignorance of where else to ask such questions. I thought as a Mormon who was open about her faith in this thread, you might know the answer, and I would be interested in your thoughts. I don't mean to be offensive, and I apologize if my question is inherently offensive.

Thanks.

That question isn't even remotely offensive, but I appreciate your consideration.

This has been an issue for a long time, since way before anyone knew who Mitt Romney was. It IS pretty much true that many, if not most, members of other Christian faiths don't believe Mormons are Christians, or that our church is a Christian church.

I guarantee you, that if you want to annoy a Mormon, tell him or her their church isn't Christian.

Our answer to that generally includes things like:

1. The name of our church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Christ is the head of our church.
2. We believe that Christ suffered and died for our sins and is our savior.
3. We believe in the teachings of the New Testament, including Jesus's teaching that "I am the way, the truth and the light; no man cometh unto the Father but by me."

To me, those things signify "Christian."

I guess my biggest gripe is when people say that the only real Christians believe exactly like they do.

So back to what Jeffress said, my objection is that by repeating it, and saying that many Christians believe like he does, its like he's trying to say, "the majority believes this, therefore it must be true." It's like how the birthers believe Barack Obama was born in Kenya. Just because a lot of people believe it, doesn't make it fact.

I'm tired and my answer seems a bit incoherent, but I hope that helps.

Basically, if you don't swear by the Nicene Creed, you aren't a Christian.

Which is funny - I'm an Atheist, but I'll take the logical definition of a Christian over a dogmatic one. That is, a Christian is someone who follows the teachings of Christ, period.

Mormons believe the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are 3 separate entities, although one in purpose. That alone, by many people's definition, is enough proof we're not Christian.

Second Century...

Condemning people to hell that don't like his teaching?

Saying "I come not in peace, but with a sword. I have come to (drive families apart)?"

Cussing out a fig tree because it's not in season to fruit?

He had no problem with the brutality of Leviticus in the OT.


Jesus said many mean and hateful things in the gospels.
Christians usually ignore that stuff.

This means you can do anything and still be a Christian. The No True Scotsman fallacy does not count.

Yet differ in other very big ways

Everytime somebody says that hateful Christians are not following the teachings of Christ, i say "Which teachings?" because there are many hateful and cruel verses in the Gospels attributed to Jesus.

If they were smart they would only use five or ten pages of good stuff like The Sermon on the Mount. But they don't.

All Christians say they use the entire Bible as a guide or reference, even the liberal ones. They should just throw out the bad stuff.

It was all arbitrarily thrown together at the Council of Nicaea for political purposes anyway.

If you know what "canonical" and "Non-canonical" mean.