How Sex, Politics, Money and Religion are Killing Planet Earth

Friday, June 22, 2012

Trivial Things You Probably Didn’t want to know about Mormonism: Part III – The differences between Mormon Christianity and other Christianities


Mormons are Christians. While many other sects of Christians dispute this fact, people are allowed to define themselves. Mormons insist that they are Christians; therefore, they are. It is true that Mormon theology differs significantly from mainline Christian orthodoxy in many aspects, but it is also true that prior to the deliberate and systematic purging of “heretical” doctrine by Emperor Constantine’s Council of Nicaea (largely for political reasons), Christianity was a much more diverse entity than it is today. I find the diversity of doctrine like all diversity to be healthy, as singular dogmatic authority of religion tends to lead to Dark Ages (see world for 1,000 years post-Constantine).  

Mormon beliefs differ from mainline Christian beliefs in some significant ways. First, they believe that divine revelation continues to unfold and that the Book of Mormon and other Mormon texts are examples of God’s continuing revelation. Therefore, the Old and New Testaments are important theological documents, but they are augmented and revised by more recent revelation. Because doctrine is an evolving entity, it is changeable, making Mormon religious beliefs much more amenable to change than evangelical Christianity that insists on the infallibility of the Bible.

The head (known as the “President”) of the Church of Latter-day Saints (LDS) is believed to be God’s living representative and prophet on earth. As such, through prayer, fasting and discipline, he may receive new revelation or revelation that revises previous doctrine. In this way, there is no theological inconsistency with major ideological reversals (i.e. stances on polygamy and allowing African Americans into the priesthood) in Mormon teaching.

While many would criticize Mormonism for this apparent lack of consistency, one could also consider that the evolving nature of the religion makes it open-minded and amenable to making changes to allow for progressing social ideals. In many respects, the ability to admit mistakes and to correct them is commendable.  A further extrapolation is that Mormons believe that their prophet is first and foremost human and therefore vulnerable to all of the limitations of the species, unlike the Catholic faith that insists upon Papal infallibility.*

Another point of divergence from mainstream Christianity is that Mormons believe God exists in actual physical form and that he is of the same species as earthly humans. God was once much like we are, but then through progression achieved his divine nature. Mormons believe that all humans are literally the children of God and his wife, that we were created in the celestial realm prior to our physical birth, and that each of us has within us the capability to achieve godhood. While God and Mrs. God are our creators, they are not static, perfect, infinite beings of undefinable ether, like the God of mainline Christianity. Instead, they continue to evolve in other realms beyond the human sphere of existence.  In this vein, Jesus, the son of God and Mrs. God, is a separate entity to Heavenly Father, and the Holy Spirit is a combination of their holy essences.

Significantly, Mormons do not believe in the concept of original sin. Adam and Eve “fell” from Eden in order to undergo the progression towards godhood that requires life in a human form, complete with free will, temptation and importantly, the ability to procreate. Unlike other Judeo-Christian faiths that stipulate that humans are irrevocably tainted with the stain of original sin, Mormons believe that we are only tainted and judged by our own, independent behavior. We are therefore accountable for our actions, and faith alone will not redeem us; nevertheless, we can strive for an achievable perfection. Rather than being condemned, Adam now holds the number 3 position in godhood in heaven, subordinate only to God and Jesus.

In addition to the above primary differences between Mormonism and other Christianities, The Book of Mormon and other Mormon doctrines comprise a complete anthology of additional and revised beliefs too numerous to elaborate on here.  Many of these additional beliefs, such as the notion that Native Americans are the descendants of the lost tribes of Israel, are definitely at odds with scientific genetic evidence. 

Judging as an outside observer, Mormonism has much to recommend it for those who are so inclined. The emphasis on personal accountability rather than original sin seems to have observable results. The bigots down in the Bible Belt, who insist that we are all a bunch of dirty sinners who can be saved simply by placing our faith in Jesus, enjoy the highest divorce rates, highest rates of teen pregnancy, highest rates of illiteracy, deplorable rates of incarceration, juvenile delinquency, etc. Meanwhile, Mormons have above-average education levels, low divorce rates, low rates of drug abuse and other delinquencies, etc.  I find it interesting that other Christians are so quick to condemn their Mormon cousins. With open minds and hearts, perhaps they could learn a thing or two about themselves. Mormonism may vary in detail, but in substance is no different than any other religious faith. The fact that Mormons are willing to admit to theological error and correct it should be a recommendation rather than a criticism.

*I am currently reading The Borgias by Ivan Cloulas, an interesting case in point. 

15 comments:

  1. "Mormons insist that they are Christians; therefore, they are." That strategy hasn't worked much better for Obama with the 'main stream' Christians. As you state towards the end of your essay 'evangelical bigots' enjoy among other ills 'the highest rates of illiteracy'. It makes one wonder which is causal...illiteracy leads to evangelical christianity or vice versa. It has been proven that watching Fox News makes people less informed so perhaps attending church services makes people less literate...just sayin'.

    I too am an agnostic for exactly the same reason you cite. However, I have to wonder why any of the sects associated with the christian religious cult, including Mormonism, worship a supposedly omniscient, omnipotent deity that would sacrifice his son (in a pretty horrible manner at that) to absolve the world of sin that he/she set us up for in the first place. (I mean putting a couple of naked teenagers in a garden...what the heck did he/she expect??) If he/she had the knowledge and power to absolve the world of sin why did he/she have to have a sacrifice. Couldn't he/she have just hosted a veggie buffet and then washed away our sins?

    Until someone comes up with a reasonable answer for that basic question, other than 'god works in mysterious ways' I will remain agnostic but convinced the so-called organized religions are strictly in the business of garnering wealth and power for the few (1% or so) at the expense of the many. I will also believe that good they may do is more than offset by the psychological and actual damage done to individuals and societies by the extremists which seem to drive religious orthodoxy in all faiths.

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    1. Jim, There you go again trying to apply reason:) Were you the one who recommended "The Republican Brain"? If so, thank you. I am enjoying the read now, and it certainly goes a long way to explaining the irrationality of religion. I haven't gotten to the part yet where the rational people of the world can hope for a solution.

      I agree with you that God certainly seems to have the worst parenting skills EVER. First, he leaves naked teenagers alone in a garden and tells them NOT to do something (i.e. eat the fruit). When they do what teenagers do, he throws them out of the house and abandons them. Being omniscient and all that stuff, you think he would have known better. Then he procreates with a woman and only seeks to get her consent after he has impregnated her, setting up the events that lead to unspeakable torture for his only begotten son. But he is a "loving God." Reason does not apply to religion.

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    2. yes, I recommended 'the republican brain'...it is a longer book than the name implies, isn't it.

      'there you go again...', kind of reminds me of reagan's winning presidential debate, but I won't hold your relative youth against you:-) can't help this whole 'reason thing'...it just the way I roll, but it is a curse for sure!

      keep up the great work.

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    3. Jim, I am old enough. I was wondering if you would catch that:)

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  2. Thanks, now I understand the religious source of all the many abandoned and banished kids on the streets of the Haight in the 60s. Stands to reason, just following the deity's example.

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    1. bholanath, I was certainly tempted to follow the deity's example when my kids were going through their teen years (just kidding). Having lived through that experience, I am baffled that anybody has any respect at all for a God that is ignorant enough to leave two naked teenagers alone and tell them not to get into trouble:)

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    2. A good thing I had put my iced tea down or otherwise it would have spewed all over the computer monitor. That is just beautiful! I'll share it with my kid who just recently became a father himself.

      Grandparents and grandchildren are natural allies because they have a common enemy - Margaret Mead

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  3. http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/22/12359704-chronicling-mitts-mendacity-vol-xxiii

    This is sort of off topic, but it is a weekly compendium of Mitt's mendacity for the previous week. His falsehoods probably have little to do with being Mormon, but the fact that he is supposedly such a devout one suggests that lying is somewhere below coffee and tobacco on the list of Mormon no-no's.

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    1. Aggie, I wonder how being raised Mormon has affected Mitt's relationship with truth-telling. After all, he was programmed on a steady diet of extreme ideological reversals (polygamy is the only way to get into heaven, then polygamy is a sin; and dark-skinned people are condemned by God before they are even born, and then dark-skinned people are just like everyone else, etc.

      Plus the religion is ideologically grounded on the idea that "facts" are ephemeral and changeable over time. Joseph Smith also penned a "revised" version of the Bible in addition to the Book of Mormon. It just makes me wonder if such an upbringing might lead one to believe that "truth" is not an objective entity and can therefore be toyed with. Just a thought.

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    2. Could be.

      Here's another in the weekly catalogue of Mitt Mendacity.

      //maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/29/12483552-chronicling-mitts-mendacity-vol-xxiv?lite

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  4. Mormons also believe that Jesus is the brother of Satan.

    The book, "Shadow or Reality" is an eye-opener.

    Personally, as an ex-minister, I find all Christians and Christianity to be a bit disgusting. People will believe "in" anything if it's written down. Being old and ancient helps, but Mormonism is pretty new.

    No longer in the ministry, and no longer a Christian, because honest research reveals it's a lie, the book is a fabrication and the claimed history is false. Honesty compelled me to quit.

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    1. Anonymous, Congratulations on your recovery, and thank you for the information and book recommendation.

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