Just as a point of correction, LDS is not in any way a denomination or part of Christianity. They are two entirely different, separate, distinct religions with entirely different theology.
Would LDS admit that? LDS is part of Protestant Christianity. Protestant Christianity rejects anything other than "solo scriptura" (as does LDS, they just believe Joseph Smith is the true prophet and therefor best interpreter of the scripture). The problem with this approach is that if it is just the person and the scripture, there are an infinite amount of people and thus an infinite amount of variegations of Christianity. Would you say that J-Witnesses are Christians? How about Unitarians? Christian Scientists? Branch Davidians? Yes the LDS movement has a lot of weird beliefs, but so does Christianity writ large.
Factually false. It is an entirely separate religion, with entirely different/contrary teachings to biblical Christianity. That is why Joseph Smith founded it. If you don't believe me, you can read his biography on the official LDS website.
Joseph Smith grew up in Protestantism (Methodist/Presbyterian) environment. Let us evaluate what Protestantism is: It is a rejection of the Catholic church and its traditions in order to forge a new path under a new ideology. It relies heavily on the Gnostic Mysticism of Paul, and people like Luther, Calvin and others. Protestantism in general is a rejection of the Catholic tradition, which itself is a rejection of the Jewish scriptures. LDS also rejects the Catholic traditions and believes in their own sort of solo scriptura, that is, they believe only their bible is true. There are many Protestants who will argue only the KJV is valid.
What I am trying to say is LDS is simply another departure from the mainstream Christianity, just as the Protestant reformation was. I know they would not call themselves Protestants in name, but they are doing to mainstream Christians what Protestants did to Catholics and what Catholics did to Jews.
What nonsense. Again, this is not biblical. I don't give a care who said or did what to whom. The only thing that matters is what the Bible says.
LDS and biblical Christianity are two entirely different things. If you had read the Bible, you would know that. Please stop typing falsehoods. Thank you.
great analysis and discussion, jl. and an important one to better understand our place, now. and from that how to proceed with appropriate eccentric action.
i recently came to you after my sister's high praise for you. (i'm about half way through your ontology of marx series, which is excellent.)
with this particular essay, i smiled a little because i recognised some of your argument, at a must less profound level and from slightly a different direction, this year. i posted a substack jan 3 called 'Good-Bye Woke: It Was Fun While It Lasted'. I argue that the woke are using a mechanism of argument that are the same, or very similar to, so-called far right. if curious: https://gduperreault.substack.com/p/good-bye-woke.
i've edited the essay to include a link to your post on your webpage and here, too.
Just as a point of correction, LDS is not in any way a denomination or part of Christianity. They are two entirely different, separate, distinct religions with entirely different theology.
Would LDS admit that? LDS is part of Protestant Christianity. Protestant Christianity rejects anything other than "solo scriptura" (as does LDS, they just believe Joseph Smith is the true prophet and therefor best interpreter of the scripture). The problem with this approach is that if it is just the person and the scripture, there are an infinite amount of people and thus an infinite amount of variegations of Christianity. Would you say that J-Witnesses are Christians? How about Unitarians? Christian Scientists? Branch Davidians? Yes the LDS movement has a lot of weird beliefs, but so does Christianity writ large.
"LDS is part of Protestant Christianity."
Factually false. It is an entirely separate religion, with entirely different/contrary teachings to biblical Christianity. That is why Joseph Smith founded it. If you don't believe me, you can read his biography on the official LDS website.
Joseph Smith grew up in Protestantism (Methodist/Presbyterian) environment. Let us evaluate what Protestantism is: It is a rejection of the Catholic church and its traditions in order to forge a new path under a new ideology. It relies heavily on the Gnostic Mysticism of Paul, and people like Luther, Calvin and others. Protestantism in general is a rejection of the Catholic tradition, which itself is a rejection of the Jewish scriptures. LDS also rejects the Catholic traditions and believes in their own sort of solo scriptura, that is, they believe only their bible is true. There are many Protestants who will argue only the KJV is valid.
What I am trying to say is LDS is simply another departure from the mainstream Christianity, just as the Protestant reformation was. I know they would not call themselves Protestants in name, but they are doing to mainstream Christians what Protestants did to Catholics and what Catholics did to Jews.
What nonsense. Again, this is not biblical. I don't give a care who said or did what to whom. The only thing that matters is what the Bible says.
LDS and biblical Christianity are two entirely different things. If you had read the Bible, you would know that. Please stop typing falsehoods. Thank you.
great analysis and discussion, jl. and an important one to better understand our place, now. and from that how to proceed with appropriate eccentric action.
i recently came to you after my sister's high praise for you. (i'm about half way through your ontology of marx series, which is excellent.)
with this particular essay, i smiled a little because i recognised some of your argument, at a must less profound level and from slightly a different direction, this year. i posted a substack jan 3 called 'Good-Bye Woke: It Was Fun While It Lasted'. I argue that the woke are using a mechanism of argument that are the same, or very similar to, so-called far right. if curious: https://gduperreault.substack.com/p/good-bye-woke.
i've edited the essay to include a link to your post on your webpage and here, too.
There are a few rebuttals at the same location.
https://americanreformer.org/2024/08/there-is-no-woke-right-part-4/