(continued from previous post)
There are many aspects of Mormon theology that make no sense to me. One of the most dramatic episodes in forming this opinion occurred when I witnessed an adult scripture study class where the instructor, a very learned and well respected individual, discussed the translation of the Mormon scriptures by Joseph Smith. He explained to this class that the translation was done using magic rocks that Joseph Smith held at the bottom of a hat, into which he peered and somehow discerned the meaning of the words, translated from another ancient language into English.
This process was also accomplished with Joseph Smith positioned with some sort of barrier between himself and whoever was writing down the words he was dictating, such that the person writing could not see Joseph peering at the rocks at the bottom of the hat.
When this information was given in this meeting, and I have since learned that it is accurate doctrine, the news created a firestorm of protest, mostly with lifelong Mormons, because they had never heard this information before & they objected. It made them uncomfortable.
I subsequently learned from a young man who had previously served a 2 year Mormon mission in Poland that missionaries are taught, as part of their training, to give a diversionary answer in the event this topic is ever raised by a prospective member, to basically CHANGE THE SUBJECT but not to actually address it.
For this reason, for all this hiding of doctrine, and, at least to me, for preposterous stories such as translating scripture with magic rocks held at the bottom of a hat, I came to the conclusion that in order to believe Mormon theology, someone would have to “check their brain at the door” because, taken as a whole, I thought the whole thing was rather silly.
That I have such an opinion says nothing about you personally James, and, even if you choose to take it personally, I didn’t, after all, impose the situation on you, the Mormon church has, by hiding this and, who knows, perhaps many other things, from its members.
Catholics, and many other Christians, believe that Mormonism is not a Christian faith, regardless of how nice their people are and despite the name of their church. It is not intended to be a criticism, it is simply descriptive. The fact is that the theology of the Mormon church is utterly incompatible with Catholicism and most Christian faiths.
Many people also believe that Mormonism is a cult. I’m sure that most Mormons would be offended by that term (as they might also be offended by being described as non-Christian). The case of “Christian v. non-Christian” is a definition based on theology. It wouldn’t be reasonable to expect a Catholic to apologize for being a Catholic, so it is not wrong for us to distinguish our faith from another. The case of “cult” is much more subjective, but it is, in my experience, based on behavior and may be very well founded.
I have personally witnessed the literal
shunning of persons who were once members of the Mormon church who stopped going to church. Is this part of the Mormon church doctrine? Probably not, but I don’t really know, I never asked.
But is this behavior similar to a cult? Yes, very definitely. Perhaps the friendships formed by the person I know that was shunned were just shallow, who can say? But since I have heard this same sort of story repeated numerous times, with reference to many different people, it seems to be the rule, even if it may be an “unwritten” one. Mormons did this, not the rest of the world. Similarly, Mormons who choose to leave the church on their own, for reasons of doctrine, find it is very difficult to extricate themselves from the lifestyle. We have had Catholics on this forum who still go to the Mormon church for social reasons.
So James, be offended if you choose to be. But by bringing you these facts, I am not the one creating offense, I am merely the messenger.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the holy Spirit be with all of you.
2 Corinthians 13
) That something makes no sense to me does not imply that I believe that you are a “lunatic” or an “idiot” or any such thing and such claims on your part are not productive. But I am sorry for any lack of clarity in my post. By the same token, please do me the courtesy of not inferring slights where I have not made them.
James,