Y’know, I can honestly say that while I have heard “Mormons are not saved” in a 'tone of concern" a couple of times, usually it is said in a tone of self congratulation; as in 'I’m saved, you’re not, nya, nya…"
Even those who say it in a ‘tone of concern’ spoil it by going on to tell us what we really believe, why that his wrong, and that we are either ‘not Christian’ or ‘going to hell’ (generally both).
This would be irritating enough, except that when people start telling me what I ‘really’ believe, they get it wrong. When I correct them, wouldn’t the logical response be “oh, I didn’t know that, how nice…” perhaps even followed by relief that we aren’t as weird as they thought?
Nope, it is always, and I mean ALWAYS, an argument; 'you do TOO believe this, or that" and off they go again. They dig up obscure quotes by obscure leaders, or non-canonical quotes by more well known leaders, and decide for themselves that THIS is scripture to us, and thus proves that what they claim is true.
In the meantime, none of them ever actually tell me what’s so right about their own beliefs. You know, just present them as the shining gift they are supposed to be, and let me do my own comparing. Nope, inevitably (and that word is deliberately chosen) “their” views are presented in terms of what they think mine are. “Mormons believe this and that and we don’t.”
Which of course isn’t very helpful when they insist upon getting our beliefs wrong.
OK, what DO you believe, then? (rhetorical question, not an actual one, by the way, just for the purposes of this rant)
Actually, most of the Catholics on this board know exactly what I’m talking about here in terms of fundamentalist Christians.
Just look at the recent thread “Catholics worship Mary.” It is a milder form of this, but you can see the way it works.
I wish I had the…something…required to just step back and let ‘them’ argue with themselves, but I have this quixotic need to bang some sense into heads. (shrug)
Diana
Diana, this is the thing that comes up in re: Non-Catholic Religions forum…Some folks want to divide it “better”, into “Non-Catholic Christian” & “Non-Christian Religions”, & there I am again, saying, “But what about the Mormons?” (I could say Quakers, or something, but there are a lot of you around
here–an hour & I can be at Hill Cumorah).
By my best understanding, Mormons are…I don’t know.
It depends on your definition of Christian. By mine ( form of baptism), not Christian.
But I also know that, a couple of years ago, after my heart surgery, that–long after it was clear that I was not going to be a convert–that the young missionaries kept my steps shoveled. They waved and/or said “hi” when I saw them in restaurants & stores…
They were kind & caring & clearly believers & yet…I just don’t buy it.
But–if those 2 guys are going to hell, I know a lot of people (including one called herein:blush: “Zooey”), who are
in a** lot** of trouble.And I hear you on the fundamentalist take on Catholics being kinda the same.
But I never mean to say or to imply that you & all LDS are going to hell. I am not, as my grandfather used to say, “God’s admissions counseler”…
Which is why I can be over here, arguing who is & who isn’t Christian…and then go beg folks NOT to throw the LDS into the same category as, say, Muslims. If I were you, that would make me
.As it is, I am
about that kind of thing anyway.
And now, I suppose, the Muslims are going to come after me.
Sincerely,
Zooey
Old-Fashioned Methodist (with Wesleyan Holiness roots that run way deep. Even when I’m
making rosaries…)
