LDS theory of the "great apostasy"

[theropod]

Given the thousands of different Protestant denominations that have sprung up in the last 500 years I would say the difference between the Mormon view and the Protestant view is negligible

That’s just your ignorance speeking, but don’t mind me. Go ahead and keep spewing it.

 

[theropod]

You will have to explain the Protestant view, then, in a way that accounts for why Protestants would begin their own numerous and splintered churches instead of attempting to reform or renew the one existing Church from within by healing and repairing abuses or errant practices. Why did they leave the Church and not stay with it to bring it back on course if it was determinably the true Church for 1500 years?

Probably had a lot to do with the excommunications and stake burning. That plus a lot of geo-politics.

 

[Peter_Plato]

Probably had a lot to do with the excommunications and stake burning. That plus a lot of geo-politics.

Actually, if you look at the stake burnings and by whom they were predominantly undertaken, you might be surprised.

As to excommunications, those have been part of the Church since the beginning – it might be called a natural consequence of heresy. You aren’t trying to make the case that heretical views should merely be adopted by the Church, are you?

Recall also that God wasn’t exactly soft on those who tried to bring dissension, disorder or distrust into the Church from the beginning. Read the way in which Ananias and Sapphira were dealt with (Acts 5) or Simon the Magician (Acts 8.)

 

[kimg901]

There is and never was a “Great Apostasy”. In order for there to have been one God would have to have let His Only Son fail in everything He said and done. So what was the purpose of Christ dying such a horrible death if everything was to change? In order for these men’s religions to succeed they have to claim such a thing. God/Jesus does not lie or fail. Men do but not God.

 

[KathleenGee]

I look at this world…apostasy is seeing the truth and then turning one’s back on it.

In Revelations 12, it speaks of 1/3 of the stars being dragged down by the tail of the dragon…not its ferocious head…but I would interpret it as caving into human respect and materialism and the loss of daily prayer.

Revelations speaks to all people of all times. Each generation has its apostates, for that matter.

The bottom line is how Scripture is used to condemn and separate from others. I am on a site seeing the re emergence of Orthodoxy in Russia, listening to its folk music, seeing its priests bless their military, where now in America, chaplains are being more restricted in some cases from serving the military.

We have to look at our own country to see alot of apostasy, and the decline to protect and defend the sanctity of human life, as well as turning our backs as a nation to the Middle East Christians and other peoples.

What is the very worst is taking the life of a human being. So instead of attacking Catholics as false Christians, I wonder how much time people who believe such, likewise work to defend human life. I know the Mormons are drawing away from this great apostasy concept and do defend the sanctity of human life, opposing abortion and euthanasia.