Mormon and Catholic resources?

[LittleHalo]

Hello all

I am looking for resources that compair Mornanism with Catholicism. I am not seeking to win a debate or put anyone down. I am curious to find the differences, and similarities that we share. I would be very interested in having one Catholic written source and one Mormon written source so that my knowledge is not bias.

Any great source recommendations are welcome.

 

[truetofaith]

Google them!

 

[LittleHalo]

It is difficult to Google and find quality sources sometimes, anybody can write an article or post their opinions on the matter and call it fact. Sometimes it’s hard to find a credible source with simply a Google search. I’m also curious to read books or articles that someone would recommend from experience instead of me blindly hoping to find good information.

If nobody has any good ideas then I will most likely resort to Google

 

[LivingWaters7]

Read this debate between a Catholic and a Mormon:

transporter.com/Mormonism/Keys_Debate.htm

 

[Marie5890]

Little Halo,

Hello and welcome.
The challenge with that kind of comparison is that , and you will not be able to pick this up, is that the use of language and the different prisms

The use of certain words can mean the mean very different things. So keep that in mind while you do your research.
If you need any clarification, we can help. There are several of us here who are former Mormons so we understand the Mormon-speak and understand the prism that Mormons look thru.
We also understand the Catholic prism as well.

God’s Blessings.

 

[Marie5890]

Read this debate between a Catholic and a Mormon:

transporter.com/Mormonism/Keys_Debate.htm

OMG! An answer to something I had been wondering.

On a very famous Mormon artist under the “My Beliefs” section on his webpage, that story as listed as “A Catholic Utterance” on the transporter webpage, was attributed to Ven. Fulton Sheen.

I know that Sheen has never said such as thing as I have been on the perifery of his Cause and have read most of his material.And I asked those who HAVE read all of his material and who knew him personally. Plus, being bi-ritual, he would never make such a comment. He would say if it’s not the Catholics, it’s the Orthodox (I always pray for our Orthodox brethern. They are often times so forgotten or over looked)

I tried to let the gentleman who runs this famous Mormon’s page that that is in error, and his reply was cordial, but it was never fixed.

Very irritating, to be honest. To use Sheen to give credibility to some unknown sourced comment.

 

[dreamer29]

Read this debate between a Catholic and a Mormon:

transporter.com/Mormonism/Keys_Debate.htm

I came across this thread and I had some time to read this material from the link provided. My feelings are that there will be religions that are not in agreement with Catholics and the Catholic Church being the one and only true church. As a Roman Catholic I feel that I never need to defend Catholicism and the Catholic Church. It is the True Church (we are the real deal) all others…, I will leave it at that. Sorry if it appears I have offended anyone, but sometimes I get worked up.

 

[LittleHalo]

It’s ok. When Jesus invited the tax collector to supper the apostles were upset, Jesus calmed them and led by example with peace and tolerance. I too am trying to find this disposition with this topic. I know it is easy to get passionate about one’s own beliefs, and why they are right and get defensive.

Iam trying to avoid a tenseful debate to find a peaceful understanding. I am from a Catholic family and am close with a Mormon family and I simply wish to understand both sides when religion comes up. I support anyone who is strong in their Christian faith and wishes to do good works to be closer to a life with God and believes in Jesus.

I suppose I don’t want to be caugh off guard when doctrines come up and I feel uneducated. I want to be confident in what is understood, and to be able to deliver this understanding to others as well. Education is essential, but understanding is the key.

 

[dreamer29]

My post was more in general and not directed to anyone here. I seem to get questioned a lot from people on the outside and my wife. I am not to up on Catholicism (my fault) and don’t remember much from my catholic education in school. I have to read the most basic material at times. I guess my frustration lies that I am not equipped with that information I would like to know, so I use the facts that I know and believe and then exit conversations on such topics. My forgiveness, I am learning!!!

 

[LittleHalo]

We are all learning, as long as we always look ahead and strive for knowledge we can not lose but only gain

 

[LittleHalo]

Perhaps I can ask questions,

I read that Mormons believe that the ultimate level of heaven, you get to make future souls with a spouse? So is this the soul or is the person in flesh? Isn’t this contradictory to God being the only God ? He makes things, not us who were made by him? We do not possess the ability to make things equally complex as ourselves, right?

For Catholics, our spirit goes to heaven, but I heard it can be isolated, not family-like? What is the nature of the spirit in heaven?

 

[Marie5890]

Here is a link to another part of Catholic.com that will give you the answer about Mormons being polytheistic.

There is a search engine there as well where you will be able to search out answers to the questios you have about Mormonism from the Catholic perspective.

catholic.com/quickquestions/is-mormonism-polytheistic

Here is the link to all the Mormon links addressed by Catholic apologists here on CA.

catholic.com/search/content/mormons

 

[zaffiroborant]

OMG! An answer to something I had been wondering.

On a very famous Mormon artist under the “My Beliefs” section on his webpage, that story as listed as “A Catholic Utterance” on the transporter webpage, was attributed to Ven. Fulton Sheen.

I know that Sheen has never said such as thing as I have been on the perifery of his Cause and have read most of his material.And I asked those who HAVE read all of his material and who knew him personally. Plus, being bi-ritual, he would never make such a comment. He would say if it’s not the Catholics, it’s the Orthodox (I always pray for our Orthodox brethern. They are often times so forgotten or over looked)

I tried to let the gentleman who runs this famous Mormon’s page that that is in error, and his reply was cordial, but it was never fixed.

Very irritating, to be honest. To use Sheen to give credibility to some unknown sourced comment.

Could you please give a link to what your are talking about, I’d like to read it, thanks.

 

[Marie5890]

Could you please give a link to what your are talking about, I’d like to read it, thanks.

Zaff, I will PM the link. I’m not sure the mods would let it stay public.

(edited to add)

Link sent, Zaff.

 

[LittleHalo]

Perhaps I can ask questions,

I read that Mormons believe that the ultimate level of heaven, you get to make future souls with a spouse? So is this the soul or is the person in flesh? Isn’t this contradictory to God being the only God ? He makes things, not us who were made by him? We do not possess the ability to make things equally complex as ourselves, right?

For Catholics, our spirit goes to heaven, but I heard it can be isolated, not family-like? What is the nature of the spirit in heaven?

I got this question from reading this article here
http://www.catholic.com/tracts/distinctive-beliefs-of-the-mormon-church

 

[Marie5890]

Perhaps I can ask questions,

I read that Mormons believe that the ultimate level of heaven, you get to make future souls with a spouse? So is this the soul or is the person in flesh? Isn’t this contradictory to God being the only God ? He makes things, not us who were made by him? We do not possess the ability to make things equally complex as ourselves, right?

For Catholics, our spirit goes to heaven, but I heard it can be isolated, not family-like? What is the nature of the spirit in heaven?

Yes, Mormon theology believes in what they call “eternal progression” and that God is an exaulted man.

Not sure where you heard that Catholic belief is that spirits are isolated in Heaven. The Communion of Saints is self-evident that we hold no such belief. There is no Catholic belief that relationships end in the next life. Our Holy Mother is still His Mother. That didn’t stop when she was assumed.

 

[Marie5890]

Little Halo,

I took the time to read back on some of your initial posts here on CAF. By them, you seem to be be pretty clear and honest that you really are not that very catechized in your Catholic faith.

I would suggest that before you can have a constructive dialogue with Non-Catholics, Mormon or otherwise, you need to become more educated on Catholic beliefs.

I recommend you get involved in your parish’s RCIA program. Not only does it help bring people into the faith, it also helps education nominal Catholics of what it means to be Catholic.

Also, read the Bible and Catechism. Put aside dialogue with Non-Catholics for the time being and put your time and effort into learning Catholicism.

God’s Blessings

 

[LittleHalo]

You make a good point. I am currently in RCIA for confirmation.

The instructors are very sweet people, but I feel they cater to love, and less facts. I always have questions. That is why I have turned to this forum. I do the best I can in seeking answers. I have narrowed a video series from the church that was previously used in their RCIA program, and am learning a lot from them also. Keep a journal of questions and try to find answers, like a life-long research to God

I am aware of the communion of saints, and that we will see people in heaven, I guess I was relating to the contrast of the Mormon context of my question of family and marriage in a union. Isolation may have been too strong of a word, and sounds like a lonely place. Some times I choose the wrong word

-Mary

 

[Marie5890]

You make a good point. I am currently in RCIA for confirmation.

The instructors are very sweet people, but I feel they cater to love, and less facts. I always have questions. That is why I have turned to this forum. I do the best I can in seeking answers. I have narrowed a video series from the church that was previously used in their RCIA program, and am learning a lot from them also. Keep a journal of questions and try to find answers, like a life-long research to God

I am aware of the communion of saints, and that we will see people in heaven, I guess I was relating to the contrast of the Mormon context of my question of family and marriage in a union. Isolation may have been too strong of a word, and sounds like a lonely place. Some times I choose the wrong word

-Mary

It would be accurate to say we do not believe that marriage goes on past death. (Can you image implications of that if one partner dies, and the marriage continues still. The surviving partner would not be free to marry without committing adultery.

Mormons have this belief that they are “sealed for all time and eternity”. A man can be sealed to more than one woman at a time, in other words, polygamy, but a woman can only be sealed to one man.

If we take the “Thou Shalt not Commit Adultery” commandment seriously, if a woman, who has been sealed to a man who ends up dying, marries again, she is an adulteress.

For the man, since he can be sealed to more than one woman, if his wife dies, he can be sealed to another, and if she dies, he can be sealed to another, and on and on.

As Catholics and upholders of the Trinity, we know that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit exists in communion with each other.

In our religious communities, they live communion with each other
We do not believe that communion ceases upon death with each other. It’s only the Sacrament of Marriage that ceases upon the death of one’s partner, so that the surviving partner is free to marry without incurring sin.

Im not sure why that is not evident to Mormons, but apparently it is not.

Anyway, I hope that helps.
We do not believe, not by a long shot, that we live in Heaven separated from each other. That is a distortion and a grave one.

 

[jane_doe]

I
I am from a Catholic family and am close with a Mormon family and I simply wish to understand both sides when religion comes up. I support anyone who is strong in their Christian faith and wishes to do good works to be closer to a life with God and believes in Jesus.

I suppose I don’t want to be caugh off guard when doctrines come up and I feel uneducated. I want to be confident in what is understood, and to be able to deliver this understanding to others as well. Education is essential, but understanding is the key.

Why don’t you just ask the family what they believe? If you ask “Mike” what “Steve” believes it seems much more likely that you’ll get misinformed than just asking “Steve” himself.

You don’t have to feel uneducated when talking to someone. After all, Christ didn’t choose “knowledgeable” Pharisees as His apostles.

I really like your quote: “Education is essential, but understanding is the key”