Mormon Beliefs

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Well, I’m NOT an apostate ex-mormon and I can tell you that every mormon you talk to will give you conflicting information.
Their “doctrines” are constantly changing and getting a straight answer out of any of them about anything is like pulling teeth.
They are very nice people but with all the education that a lot of them have, they do not seem to put it to use in thinking and investigating their “religion” for themselves.
 
]Well, I’m NOT an apostate ex-catholic and I can tell you that every catholic you talk to will give you conflicting information.
Their “doctrines” are constantly changing and getting a straight answer out of any of them about anything is like pulling teeth.
They are very nice people but with all the education that a lot of them have, they do not seem to put it to use in thinking and investigating their “religion” for themselves.
 
wademann said:
]Well, I’m NOT an apostate ex-catholic and I can tell you that every catholic you talk to will give you conflicting information.
Their “doctrines” are constantly changing and getting a straight answer out of any of them about anything is like pulling teeth.
They are very nice people but with all the education that a lot of them have, they do not seem to put it to use in thinking and investigating their “religion” for themselves.
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If you want to know anything about Catholic doctrine it is very easy to find it. Just go straight to the Catechism of the Catholic Church where Catholic doctrine is fully and officially explained. The LDS Church has never put together a document which fully explains its doctrine. It doesn’t seem to want to officially do it. Why not?
 
The reason you find that so many Mormons are hesitant to answer questions about some of our doctrine is because we are so often attacked for it. I am not hesitant to talk about it if I can tell that the person inquiring is respectful and curious but not out to just debate with me.

As for the belief that God was once a man. I do remember learning that sometime throughout my years in the church. I believe it coincides with our belief that we can all become like God in an eternal life/eternal progression type setting. I also don’t feel a need to apologize for this belief as it causes no harm to anyone.

As such, I am surprised that anti-Mormons use this as fuel for their anger. There have regrettably been things practiced in our church in the past which did cause harm to others, this of course can be said for most major religions. (ie crusades, jihad etc.)

The belief that God was once a man is not an absurd or bizarre thing to me, it in fact seems quite natural. However, that is probably because I grew up with similar teachings. It seems to me that all religions have some beliefs that seem bizarre to others, but we just have to accept our differences and respect each other as people of faith who are trying to do the best they can.
 
I want to add that I think Zerinus is misguided in thinking that we are judged in the pre-existence and that judgement leads to where we are placed in this life. That, in my understanding, is false. I have never heard anything like that taught in church, or read something like that in the scriptures.
 
Rachey said:
The reason you find that so many Mormons are hesitant to answer questions about some of our doctrine is because we are so often attacked for it. I am not hesitant to talk about it if I can tell that the person inquiring is respectful and curious but not out to just debate with me.

As for the belief that God was once a man. I do remember learning that sometime throughout my years in the church. I believe it coincides with our belief that we can all become like God in an eternal life/eternal progression type setting. I also don’t feel a need to apologize for this belief as it causes no harm to anyone.

As such, I am surprised that anti-Mormons use this as fuel for their anger. There have regrettably been things practiced in our church in the past which did cause harm to others, this of course can be said for most major religions. (ie crusades, jihad etc.)

The belief that God was once a man is not an absurd or bizarre thing to me, it in fact seems quite natural. However, that is probably because I grew up with similar teachings. It seems to me that all religions have some beliefs that seem bizarre to others, but we just have to accept our differences and respect each other as people of faith who are trying to do the best they can.
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I don’t get upset about you holding that belief as long as you are honest about it. I once held that belief as well. If I believed in the Book of Mormon I would probably still hold that belief because I would then believe Joseph Smith was a prophet and the doctrines he taught were true. That is really what everything about Mormonism comes down to – is the Book of Mormon true? Arguing about these other doctrines seems rather less important to me. I applaud your honesty in stating what Mormons truly teach.
 
Erich said:
If by “deification” you mean the Holy Spirit dwelling within Christian believers and transforming them into the image of God in Christ, eventually endowing them in the resurrection with immortality and God’s perfect moral character, then yes, that is what many of the Church Fathers taught (though you’re more likely to see it referred to as “theosis” not “deification”).
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Actually, that is not what the early church Fathers taught at all. They taught that men can become gods, period.

zerinus
 
Rachey said:
I want to add that I think Zerinus is misguided in thinking that we are judged in the pre-existence and that judgement leads to where we are placed in this life. That, in my understanding, is false. I have never heard anything like that taught in church, or read something like that in the scriptures.
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You’re right. Some Mormons used to give this as the reason blacks might not have been given the priesthood, but it never was officially a doctrine. It was speculation. Unfortunately, there is too much speculating in Mormonism. They need a catechism so the members and the public know what they believe.
 
August said:
Zerinus, thanks for at least addressing these issues.
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You are very welcome. Feel free to ask if you have any further questions. 🙂
As I mentioned, most Mormons I know won’t even talk about them.
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That is a shame. They should. They probably don’t know enough about their theology to be feel confident to discuss it. But I suppose that is true of most religions, so it works both ways.
Give the guy some credit.
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Hardly likely! :rolleyes: These guys are scared to death that my presence on this board will lead to somebody’s conversion, because I am a lot better at defending the LDS position than they are at attacking it. So they are clutching at straws to oppose me any way they can! 😃

zerinus
 
Rachey said:
I want to add that I think Zerinus is misguided in thinking that we are judged in the pre-existence and that judgement leads to where we are placed in this life. That, in my understanding, is false. I have never heard anything like that taught in church, or read something like that in the scriptures.
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I did not in fact say that men are judged in the pre-existence before they came here on earth. That is what I had specifically denied.

zerinus
 
zerinus said:
You are very welcome. Feel free to ask if you have any further questions. 🙂

That is a shame. They should. They probably don’t know enough about their theology to be feel confident to discuss it. But I suppose that is true of most religions, so it works both ways.

Hardly likely! :rolleyes: These guys are scared to death that my presence on this board will lead to somebody’s conversion, because I am a lot better at defending the LDS position than they are at attacking it. So they are clutching at straws to oppose me any way they can! 😃

zerinus
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You got to be kidding no one is scared of you:rolleyes:
I have read through this thread and I have found that you do not answer. A web site that is LDS has been cited, you ignore it. Is that what you mean by defense:confused:
Straws or lumber? I would say you have reversed who is clutching at straws. They have had the lumber.
 
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